Notre Dame Vision
Notre Dame Vision, now in its third year of in-person programming since the pandemic, offers high-school students from across the world the opportunity to immerse themselves in the campus life of Notre Dame as they learn from the witnesses of the saints and develop practices to live out their faith. The program continues to see substantial growth. In 2022, 422 students attended Vision. The following year, Vision staff welcomed 438 students. This year will mark a significant increase from the two previous years, with 516 students scheduled to take part over the course of the summer.
A unique aspect of the Vision program is that college students from the University of Notre Dame, Holy Cross College, and Saint Mary’s College serve as Mentors to the high school students. The group of Mentors grew from 42 students in 2023 to 57 students in 2024. In addition, the Mentor formation program has changed to help them prepare spiritually and organizationally in a more conscientious way before students arrive. Mentors now spend longer on retreat and orientation, with five days devoted to both respectively.
Another development in Vision is that, starting in the fall of 2024, the program will lead cohorts for Holy Cross campus and youth ministers. These cohorts will meet virtually five times over the academic year, with an optional retreat. Participants in this program will also receive personal mentorship throughout the year.
The Notre Dame Vision team has also experienced changes. Craig Gould, who previously served as the associate director for Vision, began serving as its program director in the fall of 2023. Gould, who has a particular passion for helping youth and young adults understand how their story connects to the story of Jesus, directs the planning, recruitment, program management, and formation of Mentors for Vision. Regarding his new position, Gould said, “I'm building off of the great work and success of those who came before me while continuing to respond to the current needs of the Church, which is McGrath's mission. For us at Vision, that means supporting the young Church and those who walk with them.” Also, Julia King joined the team as the new associate director in the summer of 2024. Alongside the rest of the team, she will accompany the Mentors and foster a space for high school students to encounter Christ in the midst of community and live out their baptismal call to holiness.
Craig Gould, M.A. Julia King, M.Div.