Notre Dame Growing Irish Presence

Newman University Church was founded in 1856.

The University of Notre Dame is growing its footprint in Ireland. The school has agreed to steward a more than 150-year-old church and establish a Center for Faith and Reason in Dublin.

The school will manage Newman University Church in Dublin, which opened in 1856. It was founded by John Henry Newman, who was then rector of University College Dublin. He would later be named a cardinal of the Catholic Church and was beatified in 2010 by Pope Benedict XVI.

The university expects the Notre Dame-Newman Center for Faith and Reason to begin activities this fall. It will reach out to young professionals in Dublin, with a special focus on those who have not previously been drawn to the Catholic Church. The center’s activities will include liturgy, music and a lecture series.

Reverend William Dailey will lead the center. He has been a lecturer at the Notre Dame Law School since 2010 and as served as rector of Stanford Hall on the South Bend campus for three years. Notre Dame Folk Choir Director Steve Warner will serve as associate director and oversee music, liturgy and outreach efforts.