"Kelly Wahlquist applies life changing principles of the Kingdom of God to everyday living. Her presentations strike a chord in the hearts of women, showing them that they too can walk in the victory that God has provided. Her joy and enthusiasm are contagious and her knowledge of the Catholic faith is deep and faithful. Ladies will leave her presentations renewed!" ~Jeff Cavins
Kelly Wahlquist is a dynamic and inspiring Catholic speaker whose gift of weaving personal stories and Scripture together with practical advice allows her audience to enter more fully into what Blessed John Paul II, Pope Emeritus Benedict, and Pope Francis have called us into —to be witnesses of our faith and part of the New Evangelization.
Kelly is the Program Manager for the Archbishop Harry J. Flynn Catechetical Institute, a popular ongoing Catholic formation resource, at the St. Paul Seminary. This 2-year 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.
Kelly is co-creator of and speaker for Hearts Afire Parish-based Programs for the New Evangelization, an incredibly successful initiative from the Marians of the Immaculate Conception that is taking the country by storm. 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.
Kelly is a contributing writer for The Integrated Catholic Life, an eMagazine about integrating faith, family, and work where she writes a blog called Hearts Afire, and also a contributing writer for Catholic Mom, New Evangelizer, and The Divine Mercy and The Marians of the Immaculate Conception websites. She is the editor of Catholicism 101, a program by Jeff Cavins on the basics of Catholicism.
Kelly travels the country speaking on the New Evangelization and the Hearts Afire Parish-based Programs in an effort to promote evangelization through various apostolates and pilgrimages. She enjoys speaking to all groups, but has a special affinity towards speaking at Catholic women’s conferences. She resides in Minnesota with her husband, Andy, and their three children. Her great passion is spreading the message of Jesus by living the JOY of the New Evangelization.
Talk Titles and Descriptions
Our Supreme Role in the New Evangelization
Blessed John Paul II said, "Each believer in Christ has the supreme duty to proclaim Christ to all peoples." If you believe in Christ, you have a duty, not just any duty, a supreme duty to evangelize. In this talk we will look at how we fulfill our vocation to evangelize and learn how to go from "evangephobia" to confident "evangelizer" by following the example of the ultimate model of the New Evangelization, the Blessed Virgin Mary. Not only is Mary the model disciple; she is the model evangelizer too. The joy and the humility she exudes in her prayer, the Magnificat, are virtues that we too must live in our evangelistic efforts. A closer examination of the Magnificat will help us take a look at how we can evangelize and courageously share our faith as Mary did.
The Supreme Role of Women in the New Evangelization
(adapted for women’s conferences with focus on the Feminine Genius)
Blessed John Paul II said, "Each believer in Christ has the supreme duty to proclaim Christ to all peoples." As women, we have been created in a special way to do this, and as women in the New Evangelization, we find our vocation and mission in using this beauty bestowed on us in our creation to profess the faith in fullness and with renewed conviction, with confidence and hope. This talk will look at how we fulfill our vocation to evangelize and how we have been given the ultimate model of the New Evangelization to be our guiding star, Mary. Not only is Mary the model disciple; she is the model evangelizer too. The joy and the humility she exudes in her prayer, the Magnificat, are virtues that we too must live in our evangelistic efforts. A closer examination of the Magnificat will help us take a look at how we can evangelize and courageously share our faith as Mary did and in turn live the joy of the Gospel Pope Francis invites us to live in Evangelli Gaudium.
Living Your Life with Courageous Faith & Contagious Joy
Do you find yourself in a situation you never thought could happen to you? Are you struggling with how to endure suffering in your life? Ever wonder how you can live a life of faith in a world that seems to be loosing faith? All of it takes courage! Join us for a heartfelt and dynamic look at what courage truly is, how we can obtain it, and to whom we can look as true examples of how to live the “life you never dreamed of” with courage, renewed conviction, confidence, and hope!
Hidden Gifts and Clandestine Cultivation
In every circumstance and situation, God's grace can come to us through others. People who come into our lives and stay bring us continuing gifts, opportunities, and yes, challenges; and, each of us bring gifts of grace into the lives of others. Often these gifts, which bear the grace of God are hidden - at least to us - until God calls them out into action in His perfect timing. Many Old and New Testament saints had hidden gifts for the building of the People of God. We too have been given gifts to help build His Mystical Body, the Church, but at times we may feel we have no idea what they are. We need to learn to ask God to reveal our hidden gifts, to recognize them, and to put them into practice for the greater glory of the kingdom and the praise and glory of His Name.
Letting the Peace of Christ Rule Your Heart in a World That Wants to Rule All of You
Pope Benedict XVI asked, "How can we experience peace within ourselves, in spite of problems, darkness and anxieties? " Not only did he ask, but he answered, giving us the key to unlock the doors to the interior peace which we ought to have amid the sometimes tumultuous and confusing events of history, events whose meaning we often do not grasp and which disconcert us. With highlights on history and glimpses of humor we will look at some practical ways we can experience inner peace in a world ruled by constant chaos, confusion, and noise.
Lighting Hearts on Fire for Christ: The Simplicity of Introducing Hearts Afire Parish-based Programs to Your Parish
Want a sure-fire way to transform your work, your marriage, your family, and your life? Are you ready to learn the quickest, surest, and easiest way to holiness? In our hectic day and time, Blessed John Paul II and Blessed Mother Teresa knew that the quickest way to be transformed into a saint is through a relationship with Our Blessed Mother, Mary.
The Hearts Afire Parish-based Programs for the New Evangelization, a bold and fresh approach to small group, parish-based, faith renewal is designed to help us be transformed in to saints by living the complete Catholic life of faith, charity, and the sacraments. The first part of the program is 33 Days to Morning Glory, an extraordinary 33-day journey to consecration to Jesus through Mary with four giants of Marian spirituality: St. Louis de Montfort, St. Maximilian Kolbe, Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, and Blessed Pope John Paul II.
Since the launch of the Hearts Afire program on Divine Mercy Sunday, 2012, over 6,000 people have consecrated in hundreds of parishes in the United States and Canada, and hundreds more are in the process. Come and learn how simple it is to bring this life transforming retreat to your community.
Testimonials
"Kelly Wahlquist stands out amongst a most extraordinary group of Catholic laypeople who have taken the Pope’s call for the new evangelization to heart. She presents the Christian faith with an enthusiastic and vibrant voice, sure to inspire those who seek a life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ, in faithful communion with His Church."
~Msgr. Jeffrey Steenson, Ordinary of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter
"Both as a woman of God and an evangelist, Kelly Wahlquist embodies the Father's love, Christ's joy, and the Holy Spirit's fire for audiences across the U.S. Her passion for God and love for his Word and his people is setting hearts on fire for the New Evangelization."
~Thomas Smith, Catholic convert and missionary-evangelist, author/presenter for the Great Adventure Bible Timeline
“Kelly came and spoke to us on our role in the New Evangelization. She is so inspiring and truly set our hearts on fire on the importance of bringing Jesus to anyone who will listen.”
~Madeline Miller
Transfiguration Catholic Church, Oakdale, MN
"Kelly Wahlquist recently came to our St. Michael’s Parish in St. Cloud Minnesota and gave a talk on the 'New Evangelization'. She was dynamic and inspiring weaving personal stories and scripture together with practical advice for us to enter more fully into what Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict have called us into - to be witnesses of our faith and part of the New Evangelization. I recommend her as a dynamic speaker for any event for those seeking to inspire their flock."
~Fr. Mark Innocenti
Pastor, St. Michael’s Parish, St. Cloud, MN
"On December 13, 2012, Kelly Wahlquist gave a talk on Our Supreme Role in the New Evangelization at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary of Pompeii Parish in Kenosha, Wisconsin, where I serve as an Associate Pastor. Kelly's talk was very well received by those who attended and we all appreciated her great sense of humor and deep spiritual insights. She was very relateable, has great stories to share, and had a timely message for this Year of Faith. We hope she will come back again to Kenosha. I would highly recommend her as a speaker."
~Fr. Angelo Casimiro, MIC
Associate Pastor
Our Lady of the Holy Rosary of Pompeii Parish
Kenosha, Wisconsin
"Kelly Wahlquist is a dynamic speaker and is setting hearts on fire with her talks! She is funny, brilliant, engaging and powerful in her messages!"
~Chris Pillizzi
Parish Coordinator at St. Anne's in Pleasant Prairie for Women of Christ.
