To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE


SHARE THIS ARTICLE Printer friendly version of this page

From the Rink to the Convent: How a Pro-Life Encounter Changed an Olympian's Life

Kathleen Gilbert : Feb 19, 2010  LifeSiteNews.com

"I had the wonderful privilege of being able to compete as an Olympian, and now I am blessed to be able to serve God and help those less fortunate."

(LEEDS, England)—As America's team of Olympic women speed skaters compete in the Vancouver Winter Olympics this month, one prodigy once expected to shoot to stardom in the sport won't even be watching the broadcast.

Kristin HollumTwelve years ago, while only seventeen, Kirstin Holum placed sixth in the 3,000 meter race in the Nagano 1998 Winter Olympics—a remarkable feat in a competition usually dominated by older and hardier athletes. But Holum, 29, is now a Catholic nun known as Sister Catherine Mary, and her calling to the religious life has brought her to a convent where no TV or Internet will show the Vancouver Olympics. (Photo: LifeSiteNews.com)

Holum says that her conversion was sparked by an experience with the pro-life group Crossroads that she says changed her life.

Crossroads participants make a yearly pilgrimage on foot across the United States to witness against the killing of the unborn. Jim Nolan, a spokesman for the group, told LifeSiteNews.com (LSN) that "the untold part of this story is that [Holum] bumped into the 2002 Crossroads pro-life walk across America ... and decided to finish the walk from there to D.C. with them," experiencing "a massive conversion due to her pro-life work that summer." This conversion brought her to the convent.

In a letter that Crossroads received in 2005, the former speed skating champ wrote: "Crossroads completely changed my life! I came onto Crossroads as a mediocre confused Christian and finished as a zealous Roman Catholic."

In a Yahoo! Sports column this week, Holum recounted for writer Martin Rogers the path that took her from the sport that defined her life from a young age—her mother was world-class speed skater Dianne Holum—to a life of working with the poor and homeless as a member of the Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal (FSR).

"It is funny to think of how different my life is now," she told Yahoo! Sports. "I had the wonderful privilege of being able to compete as an Olympian, and now I am blessed to be able to serve God and help those less fortunate." The religious sister also noted that she enjoys watching youngsters open up after she tells them she is a former Olympian.

In the correspondence that Crossroads received from the former skater, she explained that she "had a pretty rough time in college with my faith."

"So, when I graduated I had no desire to do anything. God saw an opportunity to work something amazing through Crossroads," says the letter. "I had never experienced such joyful, young Catholics and I was so inspired."

"Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you do for Crossroads and for your intense Pro-Life ministry. Without my Crossroads experience, who knows where I would be!" it concludes. "Crossroads is not only saving babies, it is raising up strong Pro-Life Catholics."







SHARE THIS ARTICLE Printer friendly version of this page

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

Other Recent Articles from Breaking Christian News

Illegals Using Fake Skimmers at Self-Checkouts to Drain Consumers' Bank Accounts; Here's How to Guard Yourself

Elon Musk to Pay Embattled Doctor's Legal Fees after Speaking Out against COVID Lockdowns

Safety of Women Hangs in Balance after Oral Arguments on Abortion Pill Regulation

New Federal Gun Grab Law Would Criminalize Shooting Ranges, and Even Private Security

Treasury Sec. Yellen: Biden Has NO Plan to Save Social Security

Maryland Governor Says 'Keep on Praying' for Families of Missing Workers after Baltimore Bridge Collapse

Chick-fil-A Abandons Long-Held 'No Antibiotics' Pledge on Chicken

The War in Myanmar: Karenni Resistance Fighters Ask for Prayer and Practical Help

The World Is Facing a Major Population Crisis by 2075 If Birth Rates Keep Falling

FDA Admits COVID Vaccines Cause Seizures in Toddlers

'Hamas Is Celebrating' after US Abstains from UN Security Council Ceasefire Vote: Netanyahu Cancels Visit

Kamala Harris Won't Disclose Why Biden Campaign Is Active on TikTok Despite Security Worries

Special Counsel Report Reveals University of Delaware Misled Courts to Hide Biden's Senate Records That Likely Hold Sexual Assault Complaint Filed by Tara Reade

'Unthinkable Tragedy': Baltimore Bridge Collapses after Being Struck by Cargo Ship

Jews, Christians Celebrate Purim, Palm Sunday as Israel Fights for Victory over Hamas

Dan Bongino Emotionally Recounts Supernatural Experience the Morning His Mom Died: 'I've Never Believed More in the Power of Jesus'

Married People More Likely to Be 'Thriving': Gallup Survey

Planet Fitness Is Having a 'Bud Light' Moment

The Shocking Untold History of the Man Who Designed the 'Transgender Flag'

Moscow Concert Massacre: US Border Chief Very Concerned a Similar Attack Could Happen Here



Search the Articles Archives

Keyword:  
Author:  
Words Posted On:  
Day Month Year



BCN Plus

Follow BCN on Twitter
Are You Praying for Our Government Leaders?
BCN Staff

Steve Shultz
Steve Shultz, Managing Editor
Founder and Owner


Aimee Herd
Aimee Herd, Editor


BCN Plus
Are You Praying for President Trump?
 
 

All articles on this site and emails from BCN are copyrighted property of Breaking Christian News. Permission is given to link to, or share a BCN story if proper attribution is given to both the original writer and summarizer of the story. Breaking Christian News 2005-2019. All Rights Reserved.


Breaking Christian News is a division of Elijah List Publications, Inc. All Rights Reserved


Disclaimer: Articles and links, as well as the source articles linked to; do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Breaking Christian News.

editor@breakingchristiannews.com