Katie Woltornist, GIVEN ’16

“My key takeaway from the GIVEN Forum was to give God an unconditional yes – you have no idea where that yes will take you! God performs some of the most beautiful miracles if we give Him complete surrender.” – Katie Woltornist

Please share a little about yourself – feel free to include a fun fact!

Hi there! My name is Katie, and I am a passionate teacher, artist, coffee-fan, and lover of beauty! I grew up the third oldest of 7 children in a beautiful Catholic family. In my spare time, I absolutely love to host and enjoy time with friends, and a fun fact is that I used to be a professional cake decorator and did wedding cakes for 10 years!

Describe your professional work/ministry. How were you led to this? What are you passionate about?

This past summer, I moved to NYC to do more work related to my original GIVEN action plan.  My action plan was to do a 5 week prayer group for women, praying on Mary’s feminine genius through art, and now we have developed into an organization called Behold (Behold Visio Divina).

“My action plan was to do a 5 week prayer group for women, praying on Mary’s feminine genius through art.”

The way I was led to the work I do was actually through my own discernment of my vocation. When I was 20, I entered a religious community. That year was a real time of letting go of my own plans, and being open to God’s, and after a year, I discerned that God was calling me out of religious life.

From this experience of loss in my life, God brought new life … In a moment where I had a hard time finding God, I was able to do so by reading the writings of St. John Paul II on the feminine genius, praying with art, and sharing that journey with other women. You can read more about how I was led to the work I do on our website.

What are the personal strengths that you’ve been given and how do you utilize them?

One of my personal strengths that I feel I have been given is teaching. I absolutely love to help others delve into a deeper understanding of life’s deepest questions. So, since I am an artist, have a love for teaching, and am passionate about the writings of John Paul II, Behold has been a great way to live out these gifts.

“I absolutely love to help others delve into a deeper understanding of life’s deepest questions.”

What women inspire you, and why?

Mother Teresa has inspired me since I was a young child.  When I was 11, I saw footage of her serving on the streets of Calcutta, and I wanted to do the same. I love her unconditional love for Jesus, her wholehearted service of others, and her contagious joy.  

And, of course, I can’t forget Our Lady! The Blessed Mother is the most important inspiration of authentic womanhood to me. Her complete surrender and generosity are such a witness to how we as women are called to love others in our lives.

“Her complete surrender and generosity are such a witness to how we as women are called to love others in our lives.”

What is the best advice/encouragement you’ve received about vocational discernment?

Just live your relationship with Jesus and all else will fall into place with your vocation. This was advice which I received from my spiritual director a few years ago when I felt unrest in the discernment of my vocation. They have been beautiful words of advice that I strive to live by every day.

“Just live your relationship with Jesus and all else will fall into place with your vocation.”

Do you have a favorite inspirational quote?

“If you are who you are meant to be, you will set the world on fire!”                                               – St. Catherine of Siena

What were your key takeaways from the 2016 GIVEN Forum?

My key takeaway was to give God an unconditional yes – you have no idea where that yes will take you! God performs some of the most beautiful miracles if we give Him complete surrender.

“God performs some of the most beautiful miracles if we give Him complete surrender.”

What was your GIVEN action plan? Describe its mission, audience, and impact.

My action plan was to do a 5-week program on praying with art, particularly on the theme of the feminine genius. I found praying with art transforming in my own journey with God and wanted to share that with others.

“I found praying with art transforming in my own journey with God and wanted to share that with others.”

Since GIVEN, my action plan has turned into a full-time mission. It has developed into an organization called Behold, which teaches people how to do “visio divina.” We have now partnered with Frassati NYC and are doing ministry here in the city! Last December, we published our first book on the Joyful Mysteries, and have started multiple groups throughout the United States, in states such as NJ, PA, KS, WY, and MI. We will soon publish our second book on the Sorrowful Mysteries.

“Our hope and mission is to help women be their authentic selves and bring Christ into the world by the sharing of that gift.”

We minister to women of all ages, helping them receive the gift that they are by praying on Mary’s femininity through sacred art. Our hope and mission is to help women be their authentic selves and bring Christ into the world by the sharing of that gift.