Fr. Ted Said...Celebrating 100 Years of God, Country, Notre Dame: Fr. Austin Collins, C.S.C, '77

One century ago on Memorial Day — Friday, May 30, 1924 — the campus community gathered to dedicate a permanent landmark honoring former Notre Dame students who had died in or as a result of the Great War. Today, the east entrance of the Basilica has the familiar phrase “God, Country, Notre Dame” engraved above the oaken double doors and is known affectionately as the World War I Memorial Door. Celebrate the spirit of this special anniversary as we honor and remember members of our Notre Dame family who gave their lives. 

We are mindful of the ways the simple phrase “God, Country, Notre Dame” has become a rallying cry, and how the World War I Memorial Door has become an iconic place of pilgrimage and a symbol of faith, patriotism, and loyalty to all who love Notre Dame. Our speaker lineup is a shining example of the “God, Country, Notre Dame” ethos – just like Fr. Ted.

Presenter:
Rev. Austin Collins, CSC, '77,
Vice President for Mission Engagement and Church Affairs

Rev. Austin Collins, C.S.C., '77 is a professor of sculpture in the Department of Art, Art History and Design at the University of Notre Dame. Father Collins studied art at the University of California at Berkeley and received a M.F.A. in sculpture from Claremont Graduate University. Father Collins’ area of practice includes public art, large outdoor sculpture, installation art, and liturgical art. The theme of his creative work often deals with political and social issues. Father Collins has had over 130 exhibitions, including exhibitions at Northwestern University, University of Tennessee, University of Alabama, University of California and the University of Virginia. His work is in 40 private and public collections.

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Transcript

Video: 0:06

We also have to be a great Catholic university, which means we have to look beyond the pure secular order to do what we do in an atmosphere of faith and belief, and that we also hold for values and standards, and that we try to see beyond the here and now into what is of eternal value, and that somehow, if you put it in one word, it's our faith seeking understanding and trying to understand our faith, to do that in whatever we do, and to turn out people who are not just grounded in time, but grounded in eternity. And you can see beyond the here and now to the more. valid human faith aspects of everything they are and everything they do.

Juliana: 0:40

Please welcome Father Austin Collins, CSC, a member of the class of 1977 and a faculty member in Notre Dame's Department of Art, Art History, and Design since 1985. Father Austin serves as Notre Dame's Vice President for Mission Engagement and Church Affairs.

Fr. Austin Collins, C.S.C, '77: 1:02

thank you for this kind welcome. There are so many people who are so much more knowledgeable and prepared to talk about Father Ted. Father Ted's talk. But, I am humbled and honored to be here. Last night I took a walk, really trying to rethink this talk. And I thought, what if I could ask Father Ted what I should say? And I know exactly what he would say to me. He'd say, wasn't nine years ago enough? Wasn't Father Monk Malloy's eulogy at my wake service enough? Wasn't Father John Jenkins homily at the Funeral Mass enough? Wasn't that panel that everyone put together at the Joy Center for a celebration of life? Wasn't that enough? I think we would respond to Father Ted and say, We're gathering here today out of true respect, affection, and love for you. I got to know Father Ted not as a student. He was the president. And the line that was always used was, What's the difference between God and Father Ted? And we all know the answer. God is everywhere, Father Ted was everywhere, but Notre Dame. And he was, what he was doing was working for Notre Dame continually, in his humble, good way. And I, this photo up here shows that. I'll never forget this day, when President Obama found out Father Ted was going to have a birthday celebration at the Congress for his 96th birthday. And he wanted Father Ted to come to the White House first. Father Ted actually celebrated Mass first at Holy Cross House and then went to the White House. and I'll never forget what President Obama said right when he welcomed us all. He said, I would not be President if you had not been Chair of the Civil Rights Commission. Very moving. Then he said further, we had a staff meeting this week. You have received every presidential medal and award possible from this government. And that was such a great honor, and it's a great honor for Notre Dame, because that's who he really was representing in so many ways. So everyone here knows his resume, knows how many presidential commissions he was on, how his international service, his service to the church, advisers to four or five popes, It's out there, what he has done. What I'd like to address is, like I said, I didn't know him as a student, but when I came in 1985 as an assistant professor in the art department, he took me under his wings. He was still the president. And I'll never forget those times with him. I'd like to talk about the human side of Father Ted, the spiritual side, the pastoral side, the way he was living in community. The kind of the closed doors behind Corby Hall. The way he was to all of us. He was very cross generational. He was very interested. He had a great mind. He was an avid reader until macular degeneration took over his eyes. He was into popular culture. He wanted to know the students. He loved his family. He loved Notre Dame. He loved the Holy Cross community. He loved being a priest. And he loved the Notre Dame family. There are so many times that I can think of that he was just always saying yes. And in his retirement, he was still the biggest advocate. My new boss today, Father Bob Dowd, told me a story yesterday at breakfast. And I remember the story. I remember what happened. Dolly asked him to do a talk in Miami for the Notre Dame Club. I think it was Miami. It was in Florida somewhere. And Father Bob Dowd was finishing his dissertation, working at Corby and they asked Father Bob to accompany Father Ted to Florida. And so they got there and they both said, let's go for a walk. And so they start walking out and Father Bob's like me, very pale, very, and said, I better go back to the hotel and get some sunscreen. And Father Ted said, I don't need it. I know, but I do, Bob said. So he said, Father Ted, you sit on this bench, and I will be right back. And I'll just get this. So Bob runs to the hotel, gets the sunscreen, puts it on, comes back, and there's no Father Ted. His heart just sank. you don't want anything to happen to Father Ted on your watch. and that's a famous line of his nieces. So anyway, he looks across this six lane highway and there's Father Ted on the other side smoking a cigar on a bench. So he goes, it's hard to get mad at Father Ted. But he said, what happened? I thought you were going to stay on the bench. And he said, Bob, this nice lady helped me across the street and I thought I'd have a better view of the ocean. Okay. I don't know if some of Father Joe Capora. He's a short, Italian like priest that said he never, disliked a bowl of pasta or Italian bread. So let's say he's a little stocky. I was at an event one night where there were three Holy Cross priests. And I needed to be at a different dinner, and I was supposed to take Father Ted somewhere. So I went up to Father Joe and said, Joe, will you take Ted to this dinner? He said, by all means, I'd love to, I'd love to catch up with him. So I go to Father Ted, Joe's going to take you. Good, I need to talk to him. they go to this dinner and I go off to my dinner. And Father Joe helps him into the car. And Father, and then Joe gets in the car. And Father Ted. And you have to take this in the right way, I'm trying to tell you CSE secrets and how we know each other's idiosyncrasies. And he turns to Father Joe and says, Joe, you gotta lose the weight. And Joe's thinking, Ted, I thought you were blind. And he goes, I can see like this with his hands, I can see big things. I actually, I told Dolly this just a few minutes ago. I actually called Fr. Jokapur at the border just now and asked him if it's alright if I tell that story. And he said, by all means. And it was done out of affection and love. And that's truly the way he was. He was so comfortable here. But as we talk about all of his accomplishments, the biggest question I always get asked is, How did he do it? How did he keep sane? What kept him centered? And it's the easiest question in the world to answer. Is prayer, Mass, the Eucharist, and being a missionary of hope. And that's what he did. Mass every day. Going to the grotto to start his day off. Or in his elderly years, sitting in that office chair, and looking out at the Golden Dome and saying his rosary, as he couldn't read his office book anymore. He was so grounded in prayer and in faith. The other lesson he taught me, which I will never forget, is never let despair take over your life, where you think God is no longer a part of your life and you're no part, no longer a part of God's. He was never down. And when there were big decisions in life. And big stuff at the university or in the government or in higher education. He'd always say, we're going to get through this. This is Mary's university. And she is going to guide us through it. Or the Holy Spirit. The famous homily he gave to so many alumni groups over and over again. Come Holy Spirit. So thank you, I see my time is up. And again, I am so honored to be here with you. Thank you.