🌱 What did SNL’s James Austin Johnson really think of Notre Dame?

Hi Notre Dame! We have the latest buzz right here. Let's keep you in the loop and get this morning started right! ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• What did SNL’s James Austin Johnson really think of Notre Dame?
• How a Notre Dame priest helped shape Indiana’s new ecology blueprint
• Rock legends bring their high-voltage tour to Notre Dame this summer

Also on today's calendar: Luke Combs at Notre Dame Stadium and 5 more events.

Today's riddle: What did the inventor of the knock-knock joke win? 🤔 (Answer below!)

---

Weather forecast:

• Friday: Near-record temperatures, with a high of 82 and low of 51 degrees.
• Saturday: Rain and a thunderstorm, temps: high: 59, low: 33.
• Sunday: Windy; a morning shower, with a high of 49 and low of 30 degrees.

---

📰 News we're reading

1. SUB hosts SNL comedian James Austin Johnson for live comedy set (ndsmcobserver.com) — Notre Dame students packed DeBartolo Hall this week for a Student Union Board comedy night featuring SNL cast member James Austin Johnson. He riffed on the campus’s political vibe, shared his path into comedy and SNL, and offered practical advice for students interested in improv or stand-up, mixing political impressions with self-deprecating humor and celebrity stories.
   

2. Indiana's bishops release pastoral letter on ‘integral ecology' (evdiomessage.org) — Notre Dame residents may be especially interested that a University of Notre Dame theology-and-science professor helped shape Indiana’s new bishops’ pastoral letter on “integral ecology.” The document links faith, water, and environmental stewardship across the state, drawing on research, classes, and even photography rooted on the Notre Dame campus to urge Hoosiers toward ecological responsibility and a deeper spiritual view of creation.
   

3. Rock singer hospitalized with ‘poisonous' spider bite while on tour with AC/DC (nbcchicago.com) — AC/DC’s “PWR UP” tour, featuring Taylor Momsen’s band The Pretty Reckless, is scheduled to stop in Notre Dame this summer, bringing a major rock show close to home. Momsen recently revealed she was hospitalized in Mexico after a poisonous spider bite but has continued performing, and the tour is still on track to reach U.S. cities including Notre Dame.
   

4. Will Giving AI Chatbots Spiritual Guidelines Really Make a Difference? (movieguide.org) — Notre Dame is taking a leading role in shaping the ethics of artificial intelligence, backed by a new $50 million Lilly Endowment grant for a faith‑based AI ethics network. The story also follows how Anthropic, maker of Claude, is consulting Christian leaders and Notre Dame scholars on spiritual and moral guidelines for chatbots.
   

5. Heather King: The bygone era of 'Blue Trout and Black Truffles' (angelusnews.com) — Notre Dame readers get a nod here as the piece recalls Sister Madeleva Wolff, the influential former president of Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame and her vision of truly “Catholic” literature. From there it warmly explores Joseph Wechsberg’s classic food memoir, using his stories of exacting chefs and vanished restaurants to reflect on discipline, beauty, and faith-filled appreciation of everyday pleasures.
   

---

📸 Around Notre Dame

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

---

🗓 Upcoming Events in Notre Dame

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Friday April 17

• Dunnedance Film Festival (2026)
  Browning Cinema, DeBartolo Performing Arts Center, 100 Performing Arts Center, Notre Dame
  9:30 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

---

Other local events

Saturday April 18

• Luke Combs at Notre Dame Stadium
  Notre Dame Stadium , stadium , 2010 Moose Krause Cir , Notre Dame
  9:20 am
• Luke Combs - My Kinda Saturday Night Tour
  Notre Dame Stadium , stadium , 2010 Moose Krause Cir , Notre Dame
  3:00 pm
• Jake Worthington
  Notre Dame Stadium , stadium , 2010 Moose Krause Cir , Notre Dame
  3:00 pm
• Michelle Cann, piano
  DeBartolo Performing Arts Center , 100 Performing Arts Center , Notre Dame
  4:00 pm

Thursday April 23

• ResearchWise: The 3 Rs — Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement
  McCourtney Hall , 54417 Leahy Dr , Notre Dame
  1:00 pm
• Karolina Rooney and Bassant Eldaly (University of Notre Dame)
  McCourtney Hall , 54417 Leahy Dr , Notre Dame
  3:00 pm
• The Art of Encounter: Pádraig Ó Tuama at the Raclin Murphy Museum of Art
  Raclin Murphy Museum of Art , St André Wy , Notre Dame
  6:30 pm

---

📣 Notre Dame Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

---

🗓 Events Nearby

Saturday April 18

• Earth Day Celebration
  Unity Gardens , 3701 Prast Blvd , South Bend
  9:00 am

Monday April 20

• Academic Super Bowl Invitational Meet
  Paul H. Schmucker Middle School , 56045 Bittersweet Rd , Mishawaka
  4:30 pm

Thursday April 23

• Teacher of the Year
  Edison Middle School , 2701 Eisenhower Ave , South Bend
  5:00 pm
• RHS Engineering Innovation Fair & Freshmen Information Night
  Riley High School , 1902 Fellows St , South Bend
  6:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

---

 

Thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making Notre Dame PatchAM possible:

• United cab — (574) 904-1781
  Need a ride? Call United Cab 574-233-9599

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

---

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• University of Notre Dame posted a job opening for Graphic Design and Marketing Student Assistant in Notre Dame. Apply here.
• MyJobsCorner posted a job opening for Furniture Assembler Jobs: Hiring Immediately! Full Time / Part Time - $18-$47/Hr in South Bend. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Notre Dame here.

---

Ok Notre Dame! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: The NO-BELL prize (Thank you Gina M. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

---

👉 Help make Patch AM better

• Help us grow by suggesting local news sources.
• Shape this newsletter with your feedback.
• List items for sale or services offered

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

---

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook