Carol Kurivial's passion is communicating how and why she is captivated by Catholicism! With a B.A. in Comprehensive Communications and a M.A. in Interpersonal and Public Communications, both from Bowling Green State University, Carol began her career as a speech teacher at Bryan High School in Ohio. She later went on to work as a private communications consultant and presenter. In addition, Carol has been actively involved in Community Advocates for Healthy Families, has participated in church ministry as a catechist, liturgist, lector, retreat leader, and choir member, and is a fine arts enthusiast where for over four decades she has directed a myriad of musicals and plays. Carol was the Director of Religious Education for St. John and St. Mary Catholic Churches in Defiance, Ohio from 2010 - 2015, and co-founded Luminous Ministries with her daughter, Kristen, in 2014. In addition to her work with Luminous Ministries, in 2023 Carol became the Faith Formation Coordinator at her home parish of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Bryan, Ohio. Serving first through eighth grade, coordinating Sacramental prep, and leading the adult program, Carol feels there is never a dull moment working for the Lord! Wife to Mike and mother to Katie (Jon), Kyle (Mallory), and Kristen (Derek), and Grandmother to Quinn, Chandler, Colton, and Hunter, Carol resides in Bryan, Ohio. Desiring to follow the promptings of St. Catherine of Siena, who once said, "If you are what you should be, you will set the world on fire," Carol hopes to help spark a reawakening of souls. In her own words, "It is absolutely urgent that Catholics become what they should be...it is time for sparks to fly and fires to blaze!"
MEET CAROL
MEET KRISTEN
At the age of one, Kristen was already singing along at the celebration of the Mass. This fact frequently comes up in conversation when discussing how early our passions present themselves. Kristen has always loved music, the Mass, and the members of the Body of Christ. Throughout her life, she has been blessed to hone her musical abilities by attending the Interlochen Arts Camp (Summers of 2007 and 2008), graduating from the Interlochen Arts Academy (2009), obtaining a Bachelors of Music in vocal performance at The Ohio State University (2013), and performing professionally. As a singer and storyteller with a passion for souls and her Savior, Kristen chose to pivot from the world of secular performance to the sacred by becoming the Youth Minister (2013-2015), at St. John and St. Mary Catholic Churches in Defiance, Ohio, teaching music at Holy Cross Catholic School (2014-2015), also in Defiance, and co-founding Luminous Ministries (2014) with her mother, Carol. Using her gifts to reignite the people of God has been a grace upon grace. And those graces continue to flow through her role as wife to her husband, Derek, and mother to her sons, Chandler and Hunter. In addition to her work with Luminous Ministries, Kristen presently serves at St. Patrick Catholic Church (2023), where she is a Youth, Young Adult, and Music Minister. Kristen is grateful to be building the Kingdom of God one soul and one song at a time.
OUR STORY
“Wouldn’t it be awesome if we combined our giftedness and created a ministry?” Carol asked her daughter Kristen as they looked out over the peaceful waters of Clear Lake in Fremont, Indiana. Both women immediately loved the idea as Carol had an entire history of directing, public speaking, and teaching, and Kristen had a history of singing and performance. But, seeing as Kristen was only a sophomore in high school, the dream was put on hold as she had to finish her education. And she did so by attending the Interlochen Arts Academy for her Senior year of high school. Then she left the pines of northern Michigan for the Buckeye state by attending The Ohio State University and majoring in Vocal Performance.
Upon graduating, Kristen was cast as the lead in Opera Columbus’ production of “The Merry Widow” and became the Youth Minister for St. Mary’s and St. John’s Catholic Churches in Defiance, Ohio, where Carol was the Director of Religious Education. A year later Kristen took on the role of teaching music at Holy Cross Catholic School. Both women thoroughly enjoyed working together and saw how their skill sets and personalities complimented the other. As they continued to work in tandem, they recalled that day at Clear Lake and wondered again what God might have in store.
After much prayer and discernment, Carol and Kristen resigned from their positions and decided to give their dream a name, calling it Luminous Ministries. Luminous because they wanted to creatively illuminate the faith and energize the faithful.
Carol and Kristen believe the faith to be vibrant and life changing if truly lived. Therefore, this mother-daughter team offers retreats, missions, in-services, and musicals, along with spiritual bouquets, prayers cards, and blessing cards, all intended to energize believers and put the faith into action.