McGrady, Katie Prejean
Katie Prejean McGrady is the host of the Ave Explores podcast and The Katie McGrady Show on Sirius XM's The Catholic Channel. She is an international speaker, the author of Room 24 and Follow, and the coauthor of Lent: One Day at a Time for Catholic Teens and Advent and Christmas: One Day at a Time for Catholic Teens.
Prejean McGrady also serves as the host of the Like a Mother podcast and contributes Family Mass Prep on the Hallow app. Her work appears in LaCroix International, Blessed Is She, Our Sunday Visitor, and Aleteia. She also is a commentator on Catholic issues for CNN and NewsNation. Prejean McGrady speaks at a variety of events including NCYC, Steubenville Youth Conferences, the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress, and in dioceses and parishes throughout the world.
Prejean McGrady earned a theology degree from the University of Dallas. She lives in Louisiana with her family.
Ave Maria Press
Founded in 1865 by Fr. Edward Sorin, CSC, Ave Maria Press is an apostolate of the Congregation of Holy Cross, United States Province of Priests and Brothers. Ave is a nonprofit Catholic publishing ministry that serves the spiritual and formative needs of the Church and its schools, institutions, and ministers; Christian individuals and families; and others seeking spiritual nourishment.
Ave remains one of the oldest continually operating Catholic publishing houses in the country and a leader in publishing Catholic high school religion textbooks, ministry resources, and books on prayer and spirituality.
In the tradition of Holy Cross, Ave is committed, as an educator in the faith, to help people know, love, and serve God and to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ through books and other resources.
Ave Maria Press perpetuates Fr. Sorin's vision to honor Mary and provide an important outlet for good Catholic writing.
Christmyer, Sarah
Sarah Christmyer is a Catholic writer, speaker, and adjunct faculty member at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is the codeveloper and founding editor of The Great Adventure Catholic Bible study program, of which she served as director from 2010 to 2013. She is the general editor of the Living the Word Catholic Women's Bible from Ave Maria Press.
Christmyer earned a bachelor's degree in English literature from Gordon College in 2017. She is a member of the board of directors of Malvern Retreat House, where she also serves on the spiritual programs development committee. She is the author, coauthor, editor, or contributor of more than twenty-five books and bible study programs, including Becoming Women of the Word, The Ave Catholic Notetaking Bible, Gaze Upon Jesus, and Walk in Her Sandals. She is a regular contributor to Leah Darrow's Lux Catholic app and a monthly columnist for Liguorian.. She has blogged for WINE: Women In the New Evangelization, the American Bible Society, and Ascension Press. Christmyer has been a guest on EWTN, CatholicTV, and numerous radio programs and podcasts.
Saxton, Heidi Hess
Heidi Hess Saxton is an award-winning author and a senior acquisitions editor at Ave Maria Press. She has written or compiled eleven books, including Advent with Saint Teresa of Calcutta. Saxton edited Forgiveness Makes You Free.
Johnson, Kelly
Kelly Johnson is the adult faith formation director at St. Mary of Gostyn Catholic Parish in Downers Grove, Illinois, and the cofounder of Nourish for Caregivers--which seeks to improve the health and spiritual wellbeing of caregivers. She was an advertising executive until her then-five-year-old son developed a brain tumor and she cared for him during his illness.
Johnson is a member of the National Association of Catholic Family Life Ministers, the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership, and the Midwest Children's Brain Tumor Center Advisory Board. She earned a bachelor's degree in marketing and English from Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, and graduated from the lay leadership program from the Institute for Pastoral Studies at the University of Saint Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, Illinois. Along with Debra Kelsey-Davis, Johnson appeared on EWTN's At Home with Jim and Joy and created and hosted a twelve-episode series for caregivers that was broadcast on Shalom World TV.
She lives with her family in the Chicago, Illinois, area.
Gingras, Allison
Allison Gingras is a Catholic social media consultant and the host and creator of the podcast A Seeking Heart.
Gingras developed and acquired six volumes in the Stay Connected Journals for Women series and wrote two--The Gift of Invitation and Seeking Peace. She is a contributor to a number of books, including The Ave Prayer Book for Catholic Mothers, Called by Name, and The Catholic Mom's Prayer Companion. Gingras has been featured on a variety of Catholic television and radio programs and podcasts. She is a regular contributor to LPI, Diocesan.com, CatholicMom.com, Family Rosary, WINE, Amazing Catechists, and CatholicSistas. Gingras is the cohost of the Catholic MomCast.
She was given the Light of Christ Award by the Archdiocese of Boston in 2008. She is a member of Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha's Diocesan Revitalization Committee in the Fall River Diocese. Gingras is a member of the Catholic Writer's Guild, the National Council of Catholic Women, and Catholics Online.
She earned a bachelor's degree in English from Bridgewater State University and a master's degree in technology in education from Lesley University. She is a certified paralegal.
Campbell, Erica Tighe
Erica Tighe Campbell is the owner and artist behind Be A Heart, a popular Christian modern lifestyle brand.
She offers an original collection of textiles, accessories, party goods, fine-art prints, and award-winning calligraphy that models hope and light in the midst of personal and social darkness. The beauty of diversity inspires her artwork.
Campbell earned a bachelor's degree in sociology from DePaul University. She served as a missionary with Con-solatio in Salvador da Bahia, Brazil. She is the author of Written by Hand and designed stationery for high-profile events in Los Angeles for many years.
She has been a guest on a number of Catholic podcasts and her work has been featured in Elle magazine and Goop.
She lives with her family in San Antonio, Texas.
Frey MS, Karianna
Karianna Frey is a Catholic writer, speaker, and ministry leader. She is a member of the Fiat Conference planning team and the author of two books, Serviam Non Serviam and The Virtuous Path.
Wicker, Kate
Kate Wicker is an author, speaker, health columnist for
Catholic Digest, and regular contributor to Relevant Radio's
Morning Air program. Her work also has appeared in
Woman's Day,
Pregnancy,
Family Fun,
WhatToExpect.com,
Atlanta Parent,
Faith & Family LIVE!,
Crisis,
FathersforGood.com, Catholic News Agency,
Catholic Exchange, and
CatholicMom.com. Wicker earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Georgia (summa cum laude) in 2000. She is the author of
Weightless: Making Peace with Your Body and contributed to
The Handbook for Catholic Moms and
Word by Word. Wicker also was featured on the
Momnipotent DVD. She and her husband, Dave, have five children. They live in Athens, Georgia.
Trasancos, Stacy A.
Stacy A. Trasancos is executive director of the St. Philip Institute of Catechesis and Evangelization in the Diocese of Tyler. She is a fellow for Bishop Robert Barron's Word on Fire Institute and teaches theology at Seton Hall University and science at Holy Apostles College and Seminary. Trasancos is the author of Particles of Faith, Science Was Born of Christianity, and 20 Answers: Bioethics.
She has written numerous articles for publications including National Catholic Register, Catholic World Report, St. Austin's Review, and Catholic Answers. Trasancos has appeared on Salt + Light Television, SiriusXM's The Catholic Channel, Relevant Radio, Redeemer Radio, Ave Maria Radio, Radio Maria, EWTN radio, and Catholic Answers Live.
Trasancos earned a bachelor's degree in science from East Texas State University, a doctorate in chemistry from Penn State University and a master's degree in dogmatic theology (summa cum laude) from Holy Apostles College and Seminary. She previously worked as a research chemist at DuPont.
Trasancos and her husband, José, live in Hideaway, Texas, with their family.
Smyth, Mallory
Mallory Smyth is the content manager at Walking with Purpose. She previously worked as director of program growth for ENDOW and as a recruitment manager, development officer, and missionary for FOCUS.
Smyth earned a bachelor's degree in marketing from Louisiana State University. She has spoken at ENDOW and FOCUS conferences, including SEEK. Smyth has been a guest on EWTN and her writing has appeared in Radiant magazine. She lives in Littleton, Colorado, with her family.
Scalia, Elizabeth
Elizabeth Scalia is a Benedictine Oblate and managing editor of the Catholic Channel at
Patheos.com, where she blogs as The Anchoress. She is also a columnist at
First Things and for
The Catholic Answer.
Reinhard, Sarah A.
Sarah A. Reinhard is a Catholic author, blogger, speaker, and freelance writer who has a penchant for coffee and a love of chocolate. She writes at
SnoringScholar.com and is the network content manager for Our Sunday Visitor.
Reinhard is the author of a number of books, including
A Catholic Mother's Companion to Pregnancy. She earned a master's degree in marketing and communications from Franklin University and has worked for many years for corporate and nonprofit organizations. She lives in central Ohio with her husband and four children.
Lenaburg, Mary E.
Mary Lenaburg is a full-time Catholic speaker and author of Be Brave in the Scared, which earned a 2020 Excellence in Publishing Award from the Association of Catholic Publishers.
She has given keynotes at conferences internationally, including the Edel Gathering, the Genius Women's Conference, the Fiat Conference, Military Council for Catholic Women European Retreat, and the Women of the Word Conference. A writer with Take Up & Read, Lenaburg's work has appeared in five of their meditation books. She has also contributed to two other books.
She has appeared on Catholic radio, TV, and podcasts, including The Jennifer Fulwiler Show, EWTN Pro-Life Weekly, The Hallie Lord Show, The Gist, Busted Halo, and Fountains of Carrots. Lenaburg serves her home parish in many roles, including catechist, sacristan, and extraordinary minister of Holy Communion.
She and her husband, Jerry, live in Fairfax, Virginia, with their son, Jonathan. Their daughter, Courtney, passed away in 2014.
Fenelon, Marge Steinhage
Marge Steinhage Fenelon is an award-winning Catholic author and journalist, international speaker, and longtime contributor to a variety of Catholic and secular publications and websites.
Fenelon has written several books on Marian devotion, including Imitating Mary. The bestselling Our Lady, Undoer of Knots received a 2017 Association of Catholic Publishers Excellence in Publishing Award. My Queen, My Mother earned a Catholic Press Association Award in 2020.
Fenelon is the host of the Simply Holy podcast on Breadbox Media, a popular guest on Catholic radio and television, and a regular contributor to Relevant Radio's Morning Air. She earned a bachelor's degree in mass communications from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and a certificate in spiritual mentoring from Cardinal Stritch University. She has a certificate in Marian studies from the International Marian Research Institute and is a member of the Mariological Society of America. She completed an intensive training program for foreign journalists by the Pontifical University of Holy Cross in conjunction with the Vatican Office of Communications in Rome and traveled with the Catholic Press Association to the Holy Land as part of Pope Francis' historic pilgrimage in 2014. In 2015, she was awarded the Egan Fellowship for journalistic excellence, traveling to the Philippines to write about the ongoing reconstruction efforts after Super Typhoon Haiyan. In 2016, Fenelon was accepted to the Jordan Tourism Board religious journalist and blogger tour to write about the "other Holy Land," Jordan. Fenelon is an instructor for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee Deacon Wives Program.
Fagnant
MacArthur, Patrice: - Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur is a lifelong Roman Catholic, homeschooling mom, and freelance writer on topics of women's spirituality. She is a senior editor at Catholic Lane and the author of
Letters to Mary from a Young Mother. She holds a bachelor of arts in history and fine art and a master of arts in applied theology. MacArthur lives in western Massachusetts with her husband and two children.
Fatzinger, Sam
Sam and Rob Fatzinger are the parents of fourteen and the grandparents of seven whose financial success story has been featured in publications including The Washington Post, Marketplace.org, EpicPew, Patheos, Aleteia, The Oakland Press, and the Daily Mail, as well as on The Chris Hogan Podcast (Dave Ramsey Ministries), Girlfriends, and EWTN Pro-Life Weekly.
Sam is a homemaker and homeschooler who serves as a principal of St. Peter the Rock Homeschool Tutorial and as a parish, family, retreat, and homeschool coordinator. Rob is a software quality assurance manager at ManTech International.
The couple lives in Bowie, Maryland.
Johnson, Maria Morera
Maria Morera Johnson is the author of the award-winning books Super Girls and Halos and My Badass Book of Saints. She also contributed to The Catholic Mom's Prayer Companion, Word by Word: Slowing Down with the Hail Mary, and Gaze Upon Jesus. A CatholicMom.com blogger and educator, Johnson retired in 2016 from her positions as a composition and literature professor and the director of English learning support at Georgia Piedmont Technical College.
Johnson has spoken at a number of events, retreats, and conferences, including the National Council of Catholic Women, Austin Women's Conference, and the Catholic Press Association. She also has been featured on CatholicTV and Busted Halo and in Catholic Digest and St. Anthony Messenger.
Johnson is a native of Cuba. She and her husband, John, have three grown children and live in the Mobile, Alabama, area.
Wahlquist, Kelly M.
Kelly M. Wahlquist is a Catholic author and speaker, and the founder of WINE: Women In the New Evangelization. She is the director for the Archbishop Flynn Catechetical Institute in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.
Wahlquist is the author of
Created to Relate, the editor of
Walk In Her Sandals and
Gaze Upon Jesus, and a contributing writer for WINE. Wahlquist leads women's pilgrimages through Italy and Ireland and travels around the country speaking on the New Evangelization. She lives in Minnesota with her husband, Andy, and their children.
Gohn, Pat
Pat Gohn is a Catholic writer, retreat leader, conference speaker, catechist, and author of the award-winning book
Blessed, Beautiful, and Bodacious.
Host of the
Among Womenpodcast, she also is a frequent guest on Catholic radio and television. Her writing has appeared in a number of Catholic publications and blogs, including
Catholic Digest, Catechist, CatholicMom.com, Patheos, and
Amazing Catechists. Gohn also has contributed to eight books in recent years, including
Walk in Her Sandals, The Catholic Mom's Prayer Companion, and
Word by Word. She is the editor of
Catechist magazine.
Gohn earned a master's degree in theology and certificates in adult faith leadership, theology of the body, and spiritual direction. She and her husband, Bob, are empty nesters in Massachusetts.
Corbitt, Sonja
Sonja Corbitt is a Catholic author and speaker who has produced several multimedia Bible studies, including Unleashed, Fearless, and Exalted. She also created the LOVE the Word Bible study method.
Corbitt is the host of Evangelista Bible Study on CatholicTV and the Bible Study Evangelista Show on radio and podcast. She is in formation as a Third Order Carmelite. Corbitt is a columnist at The Great Adventure Bible Study blog and a contributor to Magnificat.
A Carolina native who was raised as a Southern Baptist, Corbitt attended Mitchell College and the Southern Baptist Seminary Extension before converting to Catholicism. She has since served as director of religious education at St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Gallatin, Tennessee, and as executive director of Risen Radio in Lebanon, Tennessee.
She lives in Tennessee with her husband, Bob, and their two sons.
Tomlin, Elizabeth A.
Elizabeth Tomlin is a Catholic author, general counsel for the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, and a catechist and director of stewardship for the Military Council of Catholic Women, where she also served as president, director of faith formation, and finance manager.
Tomlin earned her bachelor of science degree in chemistry in 2002 from the College of William and Mary and her juris doctor from the George Mason University School of Law in 2010. She is a member of the New York State Bar, Catholic Bar Association, John Carroll Society, Catholic Women of the Chapel, and the Military Spouse JD Network.
Tomlin is a regular contributor to Salute, the magazine of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, and TheWell, the newsletter of the Military Council of Catholic Women. She has twice been a speaker at the Mid-Atlantic Congress and occasionally writes for WINE: Women In the New Evangelization and CatholicMom.com.
She lives with her husband, Gregory, and their children in Washington.
Libresco, Leah
Leah Libresco is a blogger for Patheos who also works as a statistician in Washington, DC. She is a 2011 graduate of Yale University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in political science.
In 2012, Libresco was featured on media outlets ranging from CNN to EWTN when she announced on her blog, Unequally Yoked, that she was converting from atheism to Catholicism.
Libresco, a Mineola, New York, native, previously worked as an editorial assistant at the American Conservative. She also has served as a curriculum developer, research associate, and research analyst. She has appeared on CNN's American Morning, and CNN Newsroom, as well as National Public Radio, The Drew Mariani Show, Unbelievable with Justin Brierley, WOR's In the Arena, and A Closer Look with Sheila Liaugminas. She has also contributed to The American Conservative, First Things, and The American Interest.
Kelsey
Davis, Debra: -
Debra Kelsey-Davis is the caregiver for her aging parents, a registered nurse, and the cofounder of both Nourish for Caregivers--which seeks to improve the health and spiritual wellbeing of caregivers--and Sagacity.Care--which connects patients, family caregivers, and healthcare providers with information they need. Her health care management leadership spans more than thirty-five years. Along with Kelly Johnson, Kelsey-Davis appeared on EWTN's At Home with Jim and Joy and created and hosted a twelve-episode series for caregivers that is available through Shalom World TV.
She earned her RN degree at Illinois Central College in Peoria, Illinois, and her bachelor of science degree and master's in health services administration from the University of St. Francis in Joliet, Illinois. Certified in lay ministry through the Archdiocese of Chicago's Called and Gifted Program, she has more than twenty years of ministry experience, including catechesis, RCIA preparation, Bible-study and small-group formation, and as a spiritual director for her church's Christ Renews His Parish program. Kelsey-Davis is a member of the board of directors of the National Association of Catholic Nurses-USA and the Illinois Catholic Health Association. She lives in the Chicago, Illinois, area with her family.
Hendey, Lisa M.
Lisa M. Hendey is the founder of the award-winning CatholicMom.com. She is the bestselling author of multiple books for adults and children, including The Handbook for Catholic Moms, A Book of Saints for Catholic Moms, The Grace of Yes, I'm a Saint in the Making, and the Chime Travelers fiction series.
Hendey has appeared on EWTN, CatholicTV, and as a part of the Momnipotent DVD series. Her work has appeared in
Catholic Digest,
National Catholic Register, and
Our Sunday Visitor.
Hendey travels internationally, giving workshops for adults and children. She has spoken at the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress, the Catholic Marketing Network, the University of Dallas Ministry Conference, the National Catholic Youth Conference, the Midwest Catholic Family Conference, and the National Council of Catholic Women. Selected as an Egan Journalism Fellow with Catholic Relief Services, Hendey has traveled, written, and spoken on behalf of CRS, Unbound, and other non-profit organizations to support their humanitarian missions in Rwanda, the Philippines, India, Tanzania, Kenya, and Columbia.
She lives with her husband, Greg, in Los Angeles, California.
Adams, Leticia Ochoa
Leticia Ochoa Adams is a Catholic writer and speaker.
Since the death of her son, Anthony, by suicide in 2017, she has focused her work being a witness to suffering and God's healing. Ochoa Adams is a contributor to several books, including Surprised by Life, The Catholic Hipster Handbook, The Ave Prayer Book for Catholic Mothers, and Responding to Suicide.
She has a bachelor's degree in philosophy from Holy Apostles College and Seminary. She has written for Our Sunday Visitor, The National Catholic Reporter, FemCatholic, The Catholic Herald, Patheos, and Aleteia. Ochoa Adams was a frequent guest on The Jen Fulwiler Show on SiriusXM's The Catholic Channel, and has appeared on a number of podcasts, including Terrible, Thanks for Asking with Nora McInerny.
She lives with her family in the Austin, Texas, area.
Stewart, Haley
Haley Stewart is a Catholic author and the editor of Word on Fire Spark.
Stewart was the cohost of the popular Fountains of Carrots podcast from 2014-2022. She is the author of Jane Austen's Genius Guide to Life, The Grace of Enough, and The Sister Seraphina Mysteries, a series for young readers. She has contributed to Evangelization & Culture, Plough, the University of Notre Dame's Church Life Journal, Public Discourse, and America. She has four children and is married to a beekeeper/whisky distiller.
Hussem, Emily Wilson
Emily Wilson Hussem is an international speaker, author, and YouTuber who runs a global ministry for women. With more than 120,000 subscribers on YouTube, she reaches a worldwide audience of women with a message of faith and identity in Jesus.
The author of the bestselling and award-winning Go Bravely, Awaken My Heart, The Go Bravely Companion Journal, and I Choose the Sky, she earned a bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism from Arizona State University. Wilson Hussem lives in Southern California with her husband, Daniёl, and their sons, Zion and Jedediah.
Jaminet, Emily
Emily Jaminet is the executive director of the Sacred Heart Enthronement Network. She is the author of the award-winning book Secrets of the Sacred Heart and the coauthor of Divine Mercy for Moms, The Friendship Project, Pray Fully, and Our Friend Faustina.
Jaminet earned a bachelor's degree in mental health and human services from Franciscan University of Steubenville in 1998. She is the cohost of Inspired by Faith on St. Gabriel Radio and the host of the Emily Jaminet Podcast. She has spoken to a number of parish and diocesan women's groups and conferences, serves on the leadership team of the Columbus Catholic Women's Conference, and consults with the Catholic Men's Ministry. She is the director of adult faith formation and coordinates RCIA for her parish.
Jaminet has appeared on EWTN's Women of Grace, Bookmark, and At Home with Jim and Joy. She is a monthly contributor on Spirit Catholic Radio, Relevant Radio, and Diocesan.com. She also writes for CatholicMom.com.
Jaminet received the Bishop John King Mussio Award from Franciscan University. She and her husband, John, have seven children and live in Columbus, Ohio.
Daunt, Carrie Schuchts
Carrie Schuchts Daunt is a presenter and prayer minister for the John Paul II Healing Center in Tallahassee, Florida. She developed the material for the center's Undone women's event.
Daunt earned her bachelor's degree in speech communication from Berry College in Rome, Georgia. She teaches classes at home and for the Sacred Heart Home Educators cooperative, where she is also on the executive board. Daunt also has led women's bible studies and presented talks on marriage, Theology of the Body, and authentic femininity for her parish and diocese.
She lives with her husband, Duane, and their eight children in Tallahasee.
Faehnle, Michele
Michele Faehnle is a school nurse at St. Andrew School in Upper Arlington, Ohio, and the host of Answering the Call on St. Gabriel Radio. She is a contributor to CatholicMom.com, codirector of the Columbus Catholic Women's Conference, and coauthor of Divine Mercy for Moms, The Friendship Project, and Our Friend Faustina.
Faehnle earned a bachelor of science degree in nursing from Franciscan University of Steubenville in 1999. Faehnle has spoken at the National Shrine of Divine Mercy and to several women's groups and conferences, including 1:38 Women, Mothering with Grace Annual Mother's Conference, Indiana Catholic Women's Conference, and the online Catholic Conference for Moms. Faehnle has appeared on EWTN's At Home with Jim and Joy and a number of Catholic radio programs.
Along with her coauthor, Emily Jaminet, Faehnle received the Bishop John King Mussio Award from Franciscan University of Steubenvile, of which she is an alumna. She and her husband, Matthew, have four children and live in Columbus, Ohio.
