Catherine's Cafe Vocation Blog

Being in the hope business can be both life giving and downright frustrating at times.  One would think that managing a small country parish would seem less difficult than being in a large city one.  However,  this is not true,  because people are people no matter where they are and  they  deal with similar issues on a regular basis. Being a religious sister and a parish administrator daily ,  means that I am called upon to continuously share hope with the people who are minister with.  It means always being open, compassionate and a good listener.  I must confess that I am not always these things.   P arish ministry calls me to be continuously stre tched  and challenged to grow into my best s elf , something I know would not have been possible if I was  not a Dominican of Sinsinawa sister. On a regular basis I share in the life of my parishioners who share their joys,  griefs , hopes, dreams and failures.   T...

This past week I had the privilege of being present with a family as they mourned the death of a beloved member. My friend, Diane, called me on September 5 to share the news that her dad just died. By rearranging my schedule and asking the sisters here in Westchester for assistance, I was able to clear my calendar to go to Racine. Those days were profound days of grace. Diane is a Racine Dominican.  We have been friends since we were both in vocation ministry beginning in 1992. Our relationship has deepened over the years. We have celebrated birthdays, anniversaries, jubilees, and weddings together with our families and communities. The greatest strength is the love we share in the hard times—illness, suffering, and death. The bond of our Dominican life initially drew us together. As vocation directors we collaborated in sponsoring mission experiences and other ventures. Our Dominican bond continues to be an important connection for both of us. I came to k...