, vice president and associate provost at Notre Dame, will host the program, which is based on the popular theology course of the same name that he teaches to undergraduates and students in the , which sponsors the podcast.
“I started the class about seven years ago after students kept asking me for help on questions about their purpose, values and vocation,” Father Groody, who is also an associate professor of theology and global affairs, said. “The students were hungry for something more from their lives than conventional notions of success, but they did not know where to start. So I began working with students to help them in their quest to discover their heart’s desire and to make a lasting impact on the world.”
Dolly Duffy, executive director of the Notre Dame Alumni Association, said, “We hear so often from alumni about their desire to return to campus — to their residence hall, the dining hall, or the classroom. Father Groody’s class is one that transcends age. Whether you’re 18 or 98 or anywhere in between, this course can help you ask — and hopefully answer — those big life questions about a deeper calling and direction.”
Throughout the series, Father Groody will be joined in conversation with , a bestselling author and practitioner of purposeful living and working as well as a public fellow in the Notre Dame Institute for Advanced Study. Together they will guide the audience through a three-stage cycle of human development: self-awareness, self-development and ultimately self-gift. In addition, the series is structured around “integrations,” which are actionable challenges to incorporate the content into your everyday life. The integrations are based on time-tested spiritual and psychological practices that correspond to the topic of each episode.
“I can honestly say that The Heart’s Desire was by far the most influential class that I’ve taken at Notre Dame, as it has permanently altered the way that I approach many aspects of life,” said Catherine O’Leary, class of ’21. “As COVID-19 dramatically altered my senior year this past fall, the course gave me practical tools and methods to home in on the most important aspects of human life such as prayer life, gratitude and community.”
In partnership with the Notre Dame Alumni Association’s ThinkND platform, Father Groody will also be hosting a series of online events and discussions featuring Sara Martinez Tucker, the former chairman of the University of Texas System Board of Regents and current member of the Notre Dame’s Board of Fellows and Board of Trustees; Lou Nanni, vice president for University relations at Notre Dame; and Parker Palmer, a writer, speaker, activist, and founder and senior partner emeritus of the Center For Courage and Renewal. Through these conversations, Father Groody will explore how their inner lives inform their outer work for social change.
“I started this initiative to create meaningful conversations about the things that matter most to people: their purpose, identity and direction in life,” Father Groody said. “Ultimately, we want to help people grow in authenticity, integration and mission. To put it another way, we want to help people to live as their true selves, to implement joyful practices that lead to genuine freedom and wholeness, and to contribute to the common good and the building of a more just and humane world.”
The live events will be held at 2:30 p.m. Wednesdays beginning April 14, and new podcast episodes will be shared every Thursday beginning April 15. To join this new digital series, .
“This series is important at all times, but especially today as leaders contend with the challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic and the renewed awareness to address racial injustice,” said Tom Schreier, founding director of the Inspired Leadership Initiative at Notre Dame. “The leaders we are fortunate to have in these conversations have charisma, voice and humility coupled with the courage, purpose and inner strength to lead their organizations effectively. There is much to be learned from these conversations.”
During these interactive, live sessions presented exclusively on , leaders will also discuss long-term changes in their industries and share their driving philosophies and leadership styles. These in-depth conversations will allow guests to talk about professional successes, but also their underlying philosophies of purpose, alignment and spirituality and how they have been able to build trust in their organizations through humility, confidence and purpose.
“Regardless of where you work, what your career level, or your own professional experiences, Inspiring Conversations will provide the Notre Dame family with a unique look at success and leadership,” said Dolly Duffy, executive director of the Notre Dame Alumni Association. “We are excited to partner with ILI on this project and provide these insights to our alumni, parents and friends.”
The first guest for Inspiring Conversations is Penny Wheeler, the president and CEO of Allina Health, at 1 p.m. Tuesday (Aug. 25). Other guests include former Notre Dame basketball coach Muffet McGraw and Dave MacLennan, the chairman and CEO of Cargill. To register for the discussions and see the complete list and schedule of speakers, .
Inspiring Conversations is hosted by the at the University of Notre Dame. ILI is a program for accomplished individuals from all disciplines (business, nonprofit, academic and others) who have completed their chosen careers and wish to spend an academic year at Notre Dame — taking advantage of the University's vast array of resources — to pivot to their next stage in life and continue as a force for good in this world. ILI fellows have the unique opportunity to reflect on their past experience and shape the direction of their future, while also sharing their wisdom, experience and knowledge with the Notre Dame community.
Originally published by at on Aug. 20.
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