Elizabeth Tomlin and Professor Catherine Cavadini share a conversation about a new family book, Saints: A Family Story, that she co-authored with her Father Professor John Cavadini of the University of Notre Dame. In this episode we talk about ways that Katie’s family has integrated the saints and the Catholic faith into their family - through a habit of prayer, storytelling, and reading. The book arose from John sending “coupons” to his grandchildren during the pandemic, on which they could request a story of saint. John began writing saint stories to his grandchildren, and together, John and Katie compiled this collection of saint stories to share more broadly. Saints is gorgeously illustrated by Tess Cassady in a way that brings each of these saints to life and invites reader to imagine these  holy people are our family members – because they are. 

You can can find a PDF of some of the illustrations is on Paraclete Press’s website

DG-9781640607545.pdf

Link to Saints: A Family Story

Author and Illustrator Bios

Dr. Catherine Cavadini

Katie is Associate Teaching Professor at the University of Notre Dame where she directs the Masters of Arts Program in Theology. Katie typically offers courses on scriptural interpretation, spirituality, and the stories of the saints. She and her husband, Anthony, live in South Bend, Indiana, with their four children. 

Dr. John Cavadini is Professor of Theology and Director of the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame. John’s work as a theologian arises from his love for the Church Fathers, especially St. Augustine. Knighted by Pope Benedict XVI for his service to the Church, John lives in South Bend, Indiana, where he and his wife, Nancy, receive daily diversion through visits from any number of their 18 grandchildren. 

Anastassia Cassady Tess studied art at the University of Michigan and teaches art history at Trinity School in Greenlawn in South Bend. She’s a freelance artist residing in South Bend.