Catherine Boobbyer grew up in a home where both her parents worked with MRA / IofC.  In the 1970s, they moved to Cape Town, where Catherine spent her youth. In those apartheid years, she helped to organise multi-racial youth camps run by IofC. It was through both church and these camps that her Christian faith was nurtured. 

Catherine completed a degree in history at Oxford University and a teaching qualification, later specialising in teaching dyslexic pupils. For over 30 years, Catherine has lived and worked in boarding school environments, in England, South Africa and Ireland, alongside her educator husband. She has a BSc in Counselling and Psychotherapy and now works with the Chaplaincy and Pastoral care team at one of Dublin’s universities as well as counselling private clients.