Website – https://linktr.ee/kristenwheelerartist

About Kristen Wheeler:  I’m originally a Yankee from Michigan who escaped the snow and moved to Florida for art school where I met my husband. We fell in love, got married, and lived in Florida for 15 years before moving to Louisiana in my husband’s hometown. I have a deep love and connection to New Orleans. Not only because I married a cute Cajun boy who loves and introduced me to seafood, beignets, and Mardi Gras, but as an artist I found the rich culture of music, food, and art here to be just the salve my soul needed for healing and fulfillment. I discovered the Episcopal Church in Louisiana too and never thought it would lead to seminary and the diaconate, but here I am, second year of seminary and ready (God-willing as they say) to be ordained to the permanent diaconate in 2024. I grew up Roman Catholic and went to Catholic school. As a teenager I left the church and didn’t look back for nearly 20 years until I found the Episcopal Church. I’ve traveled the word meeting amazing and interesting people and cultures and love to share these stories when I teach and preach. I now do modern iconography and teach classes, workshops, and retreats, along with being a creative writer and creative minister.

October 23: Jude Thaddeus (the Apostle) – feast day is October 28
introduction to the saints stories and a look at the history and scripture on Jude Thaddeus
October 30: All Saints/All Souls Day traditions – All Saints day is November 1, All Souls is November 2
Why do we celebrate All Saints and All Souls’ days? How are they different? And how are they uniquely celebrated in southern Louisiana?
November 6: Martin de Porres – feast day November 4
Who is Martin de Porres? Why is he a “superhero” saint? Discussion about miracles of the saints.
November 13: Mechtilde of Hackeborn – feast day November 19
Who is Mechtilde? What was her grave spiritual crisis? How do we deal with spiritual crises of our own?
November 20: Cecilia of Rome – feast day November 22
Who is Cecilia? How does music affect our prayer life and relationship with God? How do these stories of the saints resonate with us today?