Carol Marquardt is a widow, mother, and grandmother who has worked for many years in the Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg, Florida in lay pastoral ministry. She developed a personal daily prayer program of scriptural prayer called “Our Fiat.” A former RCIA director, she is a certified in spiritual director with many years of experience in retreat direction and charismatic prayer ministry. In recent years her focus has been understanding womanly ministries through spiritual motherhood, particularly in connection with the spiritual motherhood of Mary, Mother of the Church. She has published a workbook/journal, called “Reflections on Spiritual Motherhood” which carries the imprimatur and has brought blessings to many women engaged in Church ministries.
A graduate of Duke University, Carol holds a master’s degree in Education from the University of Illinois and in Pastoral Ministry from St. Thomas University in Miami, Florida. She also received a certificate in Spiritual Direction from the Benedictine Monastery in Pecos, New Mexico. She has been honored with the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice award from the Holy Father in recognition of her service over many years to the Church.