Christina in Chicago

Tell us your name, age and your state-in-life!

I’m Christina Kolb. I’m 32 and I’m a mom to 3 adorable, sassy little people. 

Are you a cradle Catholic, convert or revert?

Cradle Well, I was born Catholic and went to Catholic schools for 13 years, but got kind of lazy about my faith in college. (Real original, I know.) I had a lot of doubts and at the time, I didn’t understand that doubt can be part of a healthy spiritual life. After I graduated college, I started attending Mass regularly again, but it wasn’t until my son was born that I really understood how much my faith had shaped me and how much I needed a relationship with Christ to make sense of the world around me. There is something about having a child that makes you come alive to all the beauty and suffering in the world, and Catholicism encompasses both of those things so fully and seamlessly that it suddenly just clicked.

What’s been the biggest game changer in your Catholic faith?

As crazy as it sounds, the biggest game changers in my faith have been moments when I was in total despair. Because in those moments, I’ve understood that God’s love not only extends into our brokenness but also that He uses our brokenness and weakness to glorify Him if we let Him. Coming to this realization has given me a peace in the midst of the most heart-wrenching and chaotic times in my life.

Name a saint you identify with and share why.

St. Monica has found me again and again at times in my life when I’ve needed her most. In each circumstance, she has had something new to teach me through her example…in her concern for her child’s physical and spiritual well-being, in her struggle in a difficult marriage, and in her constant turning toward God’s will. She’s a powerhouse of a friend and intercessor. 

When have you felt most valued as a woman in the Church?

When I look around at women I know and love moving mountains for the Church and in their own lives. For me, those two things are inextricably interwoven, because our value isn’t in what we’re doing (even for the Church), but in who we are. So when I see other women using their God-given talents in such a myriad of ways, it brings me a lot of joy and gives me the sense that there is a place for all of us in this big, broad church. 

What’s your favorite way to pray?

I love praying with my kids. Their prayers are so honest and pure, even when they’re silly, and they approach God with so much trust and devotion. I have a lot to learn from them. 

Favorite liturgical holiday?

The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Because we have tacos. As you can tell, I’m very spiritually mature. But in all seriousness, I also really love Advent. Even as an adult, it still fills me with child-like anticipation, and I love how everyone seems to come together to prepare for Christmas. 

What do you do for fun?

I almost always have a book or two in my bag with me, because I love to read. My other love is baking bread; I started experimenting with sourdough a few years ago and now I’m hooked!

Three words that describe you — go!

Persistent, hopeful, and… funny? I’m not sure anyone else would agree with that, but to be honest, I think I’m hilarious. lay