Ava Conklin ’22
Sometimes you need a sign from above to know that you’re in the right place. Feeling the presence of her great uncle John Nichols ‘45 after he died gave Ava Conklin ‘22 the sign that Notre Dame was exactly where she was meant to be:
“Just over a month after he passed, I received my dorm assignment: Lyons Hall. Curious, I searched for more information and felt chills while I read. Lyons Hall was dedicated to the memory of Professor Joseph A. Lyons, who died on August 22, 1888. That date, August 22, was my uncle’s birthday. As I read further, the words ‘a statue of St. Joseph the Worker stands atop the archway’ leaped out at me, filling me with an indescribable sense of my uncle’s presence.”
In this season of Advent, we remember St. Joseph’s strength as a guide and protector for the Holy Family. May we reach out to him and to all those who have guided us in faith during our life’s journey.
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Hi I enjoy the nostalgia and the compassionate stories
This was such a great story, thank you Ava for sharing.
Absolutely wonderful story!
God bless your journey forward, and I pray the strength of St. Joseph is with you always 🙏
Ava,
thank you for sharing your story of your uncle. May God bless him as He has blessed you. So proud of you, Ava, your friend, Ron Vero.
Such a lovely story…Thank you for sharing ❤️🙏🏻
RIP Uncle John, and Ava continue Success in the Medical Field….Go IRISH!!!!
As a former resident of Lyons Hall (when ND was all men) your story brought back fond memories and touched my heart. God bless you and all the Lyons women,
What a beautiful story, Ava. Thank you for sharing – it brought tears to my eyes!!! Best of luck in med school!
Just beautiful, Ava!
We will be using the daily Advent message at our Annual Christmas Mass and Lunch this Saturday, December 7th.
Lyons Hall and the Lyons chapel always frames my spiritual memories of Notre Dame. Her pre-med experience brought warm memories. Beautiful!
One of the greatest gifts our University gives us is our relationship with other alums, both family and friends.
I loved my two years in Lyons: watching “my” tree out my window turn brilliant in the fall, lose its leaves and regain them in the spring.
Thank you for the gift of your message, Ava. You will go far.
Ava, thank you for sharing your beautiful story!
The blood of those who loved us is forever in the bricks of Notre Dame. You will always find your great uncle embracing you in every part of this prestigious university.
Thank you for a beautiful memory of you and your Uncle
God Bless
Such a moving and inspiring story…gonna bet your Great Uncle has the biggest smile up there, knowing you’re both an ND grad and a doctor…go make him proud!
Lovely tribute to your Uncle John and ☘️ ND 2022, Ava❣️ All the best as you continue to follow in his footsteps.
Thank you, Ava. Your story brought tears to my eyes. I was a graduate of Notre Dame and spent all 4 of my years there in Lyons Hall. Congratulations to Lyons Hall celebrating the 50th year of being a women’s dorm. Thank you for becoming a doctor. I have had a multitude of medical experiences, and you will no doubt help a tremendous amount of people in your life. God bless you and your life. Peace, Health, and God’s Love
Such a sweet and beautiful story. Truly love the connections to St. Joseph. Thank you for sharing.
Ava…..I too had an uncle who attended ND. He was an also a halfback on Rockne’s football teams in 1924 and 1925. After graduating from ND he went into the priesthood. He was the athletic director for Saint Thomas College. My uncle Bernie was a wonderful person and someone who I greatly admired. The only time I saw uncle Bernie at ND was while I was a resident of Lyons Hall. I have many good memories of Lyons.
George Coughlin 1969