Catherine's Cafe Vocation Blog

If you’ve read any of my previous blog posts, you know how much I love returning home to our Sinsinawa Dominican motherhouse, “the Mound.” Christmastime 2011 was no different. The lingering memories of this particular visit are the gifts of music offered for liturgy, community prayer, and gatherings of celebration. Supporting and celebrating the arts are part of our Sinsinawa Dominican history – another facet of our lives that is central to who we are and how we come together. At different times during the 24 hour period between Christmas Eve and Christmas evening we heard solos and duets performed by sisters of different ages, ethnic backgrounds, and ministry experiences. Instruments included voice, cello, violin, viola, flute, clarinet, piano, organ, string bass, and recorder. Our ensembles of choir and hand bells delighted audiences as well. The Sacred Scriptures are full of references to music. And we definitely make joyful sounds ...

What does Daring mean for a Religious Sister?   For me, it is being open and trusting in God’s will.   This means listening and responding to God’s call.   Yesterday was Christmas day, for which we rejoiced in the birth of Christ Jesus.    As I think of the birth of Jesus I also reflect on our Blessed Mother’s Daring response of “yes” in bearing God’s Son.   So what is Walking together with Daring ?   This past October, Dominican Sisters 45 and under gathered in Freemont, CA.    Sister Toni Harris, OP took us on a journey of our Dominican Identity and Roots.    We each shared about our founders and the foundational sisters in our congregations.   What faithful and Daring persons they were.    How thankful we are for their Daring “yes,” because it is their shoulders we stand on today.    Though we might be smaller in numbers, we are not much different from our past Sisters.    We are spr...

Today, on this feast of God's radiant love, we celebrate the gift of Jesus in our midst, our blessing today.  The celebrations here at the Mound have been all about blessings.  The evening Mass last night began with a wonderful variety of carols, accompanied by bells, voices, strings, flute and clarinet, and organ.  Sister Mariel Bronson (profession 1947), returning after serious illness and therapy, played her cello accompanied by organ and strings.  Even at Christmas, we celebrate Resurrection! We welcomed the blessings of several hundred neighbors who joined us for Eucharist and the refreshments that followed. This morning Sister Alice Ann preached and called us to remember the setting of Jesus' birth, and the many peoples of the world today who live in shelters and humble spaces, or in war torn countries.   As we celebrate the blessing of the world family, we recall that in our world the prosperity of ...