Editor’s Note: Matthew Chicoine interviewed Kate Roshak via phone call on July 7th, 2025. Some of the questions have been rearranged and edited to provide the best reader experience without losing any integrity of the answers given.
What inspired you to start Fête in Heaven?
I was involved in the Libertarian memes pages in 2016. As I stayed involved with them I started creating my memes and some of them went viral.
Slowly, I zoned into Catholic memes. From the start, I wanted to name my account after my childhood pastor. He passed away in 2006. And this particular priest in college had a comic strip for the Notre Dame newspaper. He was a comedian.
After about a year of thinking about it, I took the handle Fête in Heaven.
How did Fr. Fête’s legacy shape the tone and content of your memes?
He was just the funniest priest. He would have the whole parish rolling in laughter, but he had this balance to tell the hard truths. There was this homily he spoke out against abortion.
Fr. Fête’s first assignment was in Youngstown, Ohio. And that’s a rough part of Ohio. The fire department had to talk to father about having too many live trees in the church for Christmas as it was due to a fire hazard. He was just larger than life!
We used to gather for Christmas, and one year I walked in on the finishing touches and Father Fête asked me to get the Christmas lights to the top of this tall tree. My dad walks into the church and sees me way at the top of these tall ladders and panics. And Father Fete assured me that it was okay, but that if I was to fall it would be on the altar and not on the manager scene, since that’s where sacrifice takes place. My dad wasn’t a fan of that joke but I thought it was funny!
What’s your creative process when making a meme—do you start with a theological insight, a punchline, or something totally random?
A lot of times the inspiration will hit when I’m at Mass, listening to the homily. Sometimes I will add a little code word in my phone. Sometimes I will have a picture that’s so funny.
On a big liturgical holiday or saint’s feast day I try to think of how I will honor this saint. Sometimes if I go a few days without making a meme I will ask the Holy Spirit to send me something.
I like making memes. I can create a meme quicker than it takes to send a text message.
In your opinion, what role does humor play in evangelization, especially in today’s social media landscape?
I have learned that you catch more flies with honey, than vinegar. And I think that’s so true. It’s important to keep my memes sweet (although sometimes it can be a bit spicy). For example my personal taste is to point out irony when it comes to pointing out the differences between Catholic and Protestant theology. I think humor keeps the door open for the Holy Spirit to work.
How do you balance staying faithful to Catholic teaching while also making content that’s lighthearted and funny?
As my page has slowly grown this is something I worry about. Making sure I don’t fall into heresy or create something blasphemous.
I do have some very close friends who on occasion I bounce my memes off them first. I have sent them to priests and seminarians. For the most part, I am overthinking it. I try very hard to maintain that level of responsibility with sharing the Catholic faith.
If I’m not going to Mass or going to Confession I’m not going to have much inspiration for memes. I try to hold myself accountable when I am creating this type of content.
Have you ever posted a meme that got unexpectedly deep—or sparked a serious faith conversation in the comments or DMs?
Where I am guilty, I don’t go deep in the comments sections. I just don’t have the time. I know there are some posts that have longer threads of comments usually as it relates to the comments. I have had other conversations with other meme-lords but that’s all in the DMs and private.
Which meme of yours are you most proud of, and why? (Or which one made you laugh the hardest while making it?)
One of my favorites that does very well every year is one of Sacred Heart cupcakes (One year I made cupcakes for my family) and they were very DIY.
I also made one because it’s local to me. I saw a photo of a church dedication, the priest and seminarian looking into the sun, and found it on a diocesan website. The caption was about as they were watching parents wrestle their toddler in the car seat their vocation was reaffirmed.
How do you handle the occasional backlash or misunderstandings that can come with using humor in a faith-based space?
I don’t know if it’s a grace God has given me but I have been able to take a step back and walk in the other direction. If somebody can’t see the grace in using humor to share the Gospel it’s probably not inspired by the Holy Spirit.
I have done a good job of tuning out the haters.
If Fr. Fête were scrolling Instagram today, what kind of meme do you think would make him laugh the most?
That’s a good question, he would probably laugh at some of the parish council Susan memes. I’m thinking of Fr. David Michael Moses (he did a video about going out the window to hide from “Susan”.
Where’s the best place to find your memes?
About Kate:
Kate Roshak grew up in N. Canton, Ohio and is the oldest of 10 children. After college, she broke up with Ohio winters and moved south. Kate currently resides in Memphis, TN with her two daughters. She stays busy working and balancing “mom life” but she also runs and loves staying active. Currently Kate is in her “Soccer Mom Era” and loving every minute of it!