As Notre Dame Football attracts the national spotlight, it also serves as a fun way for ACErs and grads to relax and reconnect. ACErs and grads in Atlanta hosted several events for the season opener against Georgia Tech. Four ACE 10 graduates (Kyle Petriantonio, Jesse Flores, Mike Petruaskis, and Brian Moscona) opened their (stylin!) bachelor pad for a Friday evening event that included dinner and Mass with Fr. Lou DelFra. Throughout that night, caravans of ACErs would arrive on their first road trips of the year. First Birmingham, then Jacksonville, Mobile, followed by Charlotte and so on. The Atlanta ACE House hosted a brunch and Mass with Fr. Lou the day after the game. Praying together was a fitting way to end the weekend as an ACE community and to thank God we snuck out of there with a win!
Check out some pictures from the Georgia Tech weekend. You will need Quicktime to see these, so go here to get a free download.
http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/win.html
Two weeks later, at the Michigan home game, ACE began a new tradition of hosting an official “Open House” in the Badin Office followed by a post-game mass in Fisher Hall. Close to 100 ACErs, grads, and families visited that weekend. During pre-game in the Badin Office, folks were grabbing a bite to eat, catching up with the ACE staff, and using a restroom that doesn’t require you to hold your breath the whole time! The only time we did have to hold our noses was when David Wartowski (ACE 7) walked in with his wife, both dressed head to toe in Michigan garb. After the game, Fr. Lou DelFra and Fr. Tim Scully celebrated mass for the ACE community. Yet another prayerful moment to put into context the growth of the ACE movement and the important part our faith plays in it!
Check out some pictures from the Michigan weekend. Again, you will need Quicktime to see these, so go here to get a free download.
http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/win.html
The ACE events during the Michigan weekend were such a success that a repeat gathering was coordinated for the UCLA home game. An Open House was again hosted at the Badin Hall office before the game, and many of the current ACErs made the trek back to campus. There were a large number of ACE 7 alumni in for the weekend as well as a few from ACE 3. Mike Downs (ACE 7) made an appearance as well as Kevin Dallum (ACE 7) with his wife and new daughter. The pre-game festivities coincided with a post-game Mass in Fisher Hall, to honor Tim Williamson (ACE 3) who passed away in 2000 after a battle with brain cancer. Tim’s wife, Isabelle Mitura (ACE 3) attended the Mass along with Tim’s family, friends and the larger ACE community.
These ACE events have been just another way to bring the greater community together and recall our friendships and close ties that began at Notre Dame and ACE.