About Kitty

Mission Statement & Biography:  Kitty Cleveland

My primary mission as a daughter of God is to faithfully provide for the care and feeding of my husband, Mel, and my daughter, Cecilia.  They are my life and my joy! 

Second to that is my mission as a lay Catholic evangelist—a calling that has surprised, delighted, and occasionally terrified me these last 12 or so years.  I give thanks to God for using me in this way, and I look forward to the continuing unfolding of this great adventure with Him.

If I had to boil down the essence of what I feel called to do, it is to encourage people—whether through music, storytelling, or teaching from the great Catholic spiritual writers and my own life experience.  Tears in the audience (and occasionally from me) are not uncommon, and I consider them sacred.  My audiences and I also laugh a lot, which I consider to be a true gift of the Holy Spirit.

My heart burns with a desire to share the riches of our Catholic faith, especially to lapsed or lukewarm Catholics.  I submit myself to the teaching authority of the Magesterium of the Roman Catholic Church in matters of faith and morals, and I delight in her guidance.

Favorite topics include:

• The Eucharist (the center of my life!) and Adoration
• Authentic beauty (for women)
• Surrender to Divine Providence
• Finding Time for God
• Finding Peace of Heart
• The Divine Mercy of Jesus
• The Secrets of the Rosary

I also enjoy being given particular topics to research and prepare, as well as being commissioned to write songs from particular quotes or themes.  Some of my best material has come in this way!

By virtue of my baptism, I have been called to become an evangelist in a world where despair, godlessness, and violence cry out for a remedy.  My job is to rally the troops and encourage them to do join me in this mission to bring the Good News to the ends of the earth, starting in their own hearts, homes and parishes.

In Christ, our Hope,   

Biography: New Orleans native Kitty Cleveland, an inspirational speaker and award-winning singer, songwriter and actress, has been delighting audiences around the world for over 25 years.   Though she put her singing on hold after college to pursue careers as a lawyer, university instructor and career counselor, Kitty’s life as a recording artist began in earnest after launching her first CD in 2000. 

Kitty has since appeared in concert and as a keynote speaker throughout North America and in Europe. Also in the planning stages, and in response to many requests, is a collection of jazz standards with some of New Orleans’ finest musicians.

Thousands of people have heard Kitty’s stirring testimony, a story both dramatic and humorous, which takes us all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. Most recently Kitty was added to the roster of Lighthouse Catholic Media, a non-profit corporation which has distributed over five million CDs of talks and teachings by Catholic evangelists worldwide.

Television & Radio

Kitty appeared five times as a guest on EWTN’s Life on the Rock television series with Jeff Cavins—reaching over 100 million households worldwide—as well as on EWTN’s Backstage television series.  She has appeared multiple times on Catholic TV of Boston, has had numerous appearances on New Orleans television, and continues to receive both national and international radio airplay. 

Recordings

• Surrender:  Collection of popular liturgical songs, plus two originals.  Winner of Unity Award® for “Sacramental Album of the Year” (2000, 2007 remix).
• Sacred Arias:  Twelve favorite classics with a chamber orchestra.  Final Unity Award® nominee for “Devotional Album of the Year” (2001).
• The Miracle of Love Rosary:International best-seller featuring music and meditations on the sanctity of life, including the Luminous Mysteries.  Recorded with Fr. Robert Cavalier (2002).
• O Holy Night:  Well-loved Christmas songs with a Celtic flair (2003).
• The Miracle of Divine Mercy:  Original sung Divine Mercy chaplet with a children’s choir, plus two inspiring songs and Kitty’s Divine Mercy testimony (2004).
• Be Not Afraid:   Includes 12 songs of hope and consolation, including “Now You Come to Me”, an original song inspired by the last words of Pope John Paul II, and “Eye of the Storm”, written by Kitty for the victims and survivors of Hurricane Katrina. Winner of Unity Award for “Devotional Album of the Year” (2006)
• Sublime Chant: The Scotland Project:An ambitious recording of 17 Gregorian chants recorded in a 13^th century Scottish cathedral (2008).
• God Will Provide: 2010 release by Lighthouse Catholic Mediaincludes Kitty’s testimony plus nine songs from her previous collections.
• The Miracle of Life Rosary for Children: Kids love hearing the upbeat, life-affirming music and meditations written by Kitty specifically for a young audience, with all of the prayers led by kids.  Kitty’s daughter, Cecilia (age 7), also sings with her to music arranged by Joe Hand (2-CD, 2011). 

Kitty makes her home in the New Orleans area with her musician husband and young daughter, whom they adopted from China in 2005. Both Kitty’s husband and daughter frequently appear with her in concert.  Increasingly invited to share her testimony and her singing all across the US and abroad, Kitty makes her ministry a full-time commitment.   For bookings, call Caroline Sholl at (504) 559-8076.

Kitty Cleveland--Mission Statement & Bio.pdf

Files: 

Kitty Cleveland, Napoleon House, French Quarter

Kitty Cleveland: Mission Statement and Biography