Catherine's Cafe Vocation Blog

These past several weeks have been an extended time of family celebration - a time truly representative of what religious life, Sinsinawa Dominican life, and life, in general, is about. A time of honoring the cycle of life and the family that makes that journey with us.   The Celebration of my first profession of vows on August 2 came on the heels of a huge family reunion that we call Community Days.   These distinct yet intertwined joyful events had as bookends goodbyes said to two of our beloved Sisters - Florus Castle and Jean Brennan.   As I sought the mercy of God and of all, Florus and Jean had fulfilled their profession promises, ‘even unto death’.   What an extraordinarily graced cycle of birth, life, death, and birth into new life! During these sacred celebrations, my family experienced the truth that they were not losing a sister (or mother) but are now loved by and part of a much bigger family… a family of Sisters, Brothers, Associates, Mound brot...

Megan is here!  A Sinsinawa Dominican Candidate shares life at Monona House before going to her next assignment.  What a whirlwind of blessings! It is also the last days for us to live at Monona House where we began a house with a mission 4 years ago.  Sisters and associates easily live with a strong sense of mission, but having a house with a mission may be unique.  We named it Monona House.  We live in  Monona, WI,  and the literal name, "Monona" says "beautiful."   We sought to be aware of the beauty of each person who entered Beautiful House whether to visit, to live, to meet or to perform maintenance tasks.  Four years later we experience the fruits of beautiful as we look through  Megan's eyes. The dining room table is where many beautiful people share bread and life stories. Many come to share while Megan is here. We share   Navajo wisdom with friend, Omie pictured here.   But others come by as well, our 80...