Catherine's Cafe Vocation Blog

This past December one of the world's greatest leaders was born into eternal life. Nelson Mandela left an indelible mark and I hope will continue to influence our understanding and living in a multiracial society. This coming weekend, we in the United States, will celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King and his contributions to racial justice. I pause to ask myself "How do/will I honor the legacy of Dr. King and Nelson Mandela and make a difference with my life?" As a Dominican sister, committed to racial justice through Anti-racism work, I consciously choose to reflect on my life and our society through the lens of racist attitudes and behaviors and to continually engage in conversion that leads to racial justice. Through study, daily living, caucusing, prayer and contemplation I hope to also leave a legacy. The people of South Africa, Black and White, mourned the passing of their beloved Madeba. The singing and the dancing, the memorials and testimonies touched my...

Last Saturday we hosted a day of reflection for women titled "Seven Steps of Women's Spirituality" based on a book of the same name by Maria Harris. At the end of the retreat one woman said to the presenter "Oh Sister, I was so happy to get in touch with my womanhood...and to delight in just being female".   These women discovered that God can speak and minister to them in ordinary experiences like brokenness, friendships, love, work and death and especially in those like childbirth, motherhood and widowhood that only they as women can have.  They also appreciated the need to pause, rest and dwell on these experiences in silence, prayer and contemplation in order to be nourished and transformed by them.   They left feeling awakened and empowered to 'dance with the Spirit', to seek God right where they were in ALL of their day to day experiences and to be models and mentors for other women seeking a deeper walk with God.   How are you se...