Catherine's Cafe Vocation Blog

My apostolic year in Spokane – a year of challenge, growth and many blessings, is quickly coming to an end; the process of anticipatory grieving and saying good-byes – a difficult part of religious life - is well under way.  I like to gather and keep ‘treasures’ from the places I’ve lived…pine cones, leaves, seeds, feathers, etc.  My most prized ‘treasures’, though, are the people I’ve met, things they’ve said and written.  Here is a sampling: “I feel like I went through a knothole backwards.” (A Women’s Hearth participant’s response when I asked how she was doing.   When I think I’m having a bad day, I think of this woman and so many others who face unbelievable challenges on a daily basis. Pretty humbling.) “Listen or your tongue will keep you deaf.” (From a Women’s Hearth staff meeting reflection.   Good advice and a morning mantra.) “Why did I ever come to a Jesuit university?” (I had to smile at that one, which was on a bathroom wall in Gonzag...

In a recent blog, Christin Tomy asked,” How has Providence pulled through for you?” And so here is my answer. My 5 th and 6 th grade teacher, Loretta Dornisch OP died recently.     She is the one who helped me to see that God was calling me to be a Dominican.   This was one funeral I would not miss. When I went to take my place in the gathering space at the Mound for the funeral, I looked up and saw someone who has created conflict in a group that is very dear to me.   I practically ran to greet him. “Welcome to my house,” I said.” How did you know Loretta?”   “She is the one who helped me to see that God was calling me to be a minister.   I could not miss this funeral.” WOW!   Coincidence? I had wanted to share my concerns about our organization with him.    Providence can provide.   Since this was his first time at the Mound I offered to show him the chapel.   We had space and time to talk.   Providence did pro...