Kate (Gallagher '04) Morrell

After graduating from Oakcrest in 2004, Kate studied Theology at the University of Dallas.  She married David Morrell in 2013 and they have four children. Kate and her family moved to New York City just last month, after living on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. for over a decade. 

Throughout her time in D.C., Kate hosted monthly discussion groups at her home on Capitol Hill for women she had met in her neighborhood or through her children’s school. Their meetings would cover various topics such as virtuous living, marriage, work, and prayer.

“On Capitol Hill, I was always meeting and interacting with people of no faith, some faith, similar faith and everything in between,” Kate recalled. “The strong Catholic education I received at Oakcrest enabled me to interact with all these types of people in a really natural and simple way – meeting people where they are at, because that’s what Christ did.”

Kate discovered through experience that the most effective way to bring the truth to others is through humility and friendship, rather than argumentative debate. “Thinking you have all the answers closes you off from people and stunts evangelization; build bridges by being open and curious,” she said. “Always be open to learning and growing, even from people who are different from you.”

 

When asked how she brings the Oakcrest spirit with her in her role with women, Kate reflected that the Oakcrest spirit is a relationship with Christ that moves us to engage in various relationships in our lives. “With the women I met on Capitol Hill, I always tried to put the relationship first – by simply showing people you care about them and focusing on what you have in common,” Kate said. “I found this builds connection because they feel you respect them, and that’s a beautiful way to start a friendship.”

 

In addition to organizing discussion groups for women, Kate also started a parent group at her parish, St. Peter’s on Capitol Hill, for those whose children attended Sunday school. She noticed that when parents drop off their children, they would often stay at the parish until class had finished. Kate seized what appeared to be a mundane occurrence and turned it into an opportunity for fellowship and to grow in faith: “While the kids had their classes, the parents would meet and learn about some aspect of our faith,” Kate explained.

 

Kate’s foundation in a liberal arts education helped prepare her for many of the challenges of her adult life. She asserted that Oakcrest’s liberal arts education “taught me about truth – that there is truth.” Kate said that this kind of education gives Oakcrest graduates a firm foothold to stand upon, and helps them to “not be swayed in our current times when truth has fallen out of fashion. Learning about the good, the beautiful and noble from great works of the past puts everything in the right context, in the right framework. A liberal arts education is the antidote to relativism!”

Kate recalls key Oakcrest moments that left a lifelong impression on her. “I remember Fr. Ron Gillis [beloved Oakcrest Chaplain+] in his homilies sometimes saying: ‘You could be this profession, or that profession, but what about a mother?’ That always resonated with me,” said Kate, who has stayed home full-time to raise her children during their early years. “I also remember being very impacted by the fact that the chapel was always open for visits,” she recalled.

 

Some of Kate’s favorite Oakcrest memories include spending time with her friends in the senior lounge and participating in sports. A true Oakcrest Charger, Kate played Varsity soccer, basketball and softball for all four years of high school. “I’m an athlete at heart,” Kate declared.

These days, when she is not caring for her family or helping in her community, you can find Kate running through Central Park training for her next marathon, cultivating her home garden, or learning to navigate the NYC public transportation system with her husband and children. 

 

Kate shares two pieces of advice for graduating Oakcrest seniors: First, “to practice daily being comfortable in your own skin. Lots of times in the world, we feel pressure to be a certain way because it's natural to care about the opinion of others. But try to be detached from the opinion of others,” she said with wisdom and encouragement.

 

Second, and more importantly: “Pray every day. Have times of silent prayer in your day when you talk to the Lord about your life…Don’t leave Him out of anything; He will show you the way – your way!”