GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN (December 5, 2005) -

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Kristin Ohlson was raised a Catholic but long ago left the religion and no longer believed in God. One Christmas morning, after significant changes in her personal life, a newspaper notice about an inner-city Cleveland church attracted her attention and she decided to attend Mass. While there, a group of nuns cloistered in the back of the church caught her interest. The life-changing experience was the impetus for her memoir "Stalking the Devine: Contemplating Faith with the Poor Clares."

As part of the celebration of St. Thomas Aquinas Week, Ohlson will speak about her experience at Aquinas on Tuesday, January 24 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in the Loutit Room of Wege Student Center. The event is free and open to the public.

"Stalking the Devine: Contemplating Faith with the Poor Clares" is an exploration of what it is to devote one's life to God and the author's quest to find out if reconnecting with her faith will help fill the void she feels in her life. During her three year dialogue with the Poor Clares, she learned some essential lessons about commitment, love and what really constitutes faith.

Ohlson is a freelance journalist, essayist and fiction writer and lives in Cleveland, Ohio. Her writings span many subjects from zebrafish bioengineered to glow in the presence of pollutants to feminist philanthropy. Her articles and essays have appeared in numerous publications including the New York Times, Salon.com, Ms., the Oprah Magazine, Poets & Writers and Discover, to name a few. She produces materials and manages communication projects for a small number of businesses and nonprofit organizations. Occasionally Olson teaches freshman composition and creative nonfiction at Cleveland State University.