Catherine's Cafe Vocation Blog

I am brand new this school year. I do not know anyone at either the school where I study or the school where I work as a part-time social worker. One thing I have noticed is what happens when I smile. Yes, I mean smile, that simple gesture we all do occasionally. If I smile as I walk down the hall of school or on my way to class or while getting on the bus, others smile back. And, often, the next time we see each other, we will share a greeting or strike up a conversation. And, before you know it, we are having lunch together or sharing a cup of coffee. Imagine, all it took was a smile! Saint Dominic, the founder of our Dominican Order, was known as the joyful Friar. His smile power must have been tremendous. I never knew that there is a psychology that studies smiling. It is called gelotology. The word is from the Greek, gelos, geloto meaning laugh. My father used to say, “smile and the world smiles with you.” Would you like to join with me in changing this often distant and fearful ...

Being a Dominican preacher brings great joy to my life. I live in Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico and I have a wonderful ministry in a cross cultural immersion center. In the past two weeks we have been helping many families with their financial needs for school costs for the children and youth. Pilar, a young woman 25 years old came to visit the other day. She was telling me how excited she is about being at the Latin American University. She is studying psychology and wants to work with children when she graduates. She is especially excited since we visited an orphanage in Chiapas in July. Pilar reminds me why I love my ministry. Through donations from groups who have visited in our programs we are able to help Pilar and other students in their education costs. My ministry is about forming relationships. My work here is about making connections with people. God sends me the help I need. Being a Dominican preacher calls me to intense prayer and a ministry which empowers individuals....