by Tamara Heitschmidt | Dec 24, 2022
Merry Christmas Dolly Duffy ’84, Executive Director of the Notre Dame Alumni Association, invites you into her home for this Christmas greeting. As we begin the celebration of Christmas, please know that you are always in our prayers and that Our Lady’s...
by Tamara Heitschmidt | Dec 23, 2022
Heather Christophersen ’98 Vice President for Human Resources Heather Christophersen remembers a chance meeting with Fr. Hesburgh that guided the trajectory of her life. “As I left the Grotto to head back to Lewis Hall, I suddenly saw Fr. Hesburgh in his...
by Tamara Heitschmidt | Dec 22, 2022
Rev. Martin Lam Nguyen C.S.C., ’88 M.Div. Fr. Martin Nguyen, Notre Dame Associate Professor of Painting & Drawing, relates the incredible journey of his life through immigration, ordination, and a life of humble service. “My work focuses on taking the...
by Tamara Heitschmidt | Dec 21, 2022
Shelby Carroll ’19 MBA Shelby Carroll ’19 EMBA recounts her first days at the University and the unexpected welcome she received from a Notre Dame legend, Professor Emil T. Hofman. “No matter how my day went, Professor Hofman always made my day...
by Tamara Heitschmidt | Dec 20, 2022
Keo Pangan The Notre Dame Alma Mater never loses its potency for junior Keo Pangan as he shares it from the football field to the Basilica to his dorm chapel. “On a typical gameday weekend, I get to partake in Notre Dame’s great tradition through four means....
by Tamara Heitschmidt | Dec 19, 2022
Brianna May The loving relationship between a mother and a daughter and the memory of campus walks together highlight this story by staff member Brianna May. “Today, I still get a warm and fuzzy feeling walking that familiar path. It reconnects me to my memories...
by Tamara Heitschmidt | Dec 18, 2022
Micki Kidder ’19 MBA Micki Kidder, Vice President for Undergraduate Enrollment, details a sudden medical diagnosis and the caring support of the surrounding community. “Almost immediately after, multiple ND alumni who are leading physicians in South Bend,...
by Tamara Heitschmidt | Dec 17, 2022
Benjamin Morrison Notre Dame football player, Benjamin Morrison felt far behind his peers when he first arrived on campus, but the practice of regular prayer helped renew his strength. “As time went by, I started to gain some confidence in my new surroundings. I...
by Tamara Heitschmidt | Dec 16, 2022
Julia McKenna Despite a struggle with mental health, Julia McKenna, sociology major and fencing team member, pursues her best life through faith, family, and therapeutic care. “On one walk, Father Pete said something I’ve continued to keep close to my heart. He...
by Tamara Heitschmidt | Dec 15, 2022
Bobby Kloska ’90 Bobby Kloska ’90, reveals a fascinating story that interweaves the South Bend community, Notre Dame’s history, and his family’s home. “Back at the house in South Bend, shortly after Joe left for training, the Ruetz family...
by Tamara Heitschmidt | Dec 14, 2022
Landon Slaggert Experience the strength of family bonds with Siegfried Hall junior Landon Slaggert, as he reflects on what gives him the fortitude to play on the Fighting Irish hockey team. “When I finally made it to Notre Dame, I also got to join my older...
by Tamara Heitschmidt | Dec 13, 2022
Evan Figueroa Understanding that our worth is not defined by what we accomplish, sophomore political science major Evan Figueroa remembers the moment he entrusted his future to God. “At that moment, I had never felt so much peace and serenity. The presence of my...
by Tamara Heitschmidt | Dec 12, 2022
Ryan Harris ’07 Former Notre Dame football player Ryan Harris ’07 considers what unites all people of goodwill across religious and social backgrounds, especially within the Notre Dame family. “While at Notre Dame and beyond, I have had wonderful...
by Tamara Heitschmidt | Dec 11, 2022
Maria Di Pasquale ’90 Making a life-altering move cross-country for Maria Di Pasquale ’90 and her family was a risk worth taking when surrounded by a life-giving community. “Then we visited a place I didn’t know as well, the sundial in front of...
by Tamara Heitschmidt | Dec 10, 2022
Ryan Coury The first occurrence of a snow day turned into a joyful moment of grace and camaraderie for Notre Dame Leprechaun Ryan Coury. “We trudged over to McGlinn Fields and embraced the cold in every sense of the word, playing pickup tackle football with the...
by Tamara Heitschmidt | Dec 9, 2022
Liz Trantowski ’96 Hear Liz Trantowski ’96, Alumni Association Board President-Elect, relate the story of a longstanding ministry of volunteers praying for others at the Grotto. “I think of the people who submit a prayer and what might their stories...
by Tamara Heitschmidt | Dec 8, 2022
Karina Duffy Senior neuroscience and theology major Karina Duffy is transformed by the gaze of Christ and now brings that loving awareness into her work with people in the local community. “I work for the Self-Healing Communities of the greater Michiana region,...
by Tamara Heitschmidt | Dec 7, 2022
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...
by Tamara Heitschmidt | Dec 6, 2022
Lynn Mertensotto Girouard ’77 Lynn Mertensotto Girouard ’77 details what creates resilience in the soul as she remembers the profound influence of former Farley Hall Rector Sr. Jean Lenz, OSF. “Providentially, Sr. Jean Lenz, rector of Farley Hall...
by Tamara Heitschmidt | Dec 5, 2022
Karen Dehais ’85 Reflect with Alumni Association Board member Karen Dehais ’85 as she recounts the thread of inspirational mentors throughout her life that enabled her vocation to service. “And my most influential mentor — Sister Maureen Joyce, who...
by Tamara Heitschmidt | Dec 4, 2022
Molly Aranda ’06 A simple classroom assignment completely altered Class of 2006 alum Molly Aranda’s expectations of what God had in store for her — a vocation of a hidden life. “I look back on my initial reflections with joy and the wisdom that comes...
by Tamara Heitschmidt | Dec 3, 2022
Ron Barry Notre Dame Stadium usher Ron Barry recalls the countless memories of sharing Notre Dame football with his dad and how these memories carried him back to Our Lady’s University and the presence of Christ. “I arrived on campus and attended the game....
by Tamara Heitschmidt | Dec 2, 2022
Frankie Machado Stanford Hall sophomore Frankie Machado explores what it means to grapple with one’s personal relationship with God through the life of a saint. “But in Sister Ann’s class, we began reading The Confessions by Saint Augustine. Unenthusiastic...
by Tamara Heitschmidt | Dec 1, 2022
Danny Schermerhorn Join junior computer engineering major Danny Schermerhorn as he mentors the next generation of Baumer Hall Buccaneers through a weekly faith and accountability group. “After struggling through my first year, I asked our rector, Father Robert...
by Tamara Heitschmidt | Nov 30, 2022
Nhat Nguyen Journey with Duncan Hall rector Nhat Nguyen on a pilgrimage as he shares how he has carried his mountaintop spiritual experiences throughout his life and work. “We all have mountaintop experiences that we can recall of great happiness and joy, a...
by Brittany Jaso | Nov 29, 2022
Dan Hiltz ’74 M.A., ’79 Ph.D. Reach out in faith with Dan Hiltz ’74 M.A., ’79 Ph.D., whose prayers for his active duty sons were answered in a tangible way. “On that Saturday morning, after stopping by the Grotto and the Basilica, my wife...
by Brittany Jaso | Nov 28, 2022
Holly Pavlick McIver, DDS, MSD ’06 Go on a “midnight run” with Holly Pavlick McIver, DDS, MSD ’06 and a fellow ND alum as they learn about the simple joys that bind us together over a lifetime. “At first, we only set out to get some...
by Brittany Jaso | Nov 27, 2022
Shawn Ellwood, Jr. Sophomore Shawn Ellwood, Jr. from Niles, Ohio, shares the courage and grace it takes to sustain the start of a new life under the Dome. “As I sat alone in the chapel, I asked God for strength. I started going to the chapel every chance I...
by Brittany Jaso | Nov 26, 2022
Greg Weismantel ’62 Walk with 1962 alum Greg Weismantel on a crisp winter night as he stops to say a prayer at the Grotto and receives a beautiful gift. “Then our leading tenor, Mike Ritschel, began singing ‘Ave Maria.’ It was Dean Pedtke’s...
