Father John S. Dunne, C.S.C., '51 died Nov. 11, 2013, after more than 50 years on the faculty of the Theology Department at the University. He has arguably taught more students than anyone else in the history of Notre Dame, and is one of the most significant spiritual writers from the past century. This is one of several remembrances from former students who wrote about how Father Dunne's example and writing changed their lives.

By Rachel Cota Hochstetler ‘08

Without question, there is not a single person who has had a greater influence on my faith than Fr. John Dunne. I took my first class with Fr. Dunne simply because I needed elective credits for my Theology major and the course description was compelling. It wasn’t long before I realized just how hungry I was for Fr. Dunne’s parables and wisdom. During my tenure at Notre Dame, I proceeded to take each of the three classes he taught at the time.

Attending Fr. Dunne’s classes were my favorite hours of each week. I always left the room partially in wonder of Fr. Dunne’s ideas and partially overwhelmed by the questions he had posed. As all of his students know, Fr. Dunne made excellent use of quotes. Two in particular have been forever inscribed on my heart and I carry them with me always. He summarized the Lord of the Rings and Samwise Gamgee with four maxims: “Things are meant; there are signs; the heart speaks; there is a way.” And he quoted this line from Blaise Pascal: “The heart has reasons which reason does not know.”

In understanding my journey leading up to Notre Dame, and even now in the present day, J.R.R. Tolkien’s words from the Lord of the Rings trilogy have provided great clarity and comfort in times of discernment. If I close my eyes I can still hear them in Fr. Dunne’s voice and perfect cadence. Similarly, Pascal’s quote provided great comfort as I turned away from the “perfect relationship” and the “perfect job” for reasons that couldn’t be rationally described.

Instead, these decisions—bolstered by my faith in God’s plan for my journey—ultimately led me to my vocation and, more importantly, my husband, all the while challenging, daring, and growing my faith. Ultimately Fr. Dunne gave me the wisdom, the confidence, and the faith to trust my heart and to follow my God. For this I can never thank him enough.

During my junior year, Fr. Dunne asked me to be a lector at the Mass celebrating his 50th anniversary at Notre Dame. I already knew I was just one of many, many students whose lives he had transformed, but on that day it was remarkable to see the outpouring of love and appreciation from the generations upon generations of students who knew and cherished him. It was an honor to celebrate the man who had so profoundly affected the way we all think, pray, love and live. Like his students who came before me, I will always treasure the afternoons I spent with the wise man in that tan-colored, V-neck sweater. Those afternoons were some of my life’s transformative moments as well as some of my favorite memories at Notre Dame.

Fr. Dunne’s love was truly “from God, of God, and towards God” (T.E. Lawrence). May God bless him, as to God he has returned.