Catherine's Cafe Vocation Blog

I like to think about the word courage (although I don't always possess it.) The phrase I prefer is "action from the heart." Although this is probably a stretch, encouragement, to me, is wrapping someone in courage. The two beautiful women in this picture, grandmother and granddaughter, are both named Maria. The younger of the two comes to my art classes and needs no encouragement. Her creativity is imbued with confidence. She was very late for her first class because her grandmother couldn't find the Art Center. I had a hard time reassuring her that it was okay. Maria could catch up easily. In the course of our brief conversation, I learned that the older Maria was a Cuban refugee. The struggle to find a home had taken her and her husband to four continents. I was torn between my students who needed my attention, and Maria's story which came pouring forth from deep within her. The students won, but not before I encouraged the older Maria to write down her incred...

Recently a 21-year old woman asked me this question. It caused me to reflect on the many ways God chooses to call us. First, I assured her that if we don't hear God's call the first time, God will call again. God is persistent! And rarely does God speak directly to us in such a way that we have no doubts. God sometimes brings up a thought in prayer. Many times God uses others to speak to us. This is what happened to me. For three years I had been thinking off and on about religious life, but I think it scared me, so I kept putting it to the back of my mind. Finally, a friend of mine told me she herself had heard God's call, and this became the grace for me to take my own call more seriously. I also find that it helps to develop listening skills so we are more able to listen consciously for the inner voice of the Spirit. What has been your experience? Sr. Marie Lucek, OP Juneau, AK