Catherine's Cafe Vocation Blog

Recently, I was privileged to attend a weekend during which more than 130 Dominican women from 16 Dominican Congregations whose ministry is in 6 different countries gathered in San Antonio TX to: Pray and contemplate together Engage in significant conversations Share our wisdom Deepen our relationships Open up possibilities Through diverse prayer rituals, deep conversations, and sharing our collective wisdom, we did in fact deepen our relationships.   We quickly came to realize that despite the unique charisms, cultures, and languages of our Congregations, we were in fact one Dominican family.   At the beginning of the weekend as we stood to speak for our tables, we introduced ourselves as NAME, a CONGREGATION NAME Dominican.   By the middle of the first full day, we were introducing ourselves as:   “I am NAME, a Dominican.”   How enriching is this! When was the last time you became more aware of the expansiveness of your family? Are you dra...

As a spiritual director and retreat leader, encouragement is one aspect of ministry.  Actually, encouragement is needed to be given and received from the minute we are born. I am reminded of this life support virtue as I read a friend's weekly blog. Not what she wrote as I prepare my blog entry but something I occasionally remind her about especially when she creates a conversation with her dog.  These blog entries have beautiful faith and moral implications. My friend as already authored two books and my encouragement is that she consider writing books for children using the 'doggie' posts.  I can almost see the pictures that would go with these stories. Each of us both need to give and receive encouragement.  Sometimes we may push back when another offers this to us.  Yet, with gratitude we need to be open to what is being said. The other person just may be drawing out of us a gift of the Holy Spirit we didn't know was in us. What...