Mini-profile: Catherine DulanRead Time 3 min

Parish: American Martyrs Parish, Kingsford, Mich.; in Milwaukee, Christ King Chapel, Mount Mary Campus

Siblings: Cari, 20

School and/or occupation: Second year student, Mount Mary College, Milwaukee

What’s on your iPod? Christian music, Spanish pop that I listen to when I’m at the gym, and a whole lot of songs by the Dixie Chicks. When I’m at home, I tend to listen to Fleet Foxes, Jack Johnson or JJ Heller stations on Pandora. When I’m in the car, I listen to a lot of country and Christian music.

If you could dine with anyone, living or dead, who would it be? I would dine with Jesus, of course! I feel like we would have excellent dinner conversation. 

Who has made the biggest impact upon you? My mother has made a tremendous impact on me. Always making faith a priority, she showed me how to love and serve others. While being completely devoted to my sister and me, she also taught us how to have fun, how to laugh and how to dance…. I get a lot of my moves from my mom.

What does your normal weekend look like? I may be going out to Nashotah to work a confirmation retreat at TYME OUT where I am an intern. Sunday nights I will be either heading to St. Pius X to teach the ninth graders from Tosa Trio or helping to lead music at the Mass on campus in Mount Mary’s little chapel. Hopefully, I can squeeze in some time to spend with friends and my boyfriend, or maybe even a trip home to the UP to see my family. Realistically however, a lot of my weekend (at least late Sunday night) will be spent doing homework.

Favorite Bible story/Scripture passage/prayer: I love John 16:33 – “I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.”

Favorite quote: From Blessed Mother Teresa: “I am just a little pencil in the hands of a loving God, who is writing his love letter to the world.”

What was your confirmation name? Rose. In eighth grade, I had to dress up as St. Rose (of Lima) and go around to the younger grades of my Catholic elementary school telling her life story. I was so inspired by her humility and radical devotion to God that I chose to take her as my confirmation name, hoping that some of that humility and devotion would rub off on me!

A challenge in life that has strengthened your faith:  Going to college was initially not the easiest for me. I loved being home: my small town, my supportive family and the great community of Christian friends I had built up throughout my high school years. When I first got to college, it was like someone took my water wings off and threw me out into the deep end. I had no faith community other than a couple friends from back home. I really had to decide what I was going to make a priority in my life and whether or not my faith was going to continue to be my center. The whole experience has strengthened my faith, and in the past year I have been able to expand my faith community and grow deeper in my personal relationship with Jesus. 

Favorite pastime/hobby/activity: I love being outside, biking, walking or climbing things I that probably shouldn’t. I have a really cute baby blue bike that I keep in my dorm room and like to take cruising around town if the weather is nice enough. 

What is your favorite meal; dessert: I love cucumbers and hummus, or my mom’s tuna-less tuna salad (because I’m a vegetarian). Dark chocolate dunked in coffee or Special K bars are definitely tops for dessert.

What is the most important thing you want to accomplish in life? I just really want to make sure I get to heaven and can take as many people there with me. If I can accomplish that, I think I’m in pretty good standing.

One thing that makes you unique: Although I absolutely love nature, I am completely inept at keeping plants alive. I think last year alone I went through five different flower pots that all died within a week.