Not to be overshadowed by the exciting soccer matchup at Notre Dame Stadium, the history of Celtic FC and the University of Notre Dame share a common thread. Both storied entities were founded by priests with a common goal to support the greater good of the world. Father Edward Sorin is known for his profound vision saying, “This college cannot fail to succeed...It will be one of the most powerful means for good.” In 1842, during the worst winter on record, Father Sorin and several Brothers of the Holy Cross journeyed from Vincennes, Indiana, to South Bend. In the wilderness of Northern Indiana, at a place known as St. Mary of the Lake, they established the University of Notre Dame to lay a foundation for his vision to achieve good in the world.
45 years later, Irish Marist Brother Walfrid founded Celtic Football Club as an initiative to help feed the poor and hungry in Glasgow’s East End. Brother Walfrid convened a meeting of local Irish businessmen to organize the foundation of a football team to raise money for charity. The club was born amid a boom in a still relatively new sport of Association Football or, as most Americans know it, soccer.
“It is fantastic that this summer will see two huge institutions in Celtic and the University of Notre Dame join forces – two world renowned organizations with a such a track record of success, but also such a proud and heartfelt social dimension and purpose to help others across our wider communities," said Brendan Rodgers, Celtic FC manager, "To be playing at the famous and iconic University of Notre Dame, such a fantastic venue, will be a unique moment for the club and we are sure the home of the ‘Fighting Irish’ will generate huge support for Celtic and inspire a great sporting occasion."
The same year Celtic FC was founded, the first American football game took place on the grounds of Notre Dame, as Notre Dame took on Michigan the day before Thanksgiving. One year later, Celtic FC played its first game, on Monday, May 28,1888, to a crowd of 2,000 who braved a chilly evening at the first Celtic Park. Celtic have competed at the now Celtic Park since 1892 and have been the staple of Scottish football since the club’s inception. Later that season, Celtic FC took home the first win of the Scottish League Championship. 31 years later, Notre Dame took home its own National Championship, and both teams continued their wins in the decades that followed.
At the core of Celtic is their commitment to service, which still stands today. Celtic FC’s Foundation honors the legacy of Brother Walfrid and creates opportunities for the world’s most vulnerable individuals and groups: tackling poverty in its communities, building kitchens in Africa, increasing movement in primary school-aged children, and adding a sound-proof, sensory-friendly viewing room to the club’s stadium. Celtic FC Foundation mirrors Notre Dame’s commitment to the global good, as mentioned in the University’s 2023 strategic framework which notes that Notre Dame must be the leading global Catholic research university, on par with but distinct from the world’s best private universities. This effort to educate students and conduct research at the highest level animated by a distinctive Catholic mission is one of the most exciting and consequential experiments in global higher education.
“Let us rise up and embrace the mission for our time: to build a Notre Dame that is bigger and better than ever—a great Catholic university for the 21st century, one of the pre-eminent research institutions in the world, a center for learning whose intellectual and religious traditions converge to make it a healing, unifying, enlightening force for a world deeply in need,” said Notre Dame President Emeritus Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C.
“We are proud to not only welcome guests from across the country and world to the South BendーElkhart region, but also to give our community a chance to cheer for these historic clubs,” said Notre Dame Executive Vice President Shannon Cullinan. “Events at Notre Dame Stadium have long been a boon to our local economy, and we look forward to another exciting ‘football’ weekend in South Bend.”
Celtic FC and Chelsea FC will face-off on Saturday, July 27th at 4 p.m. at Notre Dame Stadium. For more information on tickets, where to eat, what to explore and more surrounding match day weekend visit http://experience.nd.edu/ChelseavCeltic.