: [Not] Gone but Not Forgotten

Liam was born in the early hours of January 25, 2003 to Elizabeth and Brett Gibson. He was the oldest of three children. While he was born in Philadelphia, his true home was Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Bethlehem allowed his natural curiosity and love for adventure to flourish. Liam and his friends often roamed the historic district of the city, with its restaurants, pre-Revolutionary buildings, and old steel factory. His proximity to Hellertown and its rail trail also provided the opportunity for adventure. His parents allowed him much freedom to explore on his bike, trusting him to return home safely by the end of the day. 
Liam attended St. Michael the Archangel School for elementary and middle school. This small Catholic school is the source of many fond memories for him. He often recalled meeting his best friend, Dyaln, there in 4th grade with the question, “Do you play Minecraft?” He got along well with the students and most of his teachers, although he rarely had a good thing to say about Mrs. Korpics.
He then moved on to Allentown Central Catholic High School and was loved by his peers and teachers, becoming both Homecoming and Prom King. After two unimpressive years on the soccer team, he moved on to pursue cross country and track, sports he loved for the camaraderie of his team. He also played alto saxophone in the band, continuing a musical career his parents had started with piano lessons early in his childhood. He explained that he could never enjoy an instrument while playing alone, much preferring to perform in a band because of the multitude of sounds and people involved. 
His friends in high school intellectually challenged him as much as his studies. He recalled his late-night debates in a group chat with his friends that expanded his perspective on politics and religion while simultaneously helping to build a very unhealthy sleep schedule. For better or for worse, he always seemed to be busy, ignoring the health benefits of taking time off (“Why we need to slow down our lives” by Pico Iyer – Moreau FYE Week One). 
High school also saw volunteer work take on a much greater importance for Liam, mostly because of Elizabeth’s passion for it. He often entered jurisdictions much different from his own, breaking through the “illusion of separateness” (Chapter 8: Jurisdiction” by Father Greg Boyle – Moreau FYE Week Seven). He volunteered with his school’s Central City Project in the community garden, at community dinners, at food banks, and at the local Boys and Girls Club. He also worked extensively with the immigrant communities in Allentown. 
From 6th grade to 10th grade, Liam attended a summer camp in upstate New York called Deerfoot Lodge, “A Christian camp for boys.” He often spoke nostalgically of his time spent hiking, fishing, and praying here, and claimed that this rustic camp played the biggest role in making the jump from following his parents’ religion to adopting it as his own. His favorite story had to involve a bear he and the other boys on his hike encountered and subsequently named Phat Stax for the quantity of food they lost to it. 
Catholicism was very important to Liam. He altar served frequently in middle and high school and made sure to attend mass every weekend, no matter what. He was known to read his Bible and prayed frequently, although he often said he wished he did so more often. His faith deeply involved introspection; he was always examining the what and the why of his actions to better understand himself (“The Right Way to be Introspective (Yes, There’s a Wrong Way)” by Tasha Eurich – Moreau FYE Week Six). In high school he sometimes attended morning mass before school, and he led a Kairos retreat his senior year after signing up to do so on a whim. He attended the all-senior retreat as a junior to learn how to lead it the following year, a testament to his bravery. After covid delays in November of his senior year, he finally got to deliver the opening talk in February. In both cases this retreat left him on “a spiritual high,” and after senior year the relationships he formed on the retreat led to changes in his closest circle of friends. 
In December of his senior year in high school, Liam secured a place at the University of Notre Dame. He said he chose the university because he was frustrated that every school seemed the same and he did not know where to go. The familiarity as Elizabeth’s alma mater and its Catholic character ultimately won him over. At Notre Dame, Liam pursued a history major. He did not choose to follow in his parents’ footsteps and become a doctor, something they had never pushed on him. He truly pursued his interests, not choosing a major as if it determined his career (“Navigating Your Career Journey” by the Mereulo Family Center for Career Development – Moreau FYE Week Four). He always loved learning about the history of Bethlehem and the 20th century. Liam also chose to study Russian language, mostly because he enjoyed learning about the Cold War between the United State and the Soviet Union. Considering the current conflict in Ukraine, he certainly would have served the world well with his skills and talents (“Three Key Questions” by Father Michael Himes – Moreau FYE Week Three). 
Liam lived in Pangborn Hall during his time at Notre Dame. He was in the first freshman class to live there after it became a guy’s dorm again. He participated extensively in community-building in his dorm, working on the Faith Commission, leading the Journalism Committee, attending evening mass frequently, and reading the Bible with the Bible study group. As a result, he was well-known in his hall. He also continued his tradition of late-night conversations with his close friend and roommate-to-be Aidan O’Scannlain. They did not shy away from personal topics and Liam grew from their friendship (Week Five Discernment Conversation Activity” - Moreau FYE Week Five). 
When he met his untimely demise at the hands of his Writing and Rhetoric research paper, Liam’s aspirations were big. He was pursuing a career in foreign affairs, seeking to emulate Father Hesburgh’s profound ability to unite the most divided groups, thus fostering peace and progress (“Hesburgh” by Jerry Barca and Christine O’Malley - Moreau FYE Week Two). He continued to demonstrate his passion for service and immersion in other jurisdictions, evident in his involvement with Mercy Works (Chapter 8: Jurisdiction” by Father Greg Boyle – Moreau FYE Week Seven). Indeed, he lived a fulfilling life filled with service and centered around faith, seeming to live each day as if it might be his last (“Meet the nun who wants you to remember you will die” by Ruth Graham – Moreau FYE Week Three). While he is now [not] gone, he will not be forgotten.