COUP recommendation focuses on ND ‘ Catholic character

Editor’s note: This is the third part in a series of articles explaining the recommendations of the COUP report and their relation to the Campaign for Notre Dame. A major focus of the Committee on University Priorities was on the Catholic character of Notre Dame. In response , the Campaign for Notre Dame seeks $5 million for the endowment of activities enhancing religious values on campus as well as for campus-based religious pro­ grams. This $5 million endowment will cover four aspects of Notre Dame as a Catholic institution: campus religious life, endowed rectorships, church and chapel maintenance and progams in service of the Catholic church. According to Fr. William Toohey director of campus ministry, “ We experience the presence of God in nature, in historical events in the scriptures, in the teaching Church in the sacrements. But most predominantly...we encounter God through other men and wom en.” On this basis, campus ministry has cited five programs for foster­ ing campus religious life. Campus ministry would like to expand its retreats program and money is necessary to underwrite retreats to keep the fees down for students to parrticipate. The retreat program could be subsi­ dized by $150,000. Funds are also needed to support the publication and distribution on campus of religious material. Campus ministry recently revived the Notre Dame Prayer Book for Students but does not have the money to make it available to all students. A fund to m eet religious publications needs could be en­ dowed at $100,000. Campus ministry also would like to become more involved in the residence halls but lack the re­ sources to serve their “ pastoral needs” . A “ multimedia library” containing material which hall staffs could utilize to enliven liturgical and religious programs is a possibility. A projected $150,000 could underwrite these pastoral programs. Another program that campus ministry believes would enhance campus religious life is a religious lecture series. In cooperation with other departm ents of the Univer­ sity, campus ministry wants to feature “ first-rate religious think­ e rs" who would contribute to the discussion of important spiritual and theological issues on campus. The series could be fostered by an endowment of $100,000. Support is also being sought for apostolic projects which students participate in, such as helping the elderly, the retarded and under­ privileged children.