Catherine's Cafe Vocation Blog

Summertime is a great time to be a Dominican.  Actually, I have to admit that any time of year is a great time to be Dominican.  And, in summertime, it seems even more joyful to Praise, to Bless, and to Preach – which, of course, are the mottos of our Order. Each morning this summer, whenever I am home and the heat has not hit an impossibly high number in the early morning, I go out behind our garage and sit on what we affectionately refer to as North Campus.  Praising God comes so easy back there with the trees and flowers in full bloom.  The squirrels and birds of all kinds have grown use to my presence and seem to carry on their morning routines with a familiarity that makes me smile.  I feel like one of the gang!  I see a pair of cardinals almost everyday.  Yellow birds are my absolute favorite.  One day, one of the trees on the other side of the fence was full of yellow finches.  I was moved to tears.  The tomatoes, beans, squash,...

Sr. Eileen Quinn teaching at St. Dennis School, Madison, Wisconsin, this spring.

This past weekend Giving Voice , the voices of younger women religious, held their national conference at Loyola University in Chicago.   This gathering was an intergenerational event. Sisters from all generations in religious life, both over 50 and under 50, came together to engage in circles of conversation, prayer and presence.    We entered into a process raising the questions stirring in each of our hearts regarding religious life.     The conversations about those questions were deep and rich! To get a flavor of the weekend and the questions that women religious of every generation are asking themselves and one another, go to http://www.givingvoice2011.blogspot.com/ We were sent forth from the gathering energized and hopeful believing that God’s emerging dream for religious life will continue to unfold in real and tangible ways. What questions about religious life that are stirring in your heart? Mary Ann Nelson, OP Madison, Wisconsin