Keynote Speaker

Megan Hjelmstad

Megan Hjelmstad (“Helm-stead”) is a wife, enthusiastic hockey mom, and Army Veteran living in Denver, CO.  After serving fifteen years in the United States Army, Megan now serves the Church as an author, speaker, and women's mentor in her “spare” time. Megan loves to share God’s hope in suffering and is the author of Offer it Up: Discovering the Power and Purpose of Redemptive Suffering. She’s a long-time team member of Blessed is She and a writer and speaker for several other ministries. Her work also appears through the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, the Avila Institute's SpiritualDirection.com, Radiant Magazine, OSV, and many more. She is currently a co-host of Bible Across America. Megan adores books, sleep, sunshine, and Colorado’s great outdoors almost as much as she adores Jesus in the Eucharist. Learn more at MeganHjelmstad.com.

Keynote Speaker

Sr. Patricia Young

Sr. Patricia Young was born and raised in Tallahassee, FL and she is a member of the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  Since entering religious life in the fall of 2019, she has ministered in a variety of roles in Catholic schools, including  Sacred Heart Academy in Connecticut, St. Joseph School in Imperial, and is now teaching high school math at Cor Jesu Academy here in St. Louis. Sr. Patricia is a graduate of Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA where she earned a bachelor's degree in Mathematics and Secondary Education. She also holds a master's degree in educational leadership from Florida State University. Sr. Patricia has a passion for Catholic education, St. John Paul II, and connecting with people through social media.

Keynote Speaker

Meg Hunter-Kilmer

Meg Hunter-Kilmer is a missionary and storyteller who travels the world telling people about the fierce and tender love of God. She is the author of six books about Scripture and the Saints and currently works as a campus minister at the University of Notre Dame. When she’s not obsessively googling obscure Saints, trying to convince people to read Scripture, or driving appalling distances while listening to audiobooks on double speed, she loves watching the Olympics and spending time with her nieces, nephews, and godchildren.

Musician

Mary Kate Westrich

Mary Kate Westrich is a music minister and songwriter from St. Louis, MO. Mary Kate leads praise and worship music at various Catholic liturgies, retreats, and conferences. Additionally, Mary Kate has written and recorded music through the Worship Collective, Echo Harbor Worship, and you may have heard her on Catholic Radio. When she is not leading worship or writing new music, she is enjoying time with her husband, Chris, and three children. Mary Kate believes in the healing power of Christ through music and hopes to be a vessel of the Lord’s love to all. 

Emcee

Melissa is a St. Louis native who grew up in South Country. She attended Assumption Parish grade school, Notre Dame high school, and Benedictine College. From teaching to parish ministry to now serving as a principal, Melissa's love for journeying with other humans has looked like a lot of different things. The one thing that stays the same is her trust in God's providence over her life. She lives in a small house in Affton, which she shares with the 5lbs of yorkie chaos known as Nova.