Father Fred Jenga, C.S.C., is the President of Holy Cross Family Ministries, a worldwide family of Catholic ministries founded by Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C., in 1942 as Family Rosary, and later in 1947 as Family Theater Productions. Holy Cross Family Ministries continues the legacy of Venerable Patrick Peyton, the “Rosary Priest” and Catholic media pioneer. Father Peyton spent 51 years of his priesthood (1941-1992) serving the spiritual needs of families, particularly encouraging them to pray together daily, especially the Rosary. Today, Father Jenga leads and oversees all ministries of this international organization, focused on promoting prayer life and family prayer. With 27 ministry centers in 17 countries, the organization helps families pray as is reflected in the founder’s famous credo, “The family that prays together stays together.”

Father Jenga was born in 1974 in the Jinja District of Uganda. In addition to his native language of Lusoga, he speaks English, Luganda, Kiswahili and Rutooro. He is currently learning Spanish. Father Jenga is a member of the Congregation of Holy Cross and made his solemn vows in 2005 and was ordained a priest in the same year. He earned a Bachelor of Philosophy from Pontifical Urban University in Rome, Bachelor of Theology from Catholic University of East Africa, Master’s in Journalism and Communication at Makerere University of Kampala, Master’s in Communication Studies at San Francisco State University, and a doctorate in Communication Studies from University of Texas at Austin.

Passionate about helping families pray and grow spiritually, Father Jenga serves with a team of professionals pioneering innovative ways to benefit 21st century families. Guiding all of Holy Cross Family Ministries’ efforts is the recognition that “The Family that Prays Together Stays Together” and “A world at prayer is a world at peace.” Building on Father Peyton’s rich legacy, Holy Cross Family Ministries uses mass media, social media, and live events to accomplish its mission across five continents. Father Jenga is committed to helping to accomplish this one family at a time. He believes that Pope Francis’ bold statement in calling the family “God’s Masterpiece” echoes Venerable Patrick Peyton’s belief about the family as “our most prized possession.”

He is a public intellectual, who regularly writes for various national Ugandan newspapers such as the New Vision, Daily Monitor, and Weekly Observer. Father Jenga has also been interviewed by the BBC World Service on matters of religion in the public space.

Father Jenga has served as a teacher in Africa, China, and the United States. Prior to his current role as President, he served seven years as the East Africa Region Director of Holy Cross Family Ministries, where he developed a cross-cultural competence that is an asset in guiding this worldwide ministry. Within East Africa, he established full-time teams of lay people who continue to work as effective collaborators.

For the past five years, Father Jenga has served as a Corporate Board Member of Holy Cross Family Ministries, where he worked with the Executive Team at the world headquarters in North Easton, Massachusetts. He lived in the United States for seven years while pursuing advanced studies at several universities.

His graduate studies in communications have enabled Father Jenga to actively serve as a teacher, lecturer, and seminary formator. He has taught at Tangaza University College in Kenya and Shanghai University in China, as well as the University of Texas at Austin, San Francisco State University, and University of California Berkeley in the United States. In addition, he has earned certificates in Research and Writing Skills from the Centre for Basic Research in Kampala and Training in Human Rights from the Uganda Human Rights Commission.

As a rhetorician, Father Jenga studies persuasion in religious and political messaging. His work focuses on finding strategic and effective ways to create and disseminate ideas and concepts. This understanding of communications has made him a sought-after presenter at numerous academic conferences in the United States, United Kingdom, and China. He has also served as a researcher and had his work published in several peer-reviewed books and journals. His articles have appeared in the “Journal of Communication and Religion,” “Dialogues in Social Justice: An Adult Education Journal,” “Journal of Religion and Society,” “Journal of Health Communication,” as well as various other titles.

His knowledge and expertise in communications has resulted in several academic awards and appointments, including Research Fellow in the Project on Conflict Resolution at the University of Texas at Austin, Distinguished Achievement Award for Academic Excellence at the College of Liberal and Creative Arts with San Francisco State University, the Routledge, 2018 Francis & Taylor Award from the National Communication Association, and Outstanding Graduate Student in Communication Studies at San Francisco State University.

In addition, Father Jenga serves or has served on the Lions Club of Austin, the Awards Committee for Rhetoric Society of America, the Committee on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility of the Department of Communication Studies at the University of Texas at Austin, and is a member of the leadership team of the Congregation of Holy Cross in East Africa.

Larry Garatoni
CEO of the Garatoni Family Office

Larry is the CEO of the Garatoni Family Office. He received a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Purdue in 1961 and completed the Owners/President program at Harvard. He attained the rank of captain in the Army Corp of Engineers. He and Judy have four children, 13 grandchildren and one great grandchild and have been happily married for 63 years. Over a 45-year business career he started, managed and either sold or bought more than 15 companies. He sold all his business assets in 2007 and formed the Garatoni Family Office. The Garatoni Family Office is starting its sixth not for profit entity.

Elizabeth Naquin Borger, MBA
Senior Vice President/Investments

Liz serves as Senior Vice President/Investments with The Elkhart Group at Stifel, one of the nation’s leading full-service wealth management and investment banking firms. Liz  leads a team of 14 professionals that serve individuals and institutions from coast to coast. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Notre Dame and then a Master of Business Administration from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. She had the honor of delivering the commencement address for her class at graduation. Forbes has listed her among America’s Top Women Wealth Advisors. She is also on Forbes’ list of Best in State Wealth Advisors.   The Wall Street Journal and other publications have featured Liz in articles regarding her work with a complex multinational estate.

Liz began her career with Inland Steel, a $2.6 billion major steel firm based in Chicago. After 14 years, serving in leadership roles in sales, marketing and strategic planning, Liz earned the distinction of being the highest ranking female and was selected by the board to be on the officer replacement list for the corporation.  In her mid 30’s, Liz chose to relocate back to her hometown of Elkhart, Indiana and be near family. She later married her husband Tom Borger, a fellow Notre Dame graduate and renowned architect. They were married 24 years when he passed away in 2017 from an aggressive brain cancer.

Liz learned the importance of being involved in civic activities from an early age. Her father stressed the value of speaking up and making a difference; that if you were involved, you should be committed and willing to lead. She has done so by serving as Chair of the Board and/or President for Premier Arts, The Elkhart County Symphony, The Notre Dame Club of St. Joe Valley, PEO Chapter AI, Progress Club and The Women’s Care Center which is a South Bend based organization serving mothers and  babies across the nation.  She is happily serving on the board of The Women’s Care Center again, as well as on the board for enFocus, Shakespeare in Performance at Notre Dame and as a founding director for the Institute for Economic Communities. In the past Liz has served on the boards of Loveway, The Elkhart County 4-H Fair, the Elco Commission, Indiana University-South Bend Performing Arts Council, Wellfield Botanic Gardens, WNIT-TV Michiana Public Broadcasting as well as the Community Foundation of Elkhart County.

Given her business experiences, Liz has lectured in classes at The Harvard Graduate School of Business, University of Michigan, University of Illinois, Drake University and, for more than 35 years, at the University of Notre Dame.  For ten years Liz served as a Trustee for Holy Cross College.

Liz says that her favorite role of all is as “Nana” to 10 beautiful grandchildren.

Deacon Melvin R. Tardy, Jr.
Associate Advising Professor, College of Arts & Letter 

Deacon Mel Tardy earned a BA in Studio Art in 1986 and an MBA in International Finance in 1990 at the University of Notre Dame, where he serves as an Associate Advising Professor in the College of Arts & Letters.

Ordained a permanent deacon in May 2011 by Bishop Kevin Rhoades, Tardy serves the Diocese of Ft. Wayne-South Bend at St. Augustine Parish; as chair of the Black Catholic Advisory Board; as a Foundations of Faith instructor for educators; and as a member of the Deacon Admissions and Scrutiny Board.

Deacon Tardy also serves as president of the National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus and on the boards of the National Black Catholic Congress, the National Association of Black Catholic Deacons and the John S. Marten Program in Homiletics & Liturgics at Notre Dame.  He is a director on the Mission Integration Committee for the University of St. Francis board of directors, and a member of the Catholic Criminal Justice Reform Network of the Lumen Christi Institute in Chicago and the African American Vocations Committee of the National Religious Vocations Conference.

Tardy is a contributing author for the 2014 book: Black Domers: 70 Years at Notre Dame.  His recent articles include The Diaconal Vocation and The Power of the Eucharist for Our Sunday Visitor.  Tardy is a dynamic public speaker, workshop presenter and retreat leader who has inspired clergy, religious, and laity across the nation.

In 2021, Tardy was presented the Archbishop James P. Lyke African American Male Image Award by The Knights of Peter Claver, Ladies Auxiliary St. Felicitas ~ St. Ailbe Court #181 in Chicago.

He and his wife Annie serve in the St. Vincent de Paul Society, the Tolton Ambassadors of Indiana, and the Youth & Young Adult Ministry at St. Augustine Parish in South Bend, Indiana.

PARKING

Guests may park in any Holy Cross College campus student parking lot, with the exception of any barricaded sections (Pfeil Center lot and commuter lot).

Parking spots have been reserved for those guests with special parking needs.  Please contact Holy Cross Security for details.

SUGGESTED ATTIRE

Appropriate dress is business to business casual attire.  Please no jeans, sweats, athletic shoes.  Note that graduates will ascend and descend stairs, so flats and low heals are recommended.

ROBING AND LINE-UP

Please report to the Vincent Lounge / Ave Brew Café at 1:15 pm. for robing and ALPHABETICAL line-up.  Your guests are invited to be seated in the Pfeil Center at this time.

Each guest with a ceremony ticket will be allowed to be seated at 1:00 p.m.; guests without tickets will be invited to enter the McKenna arena once the graduation procession has entered the gym.  Un-ticketed guests may be seated as space permits, or take standing room only.

Do not bring valuables, as there will be no secure place for purses, backpacks, etc.

Graduates should wear their retainable cap and gown, and Stole of Gratitude.

Caps may be decorated in a tasteful manner.

CAP TASSELS will have the Holy Cross shield attached. The 2023 tassel dangle has purposely been removed and may be reattached to your tassel AFTER commencement. Tassels should be placed on the RIGHT side of the cap for procession.  Once degrees are conferred graduates will be instructed to move tassel to the left side of cap.

Graduates will line up alphabetically, in a single line, behind the Registrar, flag bearers, and student presenters.  Process to the Pfeil Center.

CEREMONY

Names of each graduate will be taped on the graduate chairs in the Pfeil Center; please have a seat in the chair with your name. 

The Registrar will invite each row of graduates to stand at the appropriate time, to proceed to the stage.  Names will be read alphabetically.  Proceed across the stage, stop for one moment, receive diploma from college president, look off stage, and smile —your photo will taken while you shake hands with Dr. Clark.  Descend from the stage and reclaim your seat.

During the ceremony, Dr. Griffin will instruct graduates to look upward toward the running track for group / class photo to be taken.

Looking for official class rings and jewelry? Click here to view and order class rings.

Click here to view and order graduation announcements.

Click here to view and order diploma frames.