Letter from the Editor: Pleased to Meet You

I like to hit the ground running. Although I love ice breakers and opportunities to tell corny jokes in lieu of an introduction, I never actually introduced myself and said hello in my first September issue of 2020. The only identification I supplied was my name at the top of the page, which warranted many a, “Oh! Richter? Like Father Richter?” You got it. The Star Wars Afficiando. Godfather who would call me every year on my baptismal birthday. Alas I am the shorter, feminine, less familiar with Star Wars niece without a J.C.L. in Canon Law. But I do have jokes. And a little bit of theology knowledge. A little. Enough to write a fun article every now and then.

But as Deacon Mike Whitehead mentioned in our last editorial board meeting, people connect with a face, and I’d never taken the time to formally introduce myself. I’d spent these last eleven issues speaking from a faceless name. So hello everyone, my name is Kierstin - that’s me, up there in the box. Welcome to Volume 31 of The Catholic Connection.

To give a little bit of backstory, I was editor of my college yearbook, as well as copy-editor for the newspaper, writing a weekly advice column that I’m sure no one actually took the advice from. I was then a college recruiter for a year after I graduated and lived solely off of Billy’s Boudin, crawfish pies, and Popeye’s.

And now, finally, I have a job that allows me to design cool things, write stories, and drink coffee with the coolest coworkers, especially those who bring me theological materials to read (shout out to Father Pat).

I like rollerskating and longboarding and anything with wheels (except NASCAR, which terrifies me - sorry Dad). I love motorcycles, but I cannot drive a standard (hence the NASCAR terror), but I can parallel park. I also can quote every line to The Secret Life of Walter Mitty and every single line from the entirety of the Harry Potter series.

All in all, it’s a great time here on this round planet, and I’m so thankful to have met so many cool people here in our diocese over the course of the past year. So yes, I know I’m a year late, but hey, better late than never, right?