Catherine's Cafe Vocation Blog

You’ll never guess what I could possibly be writing about this time! My nephew, Brian, and his wife, Susan, came to Madison for a visit with their son, Ofori.  I’m Ofori’s “Great” Auntie and he is my “Grand" Nephew. We had a huge snowfall in Madison, so along with Mary Ann, we all went snow shoeing and sledding. Not only that, the next day we walked out on one of the frozen lakes in Madison to talk with ice fishermen and to watch a pick-up hockey game.  These were unusual experiences for me to say the least! They were also wonderful! This is the second time I’ve lived in Madison, yet it’s the first time I’ve ever done any of these things. What did I learn? It’s important to take time with family, to tell the Grands how central they are to who I am and who I am becoming (read Great), and it’s important to take time off from the usual to do the unusual!! So why are these things important?  Younger generations keep me active. And as I ag...

As I write this on the Feast of the Holy Family, I’m thinking about what that means to me.  My biological family comes to mind, for sure.  We are a tight-knit group and were blessed to spend quality time together on Christmas night.  Being a mother, my son immediately comes to mind.  We’re not a “typical nuclear family” because I’m a single mom.  Never doubt, though, that he and I are as much family as any other. With such a diverse universe, what is “typical” anyhow?  How did “nuclear” come to define the love bond that holds so many people together? My candidacy has expanded my family, but that family has also welcomed my son as their own! On Christmas Eve at the Mound, I witnessed family at the 7:30 mass as sisters and outlying community members enjoyed breathtaking music followed by the breaking of bread together in the Eucharist.  The best kind of family meal! On Christmas morning, I witnessed the profound meaning of...