Catherine's Cafe Vocation Blog

Do you like going to meetings?   Recently, I spent two and a half days meeting with about 25 of our sisters about our congregation’s long range planning process, Boldly Together.   While I had not arrived eager to be there, within the first hour I found myself engaged in the process and energetic about it.   This switch happens for me often when I am a part of congregation meetings.   Although our congregation is dealing with diminishing numbers and an unknown future, when I come together with my sisters, associates and other partners in mission, I have great hope and energy for this future we are creating together.     I am so grateful that we are planning for a future!!    As we have the difficult conversations needed to understand the diverse perspectives in the room and as we talk about how we want to move into this unknown future together, there’s nowhere and no one else with whom I’d rather be.        Oh, it...

Pope Francis in one of his many addresses asked the question, "How can we proclaim Christ to a generation that is continually changing?" Being on retreat last week gave me much time to reflect on this question.  On my eight days retreat I encountered the great masters in Meister Eckhart, Catherine of Siena and Thich Nhat Hahn. To me they all seem to be answering that question of Pope Francis in their own way: detachment, love and compassion.  The daily readings from 1 John 4 also supported those attributes. How can I empty myself of all that is unnecessary and unite myself with God who's very nature is love? How can I be detached so that I can become who I was born to be?  To welcome Christ being born in me anew each day? I live in a world/generation that is continually changing, yet God remains the same, however, the ways that I encounter this God is always changing.  How do I take the time out of my busyness to recognize this God daily? "God is the sou...