Welcome back to the Extra Edition newsletter! I’m excited to bring you bonus content each month with a special inside look at my novels and the history behind them.
What’s in this Edition:
Let’s Send up Sparks! – A Launch Team Reminder
And With Your Spirit – My visit to Kenrick Glennon Seminary, founded in 1818
Speaking of Churches – Bookish churches you can actually visit
Let’s send up Sparks!
Want to read Sparks Fly Upward before its July 2 release? There’s still time to:
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Pre-Order the eBook OR Purchase the Paperback
Want to help spread the word? I’ve created pre-made graphics for anyone to use:
Thank you in advance!
And with your Spirit
Earlier this month, my son attended summer camp at Kenrick Glennon Seminary, St. Louis’s Catholic seminary. For those who aren’t familiar, the seminary is where unmarried men study the faith and earn a college degree in preparation to become deacons and priests of the Catholic Church. The camp was really part camp, part retreat as the goal is to show middle school and high school boys what seminary life is like and encourage vocations to the priesthood. Almost 200 boys gather over two weeks to learn about the faith while also having fun. Odds are, they won’t all be called to the priesthood or religious life, but hopefully they’ll become closer to God and more willing to encourage others who may be called to a religious vocation.
In my books, I write about many historical Catholic Churches. Kenrick Glennon Seminary was founded in 1818 with its current building constructed in 1931. It includes many of the traditional architectural elements that are found in the churches I write about. My husband and I actually attended several co-ed retreats at the seminary during our high school days, so I gave into nostalgia and snapped a few photos to share.
The front entrance and bell tower:
Inside the St. Joseph’s Chapel, one of several chapels on-site. This photo does not do justice to how pretty the ceiling is.
Two of the many beautiful stained glass windows. Even the radiator grates are decorated.
I was especially happy to get a photo of the confessional as most modern Catholic Church confessionals are built into the wall rather than as their own separate element. The Latin above the door reads, “accipite spiritum sanctum,” which means “Receive the Holy Spirit.” If you’ve read Unsettled Shores, this is the type of confessional the characters visit.
For more information on Kenrick Glennon Seminary, visit: https://kenrick.edu/
Speaking of Churches…
As mentioned above, as a Catholic Christian author writing about mostly Catholic Christian characters, I like to include real-life Catholic churches in my novels. While I haven’t had the privilege to visit most of these (yet), if they’re in your neck of the woods, I recommend stopping by. If you do, please send a photo. I would love to hear what you thought.
All photos are from the churches’ websites.
Until next month, happy reading!
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam
Kelsey
Purchase signed copies of my books: kelseygietl.com
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