Speakers
Colleen Hutt | 2026 Keynote Speaker
Where Life Takes Root: Woman as Garden in Scripture, Theology, and the Great Books
Colleen Hutt is the Director of Literary Evangelization for Well-Read Mom. Colleen graduated from the University of Notre Dame’s Program of Liberal Studies (Great Books). She has worked as a Director of Religious Education in Venice, FL and as a Pastoral Associate for Adult Formation in Whitefish Bay and Fox Point, WI. She and her husband, Colin, have five children and one grandchild. Colleen and Marcie Stokman are co-authors of The Well-Read Life: Nourish your Soul through Deep Reading and Intentional Friendship. Colleen is passionate about her faith, revitalizing culture, and approaching the struggles of modern life from the heart of the Church. Day to day, she enjoys paddle-boarding and hiking with Colin and is adjusting to a quieter house now with only one child still at home.
Sr. Caritas of the Cross, SOLT | 2026
Feminine Fruitfulness
Sr. Maria Caritas of the Cross Wendt, SOLT, is a Sister with the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity and is currently assigned to Our Lady's Montessori School in Kansas City, MO. Sr. Caritas studied English Literature at Our Lady of Corpus Christi College prior to her entrance to the Society of Our Lady in 2005. Since then, she has lived as a missionary in New Mexico, Seattle, Colorado, England, Arizona, South Texas, Detroit and Kansas City.
Please join us in praying for the Little Sisters of the Lamb and their co-founder Br. Jean-Claude OFM, who is preparing to meet the Lord. The sisters and brothers were all called back to their mother house in France to be together during this time.
We are grateful to Sr. Caritas for her willingness to step in on such short notice and be with us at the Summit!
Danielle Blosser and Nadia Schroeder | 2026
A Tale of Two Fertilities
Danielle Blosser (left) is the mother of 14 children ages 10 months to 22 years. Her first seven were boys. She has been married to her husband Jamie, a professor of theology at Benedictine College, for 24 years. Danielle holds a BA in International Studies and French from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Danielle grew up in the Middle East and now she and Jamie live in Atchison, where Danielle homeschools, teaches Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, and swims to keep up her svelte figure.
Nadia Schroeder (right) is the mother of one 18-month old girl, and three in heaven. She has been married to her husband Ryan for 12 years. She holds a BA in Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and now lives in Kansas City with her family. Nadia lived in the Middle East for 20 years and speaks Arabic, with a focus on Syrian dialect. Nadia is learning the joys of story time at the library where her daughter Natalie pilfers books from the shelves.
Emma Brennan | 2026
The Grace of Marriage: A Seed Sown In The Soul
Emma Brennan holds a BA degree in Finance and Economics from Benedictine College and currently works as a Manager of Operations at H&R Block. She’s been involved in H&R Block’s young professionals group, GenKC Young Professionals Chamber of Commerce, as well as Young Catholic Professionals in Kansas City. A loving daughter, wife, friend and sister, Emma fiercely loves the people in her life — she has been married for about 3 years to Tyler, who she adores. They attend St. Pius X Parish in Mission, KS, and live a few blocks from the church. An emerging embroidery and sewing enthusiast, she is also passionate about advocating for those with chronic illness and is on a journey to transform her cooking skills to live up to her Nana's.
Maria Brandell | 2025 Keynote Speaker
Do We Need Feminism? Exploring the feminine vocation to work with Mary Harrington and Edith Stein
Maria Brandell is currently a graduate student at Notre Dame earning a theology degree in Biblical studies - a wild world of textual analysis, and a far cry from her previous work at a Catholic political theology think tank called new Polity, located in Steubenville, Ohio. Maria graduated from Franciscan University with a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy, Theology, and Catechetics. After teaching a few years, she joined New Polity as a fellow and intern, co-hosting a podcast series called “Politics of Gender” with Marc Barnes. She has spent several years discerning Dominican monastic life, and enjoys hiking, weight lifting, and running - and is (slowly!) teaching herself to play the mandolin.
Sarah Winter | 2025
Leaving the House: on Love, Longing, Mid-life Crises, and Hope in Exile
Sarah holds an MA in English from Wake Forest University as well as a Mlitt in Creative Writing from St. Andrews University in Scotland. Her poetry has appeared in numerous publications including Dappled Things, Cider Press Review, and the St. Austin Review. She lives in Kansas City with her husband five children. When she is not homeschooling, home-making, or merry-making with friends, she works on her “long fiction project” and plays the violin.
Mary Basola | 2025
Ever Ancient, Ever New: A Look at Christian Hospitality Through the Lens of Literature
Mary is a teacher and home educator with a background in liberal arts and education. She has a passion for literature, and in her spare time collects children’s literature and is a home-library consultant. She and her husband, Mark, along with their seven children, are parishioners at Our Lady of Good Counsel.
Hilary Stroh | 2025
The Good, The Bad and the Just Plain Peculiar: Women's experiences as wives and mothers in 2,000 years of Christian history
Hilary is an independent scholar in the Kansas City area. Originally from Ireland, and educated in Ireland the UK, she works free-lance as a historian, a teacher, and a music journalist.