Spiritual Directors for Students

Dan Allen

Associate Director of Spirituality and Service, Alumni Association

dallen3@nd.edu

I serve at the Notre Dame Alumni Association overseeing our spirituality and service outreach. Spiritual direction has been a part of my life both as an undergraduate student at Notre Dame as well as part of the Master of Divinity program. It has been an honor to be part of the spiritual direction ministry on campus for the past few years. My topics of particular interest for spiritual direction include relationships, vocational discernment, marriage and family life, and Franciscan spirituality. While I am originally from Hays, Kansas, my wife and I now live in the area with our four children.

Kate Barrett

Associate Director of Liturgy, Campus Ministry

kbarrett@nd.edu

I have worked in Campus Ministry at Notre Dame in many capacities over the years, while raising our four now-adult children with my husband.  Through my own experiences in ministry and prayer, as well as spiritual direction training through Campus Ministry, I am particularly drawn to accompanying students discerning their next steps, seeking integration of their faith and identity, and exploring the ways God is present in all creation. I'm originally from "Chicagoland" as we say when we're not really from Chicago, and I love reading, running, biking and gardening.

Mimi Beck

Program Director, Graduate Student Life

mbeck1@nd.edu

Mimi is the Program Director for Graduate Student Life at the University of Notre Dame, serving as the primary Student Affairs liaison to the Graduate School and focusing on holistic development and well-being for post-baccalaureate students.  Mimi received her Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies from the University of the Incarnate Word, and her Master of Theological Studies from the University of Notre Dame. Her other roles have included Rector of the Fischer O'Hara-Grace Graduate Residences at ND, and Campus Ministry in her hometown of San Antonio.

A. J. Bellia

O’Toole Professor of Constitutional Law

abellia@nd.edu

I have been teaching law at the University of Notre Dame for over 20 years. A central part of Notre Dame’s mission is to help students develop the “disciplined habits of mind, body, and spirit that characterize educated, skilled, and free human beings.” It is a privilege as a faculty member to participate in all facets of this educational mission, including spiritual direction—the help given by one to another to grow in relationship with God.

Fr. Tom Bertone, C.S.C.

Chaplain to the Sisters of Holy Cross, Formation Staff, Moreau Seminary

tbertone@holycrossusa.org

Originally from New York, I am currently on the formation staff at Moreau Seminary and am chaplain to the Sisters of the Holy Cross residing at St. Mary’s. I have a background in counseling which occasionally is helpful in my sessions with directees, but is not the main focus of our time together. I have helped people dealing with times of transition, loss, and discernment. I encourage people to explore creative ways to connect with God and express their faith.

Annie Boyle

Rector, Pasquerilla West Hall

aboyle@nd.edu

I currently serve as a rector in Pasquerilla West Hall and am honored to walk with students during their time at Notre Dame. I received both my undergraduate degree (PLS) and Master of Theological Studies from Notre Dame and, prior to serving as a rector, worked in Campus Ministry at the University of Portland for a number of years. I especially love to explore discernment and Ignatian Spirituality but enjoy all conversations around faith and prayer. I'm originally from the Chicago area and am grateful to have returned to my Midwestern roots.

Mike Buckler

Director of Student Ministry

mbuckler@nd.edu

I'm a native Floridian who grew up 10 minutes from Universal Orlando. I'm a proud "Irish-Gator" who graduated from the University of Florida with a BA in History and from the University of Notre Dame with a Master of Divinity. I worked full-time in youth and young adult ministry for 16 years, and have been back at Notre Dame in Campus Ministry since Spring 2022. I have been a long-time spiritual coach and am inspired by listening to how God is at work in people's lives. I love going on dates with my wife, playing board games and sports with my four kids, and playing my guitar. 

Becky Czarnecki

Assistant Director of Faith and Justice, Campus Ministry

rczarne2@nd.edu

I am a campus minister at Notre Dame focused on providing students opportunities to encounter God through the poor and marginalized in our communities and around the world.  I grew up all over the country due to my father's military career and after graduating from Providence College and completing the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, I came to the University of Notre Dame for the Master of Divinity program in 2009.  Since graduating, I have remained in South Bend, serving in homeless ministry, parish work, and pastoral care with Notre Dame students.  I am passionate about inviting students to embrace the radical call of the Gospel through attention to the "still small voice" of the Lord, through personal encounters with people who are marginalized, and through action on behalf of the oppressed.  I'm a Midwesterner at heart with a handyman husband and two small children.  You can find me drinking coffee, neglecting my house plants, and talking to strangers about Dorothy Day.

Katie Diltz

Associate Director, ECHO

katiediltz@nd.edu

I work in the McGrath Institute for Church Life where I accompany graduate students in the Echo program and direct the Catechist Academy, which invites Notre Dame students to serve as catechists in local parishes. Much of my work involves forming people to serve the Church through professional and volunteer ministry. I welcome the opportunity to accompany graduate and undergraduate students who are seeking to grow closer to God through spiritual direction. Through conversation and attentive listening, we can explore helpful prayer practices and develop an awareness of God's presence and action. I am married and have three young children who ensure my life is never boring!

Mary Catherine McDonald

Program Coordinator of Pastoral Care

mmcdon18@nd.edu

I am a campus minister at Notre Dame focused on accompanying folks wherever they are in their spiritual journey. I have particular experience accompanying those in grief, doubt, disagreement, and discernment of relationships and vocation. I love accompanying people as they discover and embrace the gifts and challenges of their uniqueness. I grew up in South Bend, spent some time in Latin America, India, the Northwest, and Appalachia, before returning home. I love creating art, dancing, and nature walks.

Brett Perkins

Assistant Director, Evangelization & Religious Education, Campus Ministry

brett.perkins@nd.edu

I have been a campus minister at Notre Dame since 2004, and my primary ministry is in the area of Sacramental Preparation. In this work, I accompany students who are discerning a personal relationship with Jesus while exploring the possibility of becoming Catholic or reclaiming the Catholic faith. I am passionate about walking with students at any stage in this discernment, as well as those who seek to build an integrated life of prayer, or who are wrestling with questions about Catholicism. I also enjoy conversations with those who are just starting out in faith or exploring the possibility of belief in God. I became a Catholic Christian during my sophomore year here, and I hope to help students explore their place in the Body of Christ and what a relationship with Jesus could look like. I believe God desires a relationship of love with every person, and that we are most fully alive when we respond to God in love and strive to live as His disciples. I grew up on a farm in east central Illinois, and graduated from Notre Dame in 2001 (B.B.A., Finance & Theology) and 2011 (M.A., Theology). I love hearing stories over coffee, sharing life with family and friends, pilgrimaging to beautiful churches, cooking and baking, working on my house and yard, and otherwise savoring every season of Midwestern life.

Rebecca Ruvalcaba

Director of Pastoral Formation, Master of Divinity Program

rebecca.ruvalcaba.4@nd.edu

I am currently the Director of Pastoral Formation in the Masters of Divinity Program. I entered this role after five years of service as the Assistant Director of Outreach at University of Notre Dame Campus Ministry. I received my Masters of Divinity degree from the University of Notre Dame in 2017. I was born and raised in South Bend, In and have been married since 1996.

Diana Salgado Huicochea

Assistant Director of Outreach

dsalgad2@nd.edu

Fr. Eric Schimmel, C.S.C.

Rector, Dunne Hall

eschimm2@nd.edu

I am a Holy Cross priest who has served in a variety of ministries, including spending a year and a half in east Africa while in the seminary. Since ordination I have served in 5 parishes, in Campus Ministry and Hispanic Outreach at King's College in Wilkes Barre, PA, and as the director of Andre House of Arizona serving people experiencing homelessness. Currently I am the rector of Dunne Hall and on the formation staff at Moreau seminary. Next summer I plan to complete the 3 year certificate program in Spiritual Direction at Creighton University.

Tami Schmitz

Associate Director, Pastoral Care, Campus Ministry

Schmitz.8@nd.edu

I have been in Campus Ministry at the University of Notre Dame for over 20 years. I received a B.A. in Sociology from St. Norbert College, a Masters in Pastoral Studies from Loyola University in Chicago and my certification in Spiritual Direction from Creighton University. I welcome the opportunity to serve as a spiritual guide no matter where someone finds themselves on the journey of faith. Times of doubt and confusion can be some of the best opportunities for growth and understanding. I have a particular interest in the areas of grief, discernment, and relationships.  I am trained in Ignatian Spirituality. I am originally from Door County, Wisconsin. I love Ireland, pickleball, hiking, the Green Bay Packers and the Amish.

Mike Urbaniak

Assistant Director of Pastoral Care, Campus Ministry

murbania@nd.edu

I work as the Assistant Director of Pastoral Care, where I have the great honor of accompanying people in whatever is going on in their life, particularly through the eyes of faith. I also get to express this accompaniment in Spiritual Direction. I am interested in really helping people pray with the questions of life and becoming attuned to how God is speaking and moving in their lives. I find great peace in silence and contemplative prayer, but find great joy in helping people uncover their own "prayer fingerprint." I am originally from Toledo, OH. I am a graduate of Notre Dame ('10, M.Div. '14) and find great inspiration from the Congregation of Holy Cross. My wife, Megan, and I have three children who keep us on our toes, but mostly bring us so much joy. I like sports, (golf, in particular), musicals, nature, biking, and so much more.

Megan Urbaniak

Coordinator of Ministries, Campus Ministry

megan.urbaniak@nd.edu

I am a campus minister and member of our liturgy team. I enjoy walking with students at any point in their faith journey. I especially appreciate exploring the ways God is present in the real stuff of our lives, grand, small, easy, challenging and everything in between. I am originally from Ohio, but am happy to call South Bend home with my husband, Mike and our three growing kids.