Author Archive: Kelly Wahlquist
Kelly Wahlquist is the Assistant Director of the Evangelization and Development Office for Parish Evangelization for the Association of Marian Helpers in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, where she works for the Marians of the Immaculate Conception.
She manages and advises for the Hearts Afire Parish-based Programs for the New Evangelization. This bold, vibrant approach is designed to help people live the complete Catholic life of Faith, Hope, and Christian Charity in the Sacraments through parish-based small group faith renewal programs. Working with parish groups, pastors, and directors of parish religious education she assists them in organizing, implementing, and running the fruitful Hearts Afire Programs in their parish communities.
Kelly is the Program Manager for the Archbishop Harry J. Flynn Catechetical Institute, an ongoing Catholic formation resource, at the St. Paul Seminary. This program serves Catholic adults of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, in Minnesota. Catholic participants deepen their knowledge of the Catholic Faith and further their spiritual formation in the study of Scripture and theology. Her responsibility involves managing two campuses and providing organizational, marketing, and instructional support.
Kelly works with Dr. Marcellino D’Ambrosio at the Crossroads Initiative promoting evangelization through various apostolates and assisting with pilgrimages, and is pursuing a Master’s degree in Sacred Scripture at the Augustine Institute in Denver.
She resides in Minnesota with her husband, Andy, and their three children, and is very active in their parish, Holy Name of Jesus. Her great passion is spreading the message of Jesus in the New Evangelization.
Embracing My Inner Martha: Living the Lesson Learned
Not even 3 seconds after I hit the send button to let people know about an upcoming event, my friend Marta had emailed back, “Did you make a FaceBook Evite yet?” Marta… Marta… Marta…. What do you mean, “Did you make a Facebook Evite yet?” Don’t you know I just zipped that last email about [...]
Until God Opens the Next Door, Praise Him in the Hallway
I remember watching The Sound of Music as a little girl on television right around Easter. Yep, that was back in the pre-historic days, the days before DVDs or even VHS. The one line that always stuck with me was when Maria says, “Where the Lord closes a door, somewhere He opens a window.” This [...]
“Bee” Busy this Advent — Time for 3 Simple Promises
“It’s not so much how busy you are, but why you are busy. The bee is praised. The mosquito is swatted.” ~ Mary O’Connor ‘Tis the season of insane hustle and bustle! There are presents to buy, soirees to plan, parties to attend, trees and homes to decorate, cookies to bake, and columns to write. [...]
A Boy and his Fish
I don’t know about you, but there’s always something that makes me more in-tune with the Creator when I’m surrounded by His beautiful creation; prayer becomes more intimate, more sincere, more focused. Sitting on the deck on a gorgeous Sunday morning, I experienced just that – creation drawing me in to the heart of the [...]
A Glimpse of Joy at the Foot of the Cross
During Times of Struggle Believe it or not, every once and a while I have a tough day, a difficult weekend, or week that leaves me wanting to curl up in a cave and never come out. (Not a “man cave,” more like a nicely decorated cave with all my books and a lifelong supply [...]
A Divine Sunday, Indeed!
How fitting that on the second Sunday of Easter, which Blessed John Paul II entitled Divine Mercy Sunday, the very eve of which his earthly life ended, new life will be breathed into the Church as our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, beatifies his predecessor. As a family united in Christ, all of us who have a part [...]
Non-Christians and Salvation
Revelation reveals if we die in Christ we will be crowned and seated on thrones. Will those who do not die in Christ (non-Christians) be crowned in the same glory? Will they be saved? In the Gospel of John, Jesus answers Nicodemus’s question regarding the attainment of the Kingdom of God with, “Amen, amen, I [...]
A Plethora of Purgatory Ponderings
No matter the Bible study, somehow, someway, someone will eventually throw out those dreaded purgatory questions: “Who believes in purgatory?” “What is the teaching regarding it?” “What is it like?” “How do you get out?” “When did it come into existence?” “What are some Scriptural references to it?” And, above all, “What exactly is it?” [...]
Odd Gifts For a Newborn
The Feast of the Epiphany celebrates the Magi, or wise men from the East, visiting the Christ child and bringing Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Upon first hearing this, one has to shake his head and think, “Odd gifts for a newborn.” In fact, I once saw a plaque that said if the [...]
Delving Into Indulgences
The things which probably make us the most uncomfortable in life are those things which we do not understand. We are always more comfortable with something of which we are knowledgeable than we are with that which we do not know. When dealing with the teachings of the Catholic Church, just the mere mention [...]







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