OUR WRITERS
Meet the heart and soul of Mothering Spirit
→ Interested in joining us? Subscribe here to learn more about our work, including future opportunities to write for Mothering Spirit. We hope to open for submission in 2023, but till then, watch for our growing group of writers here!
VANESA ZULETA GOLDBERG
Vanesa has been working with young people in the Catholic Church for over 14 years. She received her Bachelors in Theology from Providence College and her Masters in Theology and Ministry from Boston College. She has worked as a Diocesan Director, Speaker, Worship leader, and Writer for several online and paper publications. She lives now in New York with her husband, their two dogs, and their newborn daughter, where she works as a Digital Communications Specialist. She is passionate about empowering young people, social justice, and living out the liberation message of the Gospel.
KAYLA CRAIG
Kayla Craig believes in the power of story. She writes nuanced and nurturing prayers for parents raising kids in turbulent times at Liturgies for Parents and is an experienced podcast producer.
She co-founded and hosts Upside Down Podcast, a place for ecumenical conversations on faith and justice. Her most recent published essays are in This Is Motherhood: A Motherly Collection of Reflections + Practices (2019) and Rally: Litanies for Lovers of Jesus and Justice (2020).
Kayla and her husband Jonny live in Iowa, where they raise four young kids. She’s stubborn in hope and has a penchant for deep mugs of coffee, deeper laughs, and even deeper questions.
SARAH BAHIRAEI
Sarah hopped a plane to Turkey in 2014 with a one-way ticket in hand. She lives there with her husband, Afshin, and daughter, Esther. She writes about faith, immigration, and living in the in-between on her blog onefootonboth.com.
KIMBERLY IGLESIA
Kimberly Iglesia is a wife, mother, and student who resides in Brooklyn, New York. Through her writing she hopes to inspire the heart of every catholic and non-catholic to draw close to Jesus. She is a psychology major who one day hopes to offer counseling to all Christians struggling with mental health issues. She enjoys spending time in nature, drinking coffee, and encouraging others to wellness of mind, body, and soul.
KIRBY HOBERG
Kirby Hoberg mothers 4 young kids outside Minneapolis, Minnesota. Ponca of Oklahoma, working in acting, music, dance, and modeling. Her writing on parenting, Native, Catholicism is on Instagram @underthyroof. Arts on Instagram @kirbyhoberg. Twitter @kirbyhoberg.
RAKHI MCCORMICK
Rakhi McCormick is a first-generation Indian-American and convert from Hinduism who found her way into the Church and a career in ministry through a series of invitations, and more than a few leaps of faith – sometimes kicking and screaming. Having worked in a variety of ministries at the national, diocesan, and local level, Rakhi has discovered that her greatest passion is speaking light into darkness, wherever that might be found, and however the Holy Spirit leads. She has a heart for the underdog, the overlooked, and the broken. A devoted advocate for God’s mercy and justice, Rakhi uses these inspirations to shape her writing, speaking, and artwork. She is the owner of Rakstar Designs and currently resides in the Metro Detroit area with her husband and three children. When not playing wife, mother, or minister, you can find Rakhi singing, reading, scrolling Instagram, and making beautiful things (and messes) with coffee in hand.
RACHAEL STOWE
Rachael Stowe is a Catholic wife and mother of four. She is a lover of beauty, story, and simple living and has traveled the world with her family, often with a baby and backpack attached. After receiving a terminal cancer diagnosis in 2020, Rachael felt called to write about seeing the face of God in the midst of a devastating illness. She writes especially for her young children, and shares some of her writing on her blog, www.whatifweflyblog.com.
RACHEL MARIE KANG
Rachel Marie Kang is a New York native, born and raised just outside New York City. She is a graduate of Nyack College (New York) with a degree in English with Creative Writing and Bible. She is founder of The Fallow House and author of Let There Be Art: The Pleasure and Purpose of Unleashing the Creativity within You. Rachel’s writing has been featured in Christianity Today, Proverbs 31 Ministries, and (in)courage. She lives and writes in North Carolina with her husband and two children. Connect with her at rachelmariekang.com and on Instagram at @rachelmariekang.
JESS ROZGA-DEBONI
Jessica Rozga-DeBoni has spent the last 12 years supporting women as a doula and mentor, which builds on her decade of experience as a social worker in the fields of addiction and after-school education. Currently she seeks out the incongruous, gets excited easily, plants more flowers than food, and home educates her three kids. She lives as a joyful neighbor in Manistee, MI with her husband where she visits the shore of Lake Michigan daily.
GINA DADAGLO
Gina Dadaglo is a wife and mother, living near Paris, France with her husband and two small kids. She is a convert to Catholicism, and is driven by the desire to make space for a wider range of voices and experiences within the Church. If she could have coffee with someone in heaven she'd pick Dorothy Day, although she'd be a little intimidated.
STINA KIELSMEIER-COOK
Stina is a writer from Minneapolis where she raises kids, maxes out her library card, and is usually late for church. She is the author of Blessed Are the Nones: Mixed Faith Marriage and My Search for Spiritual Community, a spiritual memoir about interfaith marriage, monasticism, and deconversion. Connect with Stina at stinakc.com.
CAMERON BELLM
Cameron Bellm is a Seattle-based writer and contemplative in action. She combines her love of language with a deeply rooted spirituality to compose poems, prayers, essays, and devotionals linking our modern lives with our ancient faith. She is the author of the Spirit & Verse column at Jesuits.org and A Consoling Embrace: Prayers for a Time of Pandemic. You can find more of her writing on Instagram at @cameronbellm and on her website, cameronbellm.com.
KARIANNA FREY
Karianna Frey is a Catholic wife and mother, and an educator, author and speaker, based out of Minnesota. Growing up Baptist, she developed a deep love for the Lord, which grew as she learned more about the Catholic Church and the gift of her Sacraments. She enjoys sharing about her journey into the Catholic Church, how our values help refine who we are, the power prayer can have on your life, and how each and every person is created in the image and likeness of God with a specific role in His Church. She is the author Serviam Non Serviam, The Virtuous Path, The 90-Day Morning Devotional, and The Catholic Devotional for First-Time Moms all available on Amazon. She is the editor of We are Beloved: 30 days with Thea Bowman, and a contributing author of The Ave Prayer Book for Catholic Mothers both available from Ave Maria Press. Connect with Karianna on Instagram at @kariannafrey or by visiting www.kariannafrey.com
KIMBERLY KNOWLE-ZELLER
Kimberly Knowle-Zeller is a writer, pastor, wife, and mother of two. She lives with her family in Cole Camp, Missouri. She also serves as the Community Manager for Exhale Creativity. When she’s not at the park with her children, walking around town, or tending to the garden, you can find her with a pen and paper. She believes in the power of words, unearthing the extraordinary in the ordinary, and encouraging others to follow their passions. You can connect with Kim on her blog, Instagram, and by subscribing to her monthly newsletter where you'll receive a free downloadable resource: “Walk and Talk with God: Reflection, Scripture references, and a how-to for your own contemplative walk.”
ALISSA MOLINA
Alissa Molina is a writer, publisher, speaker and founder of From Here Media, a non-profit organization whose mission is to encourage the love of God, Neighbor and Self through print, online and in-person offerings. While her formal studies include a degree from the University of Texas at Austin in Education, she credits her vocation as a wife and mother, her decade of work in youth ministry, and her community advocacy as vitally important places of spiritual formation. Alissa has presented at DCYC, Theology on Tap, The Parable Retreat, and the FemCatholic Summit and has been featured on The Katie McGrady Show.
KATIE CASSADY
Katie Cassady is a wife and mom to three girls in Denver, CO. A beekeeper and avid gardener, she believes stewardship, Catholic Social Teaching, and the practice of Sabbath, hold untold potential for the Church and the world. She holds a Masters degree in Pastoral Ministry and published Sunday Fun as a tool to help families intentionally integrate the practice of Sabbath. She blogs at Blessed Is She and unexpectedhoney.
HOLLY FORSETH
Holly Forseth is a high school theology teacher and writer. She earned her B.S. from the University of Notre Dame and her Master of Pastoral Studies from Loyola University New Orleans. Holly has held many roles in life, but her favorite is loving people for who they are. She and her husband live in Arizona with their two teenage boys.
SARAH ROSE
Sarah Rose is a wife and mother living in Cleveland, OH. She loves Ignatian Spirituality and is passionate about faith, social justice, and the intersection of the two. She earned her B.A. from John Carroll University and her Master of Divinity from The Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University. In her spare time, she enjoys gardening, listening to audiobooks, and finding God in all things.
LETICIA OCHOA ADAMS
Leticia Ochoa Adams was born and raised in rural Texas south of San Antonio and recently graduated with a BA in Philosophy from Holy Apostles College and Seminary. She is married to her childhood sweetheart Stacey. Leticia has four children, three stepchildren, a daughter-in-law, and two grandkids. After the suicide of her oldest son Anthony (whom she loves to tell everyone about because he was awesome), Leticia and Stacey sold their house in the suburbs and moved out to 10 acres of raw land where they plan to raise cows and plant gardens. They currently have three pit bulls and two bunnies.
Leticia's first book is now available: Our Lady of Hot Messes: Getting Real With God in Dive Bars and Confessionals (Ave Maria Press). As a freelance writer, she has contributed to The Catholic Hipster Handbook (Ave Maria Press) and Patrick Madrid's Surprised by Truth (Sophia Press). Her work has appeared in numerous Catholic print and online publications including Our Sunday Visitor and Aleteia. Leticia is also a regular featured guest on the Jen Fulwiler Show on Sirius XM and a sought-after panelist at Catholic conferences, having most recently participated at FemCatholic and the Fall Conference at the deNicola Center for Ethics and Culture at the University of Notre Dame. Her website is leticiaoadams.com.
JESSICA MATHISEN
Jessica Mathisen lives just outside of Atlanta, Georgia with her husband and three kids (two through biology and one through adoption). She is a former elementary school teacher and a lover of people. Her passion is to communicate God's love to others through writing and relationships. Her most favorite things are hanging with her family, eating chips and salsa, and reading good books.
HOLLY FORSETH
Anna Bonnema is an open-armed Catholic and a lover of words and nature. Anna is a wife to a man with a contagious laugh and a mom to amazing young-adult triplets. Though she calls herself an introvert, she loves to gather around the table or the fire. Anna is a certified spiritual director and loves walking alongside women in all life stages. Anna published her first devotional last spring and it can be found HERE.
Fueled by tea, lattes, and dog snuggles, Anna loves small celebrations and glitter. Fill your favorite mug and join her on Instagram @annabonnema.
TASHA JUN
Tasha Jun is a melancholy dreamer, a biracial Korean American storyteller, wife to Matt, and mama to three little warriors: two wild boys and one little lady. As long as she can remember, she’s lived and stood in places where cultures collide. Writing has always been the way God has led her towards home and the hope of shalom. Tasha's first book is forthcoming in 2023, Tell Me the Dream Again: Reflections on Family, Ethnicity, and the Sacred Work of Belonging. Find more of her writing on Instagram at at tashajun.com.
CLARISSA MOLL
Clarissa Moll is an award-winning writer who helps bereaved people find flourishing after loss. She is the author of the bestselling book, Beyond the Darkness: A Gentle Guide for Living with Grief and Thriving after Loss, and her writing appears in Christianity Today, The Gospel Coalition, RELEVANT, Modern Loss, Grief Digest, and more. She cohosts Christianity Today’s Surprised by Grief podcast, holds a master’s degree from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and is a frequent guest on podcasts and radio shows. Find her on Instagram at @mollclarissa or at clarissamoll.com.
JUSTINA KOPP
Justina Kopp lives in the Twin Cities, MN with her husband, Matthew, their quadruplet six year olds: Cora, Raphael, Theodore, and Benedict. She is a 2013 graduate of the University of St. Thomas - MN where she studied Catholic Studies and Biology. Currently, Justina is pursuing a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.
LAURA JOHNSON
Laura Johnson is a pastor, mother, wife, friend, and writer, though not always in that order. An ordained United Methodist pastor serving the Raleigh, NC area, she loves inspiring people to connect with God in their everyday lives through her preaching, teaching, and writing. She cherishes time with her pastor husband and their two daughters, who regularly give her glimpses of the Kingdom of God. You can find her writing online at www.revlaurajohnson.com or on social media @revlaurajohnson.
META HERRICK CARLSON
Meta Herrick Carlson (she/her/hers) is a pastor and poet. Her ministry is rooted in a love for meaningful ritual, accessible language, and healthy communities. Meta laughs at her own jokes and packs extra snacks just in case. She and her husband Matt have three kids who are loud, sticky, and fiercely loved. For information about her books, visit www.metaherrickcarlson.com.
SHAUNA'H FUEGEN
Shauna’h Fuegen is a cradle Catholic, Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawk) woman, wife, and working mother of three young boys. She guides Catholic women through making time and space for God, even in the busiest of seasons. You can find her at Fiat Sanctum writing about prayer routines, everyday holiness, and life as a Secular Franciscan. Follow along with Shauna’h on Instagram @fiatsanctum.
MARINA GROSS-HOY
Marina Gross-Hoy is a Museum Studies PhD candidate, writer, and mother based in the Eastern Townships of Quebec. Marina's writing explores what looking at artwork can teach us about seeing the art of our ordinary lives. Her newsletter, The Museum Gaze, examines how observing life with the same attentive gaze we use in museums can open us up to wonder, compassion, and empowerment. You can find more at her website, marinagrosshoy.com or on Instagram at @marinagrosshoy.
MILLER VOIGT
Miller is a writer based in Asheville, NC where she lives with her high school sweetheart and their two kids. She began writing short-form essays and poetry after giving birth to her oldest child four years ago. Writing has connected her with others and helped her process motherhood, womanhood, and personhood. She loves reading, thrifting, and a good coral lipstick.
COLLEEN CONNELL MITCHELL
Colleen Connell Mitchell is the author of Who Does He Say You Are? and When We Were Eve. In addition to her work as a writer and speaker, she is a mom to five grown and nearly grown children and works as a social worker in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Colleen is a champion of the hearts of women and relentlessly seeks the divine spark in everyone she meets and everything she does.
AMBER HAINES
Amber C. Haines is a soulful writer and a blogger. Her first book, Wild in the Hollow: On Chasing Desire and Finding the Broken Way Home was published by Revell in 2015. Her second book, The Mother Letters: Sharing the Laughter, Joy, Struggles, And Hope, was co-curated with husband Seth Haines (Revell, 2016).
LAUREN NIZOL
Lauren Nizol dreamed of being a writer when her oldest (now thirteen) of three sons was a baby. After her return to teaching a year later, it took some time before she began to write again. Aside from being a wife, mother, sister, daughter and friend, Lauren is also a high school teacher and literacy interventionist, and an eighth grade catechist. For Lauren, writing always brings her clarity and presence. In the summers, she can be found outside with her family, preferably near water, blue skies and trees.
Our Founder
Laura Kelly Fanucci
Laura Kelly Fanucci is an author, speaker, and founder of Mothering Spirit, where she first started writing about parenting and spirituality in 2010. She earned her B.A. from the University of Notre Dame and her Master of Divinity from Saint John's School of Theology. Laura has authored seven books, including Everyday Sacrament: The Messy Grace of Parenting and Grieving Together: A Couple's Journey through Miscarriage.
Laura’s work has been featured on the Hallow and Ritual apps, and in popular outlets including NPR’s Morning Edition, On Being, and the Kelly Clarkson Show. She writes frequently for online and print publications including Catholic News Service, Grotto Network, and Give Us This Day. She and her husband live in Minnesota with their children.