Prof. Meghan Sullivan
Reflecting on the tragic deaths of two students, Wilsey Family Professor of Philosophy Meghan Sullivan marvels at the presence of simple goodness amidst profound suffering.
“And then, one weekend, right before Halloween, two of my students — Olivia and Valeria — were crossing the street near campus, struck by a car, and killed. Just the weekend before, we graded drafts of their ‘What is the Good Life?’ essays. One had written about her career dreams of service in Central America. The other wrote how she finally understood how deeply she loved her brother. I was crushed.”
One of the beautiful gifts of Advent is the realization that God not only came to accompany us in our suffering, but also in the simple, humble, often absurd moments of our human lives. Like in a lowly manger scene, or with the gift of a pumpkin.
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Thank you for sharing this beautiful story. Sending out prayers for Olivia, Valeria, their families at home and their Notre Dame family.
Thank you for sharing your story. My mom was also killed while she was crossing a street. The pain l feel is still unbearable.
The gift of a pumpkin–what a tremendous and unexpected gift.
The pumpkin benefactor/giver clearly and impact-fully reminds me of how I like to give relatively small gifts to individuals who are expecting nothing. Being aware of when to do this is amazingly satisfying and often impactful for the recipient. This activity provides me with great Joy. In fact, this small “ministry” may be my primary legacy. I appreciate each of you.
Thank you for remembering the students and sharing your story and reminding us of simple signs of joy and hope all around
Thank you, Meghan.
Meghan,
so powerful and touching.
thank you for the gift you gave me.
Meghan,
My Mother’s name was Valeria, which is not a common name, so your story resonated in my heart and spirit in a personal way. I can’t thank you and all of the other Sacred Stories of Advent contributors enough for the inspiration that shines from each of your reflections. My husband and I eagerly listen to them together every morning as we await the coming of Christmas day. I especially love how hanging your picture ornaments on the tree finishes each story and the music that plays in the background.
What a unique and uplifting gift these stories give to all of us.
With praise and thanksgiving to each of you.
God is always with us, thank
you for reminding me to look. ????
Professor Sullivan, I remember hearing the news of Olivia and Valeria’s tragic deaths and praying for their souls and for the well-being of their families. It still brings tears to my eyes as I, the parent of a former ND student, can only imagine the pain and suffering of their families. Parents often entrust their children to the care of God when they are so very far away from home and it doesn’t make sense to us when something like this happens. Thank you for shedding light on events that occurred in the wake of this tragic event that serve to remind us that God was certainly there with Olivia and Valeria and all those who knew and loved them. He is most definitely in the small details of life, continuing to comfort and love us. I pray Olivia and Valeria are joyfully in Heaven with our Heavenly Father, who grieves alongside us and comforts those left behind while welcoming the beautiful souls of our loved ones into His Heavenly kingdom. May we trust in this and not lose our faith or hope in the midst of such horrible tragedies. Jesus, I trust in You!
Thank you for the reflection and all the responses during this Advent season! A gift to all who read it! Mother Mary pray for all of us on this your feast day!
Thank you for sharing such a faith filled story!
God works in ways that we can’t understand but I know that He has two new angels that are helping Him do His work.
This advent journey touched my heart & soul. I’m truly sorry for the senseless & tragic loss of life which were the catalyst of this peregrination of reflection. May the memories of these two students be a blessing. Thank for sharing this reflection.
Professor Sullivan, thank you for your reflection
Hearing you speak about Olivia and Valeria, and the impact that their lives had on others, was very powerful. Olivia and Vlaeria are alive in your heart and soul, and they always will be. As a priest said to me, at the funeral of an 8 year old boy, “God puts us here for a purpose, some of us come to the world, find purpose in touching many lives quickly and changing us before they go home to God.” I feel that your story, told a couple years after their passing, is a testimony to how many lives were touched and changed by these young women. God bless you.
Professor,
My husband passed suddenly on this day five years ago and to read your Sacred Story this morning was a healing balm. Our Lord is truly in the small details and small gestures and my tragic loss reminds me of this daily. Thank you for being an important messenger for me on my grieving day…
What a beautiful testimonial to those two young women who were taken from us in the prime of their lives. I’ll pray for the repose of their souls today. I also had this vision of Olivia and Valeria being welcomed into heaven by Fr. Ted Hesburgh.
Thank you Professor Sullivan. So so sad & tragic. My heart goes out to their families. How they would have enjoyed their pumpkins. Life is so precarious. Patrick ND ‘72
Beautiful and sad at the same time. This brought me to tears. I, too, will pray for the souls of Valeria and Olivia. Thank you for talking about and remembering these 2 beautiful souls.
Such a beautiful sharing❤️. Thank you for helping me slow down and reflect on God’s Master Plan. I am in so much physical pain that I have been too focused on me and how to get better….Let go and let God is my take away.
Thank you Professor for such a profound story. “God works in mysterious ways” – an oft used phrase commonly considered to be trite and worn out, which of course does not in ANY way mean it’s not 100% true. Faith and Hope can at times certainly be great mysteries to us, yet in the power of God’s Love they can take on moments of ultimate clarity and purity. Prayers for the families of these two young women.
Thank you so much for honoring these beautiful young women. I was blessed to have worked with Valeria as her College Counselor and could not have been more happier to see her attend her dream school of Notre Dame . It was especially special to me because my Uncle ,Aunt and cousins all went to Notre Dame. My uncle Mike MacCurdy and his wife Jane were so kind to talk to Valeria when she was accepted. In fact he was the one who gave me the horrible news that October morning of Valeria being taken from us on Earth. But I will always remember his words…Valinda , God only takes who were ready.
I now work with her cousins, brother and friends as they prepare for their university adventure. Some have gone on to Notre Dame, her cousin Diego Trujillo, and tell me her spirit is in every corner of campus. Blessed and Grateful ti have been in her life . She will aways be in my heart.
Absolutely Beautiful…thank you for your model of love and faith for your students. Christ does indeed let us know that he is present
Peace and God’s Blessings
Thank you for sharing and reminding us how fragile life is. Our family will pray for these families and the souls of these beautiful lives.