At St. Mary Cathedral School in Gaylord, Natalie Udell teaches where her own faith journey began. A proud alumna and lifelong Snowbird, Natalie once sat in these same classrooms, her heart stirred by wonder.
Today, as a science teacher and mother, Natalie’s mission is clear: to help students see God’s fingerprints in every corner of creation.
“I never planned to teach,” Natalie admits. “I wanted to be a vet, meteorologist or doctor—anything that explored creation.”
Through prayer and trust in God’s plan, she discovered her true vocation. “God is science,” she reflects. “He spoke the universe into being, set the laws of nature and called it all good.”
A Classroom Alive with Faith
Natalie’s vibrant energy transforms science lessons into encounters with the divine. “Science must lead to wonder,” she explains. “Every atom is a cathedral if you have eyes to see.”
Her students feel that joy deeply. Senior Sophia Harding shares: “Science is the how, and faith is the why. Mrs. Udell values our curiosity and encourages us to ask questions about the relationship between religion and science.”
She introduces Catholic scientists and saints like Father Georges Lemaître and St. Albert the Great, showing how faith and reason complement each other. When studying environmental science, Natalie ties lessons to Laudato Si’,
an encyclical written by Pope Francis about caring for our environment.
“Creation is not a possession—it is a gift,” she tells her students.
Lighting Torches for Christ
Her approach changes lives. Senior Nate Kirk reflects, “I always struggled with how science and religion could go hand in hand until Mrs. Udell opened my heart to the truth.”
For Natalie, those moments are everything. “When a student suddenly sees God’s hand in a lesson and whispers, ‘He really
did this,’ I feel like I’ve witnessed a conversion,” she says.
“That’s why I teach—to light torches so young Catholics can set the world ablaze with Christ’s love.”
