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Legacy and leadership

The month in photos, September 2024

By University of Notre Dame

October 3^rd, 2024

September is always busy with the start of the academic year and the excitement of football weekends and more. September 2024 added a once-in-a-generation, historic moment to the mix.

September 5: A late-summer sunrise lights up the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, the Golden Dome and the Word of Life mural. (Photo by Matt Cashore)

September 7: Students wear the 2024 edition of “The Shirt” as they cheer in the student section at Notre Dame Stadium. (Photo by Matt Cashore)

September 6: Notre Dame firefighters ceremonially push the Notre Dame Fire Department’s new truck into the garage at the Thomas A. Coleman Fire Station. NDFD’s new truck replaces a truck that was over 20 years old. (Photo by Matt Cashore)

September 10: Members of the Clay Township Fire Department participate in ND110, Duncan Hall’s signature charity event that honors the first responders who served on 9/11 by climbing 110 flights of stairs. (Photo by Matt Cashore)

September 10: ND110 in Notre Dame Stadium (Photo by Angela Santos)

September 10: ND110 in Notre Dame Stadium (Photo by Angela Santos)

The Inauguration of Notre Dame’s 18th President, Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C.

Campus observed this historic moment with three days of festivities and ceremonies to formally welcome “Fr. Bob,” as he’s informally known, to his new role.

Sept. 13: Flanked by Presidents Emeriti Rev. Edward — Sept. 13: Flanked by Presidents Emeriti Rev. Edward "Monk" Malloy, C.S.C. and Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C. holds the University Mace. (Photo by Peter Ringenberg)

Inaugural Picnic

The Inaugural celebration began Wednesday evening of Inauguration Week when the entire Notre Dame community gathered around the Hesburgh Library to enjoy food, music, and perfect weather.

September 11: Inaugural Picnic on the Library Lawn (Photo by Matt Cashore)

September 11: Inaugural Picnic on the Library Lawn (Photo by Matt Cashore)

September 11: Inaugural Picnic on the Library Lawn (Photo by Matt Cashore)

The Notre Dame Forum

Day two of Inauguration events featured four conversations with global leaders on the topic “What Do We Owe Each Other?”

September 12: Sanda Ojiambo, assistant secretary-general, CEO, and executive director of the United Nations Global Compact, speaks with Anne Thompson, chief environmental affairs correspondent for NBC News.

September 12: Arvind Krishna, chairman and CEO of IBM, speaks on the topic “The Future of Responsible Tech.”

September 12: Meghan Sullivan, founding director of Notre Dame’s Institute for Ethics and the Common Good, hosted the 2024 Notre Dame Forum, themed “What do we owe each other?”

September 12: David Rockefeller Jr., philanthropist and environmentalist, left, reacts as Jack Brennan, University of Notre Dame Board of Trustees chairman emeritus, points at a photo of David Rockefeller Sr. with Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C.

September 12: Joe Donnelly, US ambassador to the Vatican, left; Admiral Christopher Grady, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, center; and John McGreevy, Notre Dame provost, speak on “Advancing Peace in a Fractured World.”

Inauguration Mass

September 13: Notre Dame’s 18th President, Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., waits to join the procession into the Basilica of the Sacred Heart for the Inauguration Mass. (Photo by Matt Cashore)

September 13: Bishop Patrick M. Neary, C.S.C., incenses the altar in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart during the Inauguration Mass. (Photo by Matt Cashore)

September 13: University of Notre Dame President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., receives applause from the concelebrants following the Inauguration Mass. (Photo by Peter Ringenberg)

Inauguration Procession and Convocation

September 13: Members of the faculty and University leadership gather at the Main Building steps for a reading of a letter from Notre Dame founder Rev. Edward Sorin, C.S.C., to Blessed Basil Moreau, C.S.C. (Photo by Peter Ringenberg)

September 13: The academic procession passes under the Eck Hall of Law arch on its way to the Purcell Pavilion for the Convocation and Inauguration ceremony. (Photo by Rachel Pincus)

September 13: Notre Dame President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., holds the key to the president’s office in the Main Building, presented to him by Provost John McGreevy, at right. (Photo by Matt Cashore)

September 13: Presidents Emeriti Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., and Rev. Edward “Monk” Malloy, C.S.C., offer a prayer of blessing over Notre Dame President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C. (Photo by Peter Ringenberg)

September 13: In his Inaugural address, Father Dowd thanked the Sisters of Holy Cross, including his first-grade teacher, Sister Carmel Marie Sallows, C.S.C., who was in attendance. (Photo by Matt Cashore)

September 13: Notre Dame President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., gives his Inaugural address. “Together let us be the Notre Dame the world needs,” he said. (Photo by Matt Cashore)

And last, but not least, a party!

The celebration's not over until Jon Batiste sings...and a drone show...and a student inaugural ball!

September 13: Jon Batiste, singer, composer, and bandleader, performs in the Purcell Pavilion. (Photo by Matt Cashore)

September 13: Just hours after the Inauguration ceremony, the Purcell Pavilion was transformed into a concert venue for the Jon Batiste Celebratory Concert. (Photo by Matt Cashore)

September 13: Multi-instrumentalist Jon Batiste performs in the Purcell Pavilion. (Photo by Matt Cashore)

September 13: Jon Batiste ended his concert with a New Orleans–style march around the arena accompanied by members of the Notre Dame Marching Band. (Photo by Matt Cashore)

September 13: Jon Batiste ended his show with a muscial meander through the audience, interacting with many, including O’Neill Hall rector Rev. Mike Ryan, C.S.C. (Photo by Matt Cashore)

September 13: Dozens of illuminated drones made aerial formations to cap off the Inauguration celebration. (Photo by Matt Cashore)

September 13: People enjoy the drone show Friday evening. (Photo by Matt Cashore)

September 13: A student event in Notre Dame Stadium capped off the Inauguration celebration. (Photo by Matt Cashore)

Building Our Community

Notre Dame and Habitat for Humanity partner on new homes in South Bend.

September 17: Notre Dame volunteers partnered with Habitat for Humanity for a week to help build five houses on Harrison Avenue in South Bend. The houses were designed by Notre Dame School of Architecture students. (Photo by Matt Cashore)

September 16: Volunteers get instructions before they pick up hammers to begin framing for the Habitat Inauguration Build. (Photo by Matt Cashore)

September 17: Notre Dame President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., volunteered for a shift driving nails. (Photo by Matt Cashore)

September 18: Volunteers arrive at the Build site. (Photo by Matt Cashore)

Building on Research

Construction continues on campus facilities as well.

Sept. 5: Construction nears completion on the second building of the McCourtney Hall complex. The new building will facilitate growth of interdisciplinary research.

Sept. 20: University of Notre Dame President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C. speaks at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Veldman Family Psychology Clinic on Hill St.

Sept. 20: Members of the Veldman family and University officials ceremonially break ground for the Veldman Family Psychology Clinic, which will significantly increase evidence-based mental health services available to the community.

September Scenes

September 17: Moonrise of the 2024 harvest moon. (Photo by Matt Cashore)

September 15: Ballet Folklorico Azul y Oro perform at the “Somos ND” Hispanic Heritage Month kickoff event. (Photo by Matt Cashore)

September 19: The sun sets on the Grotto. (Photo by Matt Cashore)

September 28: The Irish Guard leads the Notre Dame Marching Band to Notre Dame Stadium. (Photo by Matt Cashore)

September 21: A C-130 Hercules aircraft does a flyover of Notre Dams Stadium before the football game against Miami of Ohio. (Photo by Matt Cashore)

© 2026 University of Notre Dame

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