Posts

Facing Difficult News

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This week I learned that a former member of my “crowd” (novitiate group) has been diagnosed with a terminal illness. Thinking of her brought on a rush of memories of our youthful early years in the congregation, with our unknown futures stretching before us. Our life paths diverged many years ago, but a bond remains. In my note to her, I found myself promising prayers from the Sinsinawa Dominicans, because “we are your family, too.” As I was sitting with the reality of her diagnosis, I found the poem, The Facts of Life, by Padraig O Tuama. Some of the stanzas named the reality that had so stunned me.   That you will learn most from the situations you did not choose.   That you must accept change before you die, but you will die anyway.   So you might as well live And you might as well love, You might as well love. You might as well love   I would like to be able to do this living and loving no matter the circumstances. What will make it possible? Might it have something to do with fami

Connected by Grace

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           From the time I was young, I’ve wondered why I exist; why I am me and not a tomato? Always a tomato, for some reason. From October 28, 2023 to January 26, 2024, three women so instrumental in my life, such dear friends and mentors, crossed over into the fullness of Eternal Light and Love. The homegoing of Dorothy Victor, Jeri Cashman and Ann Willits leave a huge void, yet leave me pondering again, with gratitude, the miracle of our connection. Had certain dominos not fallen in my life, had I not attended a “Come and See” event called Dubuque’s Got Sisters, I would probably never have met the Dominicans, these three dear Sisters, or any of the many, many people who have entered my life – whether briefly or long-term. I may never have known they existed. Friends, spiritual guides, co-workers, Dominican Sisters and Brothers, and so many others who have become part of my life are the product of Grace. Think about all the connections in your own life, whether you are a vowed reli

Joyful Soror

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JOYFUL SOROR   At weekly scripture study, members shared about a young woman consecrating her life to God.  A wedding gown and a reception after were symbols of her being a Bride of Christ. Those are not symbols from the day I made the vow of obedience as a Dominican of Sinsinawa. I do not wear a wedding ring.  Jesus is my brother .  What is a symbol for my vocation?   I learn to know many sisters and brothers—   *children, wanting to know creator God,   *antiracists, learning to undo systemic racism   * exincarcerated people organizing for a more human prison system Once a neighbor asked me to drive her to find her husband where they had lived under the bridge .  What a privilege to be sister to her! A song about St Dominic, “Joyful Friar”, is symbolic of my vocation. Joyful Friar, tolerant master Grace filled preacher, Gospel man of prayer. To be a joyful sister, and grace filled preacher is my call. Here’s a version of “Joyful Friar”.  The singing seems somber for such a joyful

A spark, a flame, a fire

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  Our little farmhouse in Minnesota had a brick fireplace in the living room and on Sundays we’d have a fire going all day during the winter months.  I remember how carefully my dad would first rumple up newspaper to put under the grate, then arrange the dry kindling in a little triangle shape, and then eventually larger logs on top.  We would watch it grow from a little spark to the crackling flames of the kindling and igniting logs. To keep the house warm, that fire had to constantly be fed. In his letter to Timothy, St. Paul urges his young disciple to “fan into a flame” the gift that God had given him.  That got me thinking about the people and events, the words of encouragement, the phone call or e-mail, that act as the match, the paper, the kindling, and even the logs that build me up, that “fan the flame” of any gift I have been given, that guide me so I do not keep it to myself, or hide it under a bushel basket, or even deny I have a gift at all.  Not only are we all on the rec

2024 Winter - A New Year with Changes and Challenges

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The last time I wrote for this blog I mentioned that those of us who serve in our congregational offices were preparing to move to temporary office spaces until the new office spaces in the Stone building are renovated.  During this January of 2024, we are settling in, though I still find myself looking for some files and supplies.  “Where did I put that?” is a question I ask myself frequently.  It’s a good thing we’re in these changing times together.    The Leadership Council met in the “new” temporary conference room for the first time last week; and since there is no longer a staffed kitchen at the Mound, we provided different lunch options for them.  No one went hungry.  You are most likely thinking, “My goodness, I can’t imagine being at the Mound without meals being prepared in the kitchen and served in the dining room.”  What a change! This month also brought the first anniversary of my brother’s death.  I am so touched by Sisters’ remembering and sending me messages that they

How Might We Participate

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January 18, 2024 I am keenly aware that at this very moment, on the other side of the world in the Middle East, extreme suffering is raining down indiscriminately on the human family and on the earth - hatred, revenge, bloodshed, disregard for life, destruction of all that defines safety and home, hardened hearts, and the certainty that peace is impossible and the future holds no hope for reconciliation. The reading from Isaiah for tomorrow’s liturgy declares clearly which side God is on. On this mountain God will provide for all peoples a feast of rich food and choice wines…. On this mountain God will destroy the veil that veils all peoples, the web that is woven over all nations. God will destroy death forever and will wipe away the tears from every face…. (Isaiah 25) It is this God to whom both the Israelis and Palestinians cry out. May God and all who love God destroy the veil over us and the web that prevents us from knowing and loving each other. May God and all who love God wipe

Where are my...(fill in the blank)?

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Okay, I’ve finally learned to put my car/home/office keys in the SAME place when I get home.  But I still haven’t learned to remember where I left my glasses or my latest crossword puzzle or the flyer about a concert I now think I missed or that needed phone number I jotted down on a piece of paper – and I have a LOT of pieces of paper sitting around.  Yes, I am one of those people.  But that litany of “forgets” got me thinking about the important things I forget about until I really need them – like prayer, quiet time, reading something challenging instead of easy, actually calling my elderly cousin instead of saying, “I should really call Ruth,” and never doing it, working through a situation instead of avoiding it.   I challenge myself this week – and you – to take action, one small action, to overcome this very human weakness of losing, forgetting, neglecting something that we know is really important.  Is this easy?  Is there a shortcut I can take?  I’m afraid not.  But if we trul