The University of Notre Dame Alumni Association has launched a new online program, “Tender, Strong, and True: Living the Gospel Daily,” which enables alumni, parents and friends to engage in spiritual discussions with University faculty and other expert members of the faith community live via the Internet.
The series kicked off with a discussion titled “Persevering in Prayer: Getting It Started and Keeping It Going.” Panelists included Rev. Brian Daley, the Catherine F. Huisking Chair in Theology, and Tami Schmitz, assistant director of spirituality for Notre Dame Campus Ministry. Monsignor Michael Heintz, director of Notre Dame’s Master of Divinity program, served as moderator.
“With this program, our aim is to use Scripture as a tool for contemplation and dialogue—how to take the seeds of our faith and apply them to enrich our lives,” said Kathleen Sullivan, the Alumni Association’s senior director of spirituality and service. “Topic experts and faculty from various University departments lead the conversations.”
Each “Tender, Strong, and True” broadcast will be aired live online via UStream, a platform for video streaming of events. Users simply type the address http://www.ustream.tv/notredame into their Internet browsers to access the program.
Once logged on, audience members will enjoy a high quality, TV-like viewing experience that allows them the opportunity to interact with panelists via Twitter, Facebook or other online social media. Those who cannot participate in live broadcasts may view videos of the events, which are archived on the Notre Dame Ustream site.
Each interactive broadcast is dedicated to one topic that will be discussed at length among a panel of University faculty and expert members of the faith community. Discussion topics include life balance, work satisfaction and life purpose.
The next broadcast, titled “Confronting Job Loss: Finding Christian Hope,” will air at 8 p.m. on March 14 (Sunday). The discussion will contemplate the effect unemployment has on the psyche with regard to feelings of fear, futility and worthlessness. Panelists will discuss how we can experience the real presence of God in our lives, His hand directing us and leading us to true success, and whether it is possible that such oppressive times can become huge opportunities to re-shape our beliefs and to live from a place of authenticity.
Monsignor Heintz again will moderate the panel, which will include James Davis, the John F. O’Shaughnessy Professor in Family Business, and Christine Heslin Powers, a former executive and a 1990 Notre Dame graduate.
For a complete schedule of future broadcasts, as well as archived broadcasts, visit http://alumni.nd.edu/tst.
Contact: Kathleen Sullivan, University of Notre Dame Alumni Association, 574-631-6724, Sullivan.6@nd.edu