Welcome Letter
March 2026
Dear fellow education innovators and practitioners,
It probably seems redundant to hear a priest say that he loves the Pope. But I do. And I don’t think I’m alone! Isn’t it amazing to hear the Pope speak in an American accent, see him wear a White Sox hat, or know that he will likely be cheering against Notre Dame basketball when they play Villanova in Rome this fall?
Pope Leo wrote an Apostolic Letter this past October on the 60th anniversary of the Vatican II document on education. You probably already know that it’s called, “Drawing New Maps of Hope.” In it, he offered a challenge to Catholic universities in particular to “offer…more tables to sit around together, without unnecessary hierarchies, to touch the wounds of history and seek, in the Spirit, the wisdom that springs from the lives of peoples.”
This is the 9th annual Blended Learning in Catholic Schools Symposium (BLiCSS), and I feel pretty good that I think we’re taking up Pope Leo’s challenge by being here together this spring. Our theme this year is “Technology, Teaching, and Transformative Practices,” which will give us a chance to move beyond surface-level discussions of tools and tips to explore that which is truly transformational in our Catholic schools. This gathering gives us the opportunity to share ideas, hear from practitioners in the field of Catholic education, and engage in this professional, personal, and perhaps even spiritual growth that the Holy Father encouraged.
Once again, I’m thrilled to welcome all of you to the University of Notre Dame’s beautiful campus, and we’re looking forward to sharing the wisdom that each of you brings to this year’s BLiCSS.
Thank you for your presence, your insights, and your commitment to the work ahead.
In Christ,
It probably seems redundant to hear a priest say that he loves the Pope. But I do. And I don’t think I’m alone! Isn’t it amazing to hear the Pope speak in an American accent, see him wear a White Sox hat, or know that he will likely be cheering against Notre Dame basketball when they play Villanova in Rome this fall?
Pope Leo wrote an Apostolic Letter this past October on the 60th anniversary of the Vatican II document on education. You probably already know that it’s called, “Drawing New Maps of Hope.” In it, he offered a challenge to Catholic universities in particular to “offer…more tables to sit around together, without unnecessary hierarchies, to touch the wounds of history and seek, in the Spirit, the wisdom that springs from the lives of peoples.”
This is the 9th annual Blended Learning in Catholic Schools Symposium (BLiCSS), and I feel pretty good that I think we’re taking up Pope Leo’s challenge by being here together this spring. Our theme this year is “Technology, Teaching, and Transformative Practices,” which will give us a chance to move beyond surface-level discussions of tools and tips to explore that which is truly transformational in our Catholic schools. This gathering gives us the opportunity to share ideas, hear from practitioners in the field of Catholic education, and engage in this professional, personal, and perhaps even spiritual growth that the Holy Father encouraged.
Once again, I’m thrilled to welcome all of you to the University of Notre Dame’s beautiful campus, and we’re looking forward to sharing the wisdom that each of you brings to this year’s BLiCSS.
Thank you for your presence, your insights, and your commitment to the work ahead.
In Christ,
Fr. Nate Wills, C.S.C., Ph.D.
Ryan Family ACE Professorship
Director, Higher-Powered Learning
Faculty, Mary Ann Remick Leadership Program