From Prison to Paradise: A Story of Radical Trust in God's Divine Mercy

This title will be released on February 14, 2025

Deacon Carl Cleveland was a loving, successful, faithful man when his world came crashing down. Sentenced unjustly to prison, he endured the loss of all he had: his reputation, home, career, and family. From Prison to Paradise is the moving and inspirational account of Carl and his family discovery of God’s mercy and peace in the midst of their ordeal. Kitty Cleveland, an acclaimed singer and retreat leader, shares her own journey of surrender and trust, along with her father’s captivating and often humorous stories from “the inside.” Immaculee Ilibagiza, survivor of the Rwandan genocide and bestselling author, writes, “If you have ever struggled to make sense of suffering, forgive, or renew your faith, this book has something for you.”

Guestbook

Tammy O’Brien

Dear Kitty, Your song for our Holy Father is so very beautiful. It gives a wonderful image of him rejoicing with God in heaven. Thank you! Love, Tammy

Benjamin Olujohungbe

Kitty, This is just to give an affirmation to you for your love of your mother church. Your music tells this love very vividly. I wish you growth in the faith which I believe you now embrace with joy. With lots of love from a Dominican Friar here in Nigeria. Benjamin Timi,OP

Michelle Daniels

Dear Kitty in Christ: I am so thankful that you sent me this beautiful tribute to our Holy Father at such a relevant time in History! You are an awesome woman!

Marybel Carlisle

Dear Kitty, I have to tell you that I have not broken down to cry, because I have been rejoicing. However, when I was reading my National Catholic Register and read these very last words of our Precious Holy Father JPII, I cried like a baby yesterday. And now I hear your beautiful song. I […]

Click here for more Guestbook entries.

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Pray the Rosary

Each weekday morning, Kitty leads a live Rosary with spontaneous meditations on both Instagram and YouTube. Opening prayers start at 5:45 am CT, with the Angelus and Rosary at 6:00 am CT. If that time does not work for you, the recordings are always available. You are cordially invited to join the hundreds of “Morning Glories” who pray together every day! You can also find the “Kitty’s Morning Glories” community on Facebook for general prayer intentions and the weekend Rosary. Click here for the rosary guide with the Gospel readings and other prayers.

Blog

Singing for the Pope


I was scheduled to sing for Pope John Paul II in an audience on Nov. 30, 2005, (my third opportunity to be with him on this trip–what a blessing!), but he ended up having a stomach virus that caused his secretary to cancel all but a few important exchanges.  This necessarily excluded me.

To say I was disappointed would be an understatement, but God knows what He is about, and I’m sure the Holy Father was much more in need of rest than in hearing me sing the “Ave Maria”.  One really cool unexpected blessing, though, was that Archbishop Hughes (my archbishop) and all of the bishops from Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky were in town for their ad limina visit, and I was invited by Fr. Christopher Nalty, a priest friend who works at the Vatican, to sing for their Mass in the crypt of St. Peter’s Basilica.  So there I was with about 25 bishops, a dozen or so priests and two other lay people, where I got to sing at the tomb of St. Peter!  The tombs of many, if not all, of the past canonized popes also surrounded us.  It was really very special for me–I felt so small in the Big Picture of our rich Catholic heritage.

I flew out two days later and went straight to AZ, where I had a concert in a really fun and vibrant parish, St. Timothy (where LifeTeen was founded).  After I told them the story I just told you, someone spontaneously yelled out, “Hey, Kitty–it’s OK.  You sang for the FIRST Pope!”  Well, what a cool way to think about it, huh?  (I guess I just forgot to tell God *which* Pope I was hoping to sing for :-).  Another friend has since commented that maybe I was also singing for the future pope!  Hmmm…..

Anyway, the bottom line is that as much as I wanted to tell myself that I just wanted to lift up JPII in prayer and honor Mary with my song, I realized that a little hidden part of myself really wanted it for ME–to feel special, to have the public recognition that God really has chosen me to do this work for Him, etc.  I was reminded that God has His own plan for us and for our ministry/life’s work, and our job is to accept His will with docility, gratitude and joy. In fact, John Paul II was to die only a few months later.

Some days He may want me to sing for bishops and cardinals and popes, other days He may want me to sing for people who are marginalized and broken and forgotten, and still other days He may just want me to be silent.  I’m learning that the joy comes in wanting whatever it is He wants.

Love and blessings in this beautiful Year of the Eucharist.  Let’s pray for each other +