Catherine's Cafe Vocation Blog

Each month Pope Francis, as his predecessors also have done, calls the whole church to a particular prayer intention.   This month, he broke with the ordinary way of giving this news by sharing his intention by video.   And he was not the only “star.” At this link is the video. Please watch it before continuing to read this blog: http://www.romereports.com/2016/01/06/this-innovative-video-of-the-pope-is-causing-a-sensation#.Vo2dmHHLtXw.facebook Pope Francis’ intention for the month of January is that we will be part of sincere dialogue with women and men of good will across religious traditions.   Why? So that from our dialogue will come the fruits of peace and justice. For Dominicans – the Order of Preachers – as we continue to celebrate our 800 th Jubilee Year, this intention this has deep meaning.   Around the world we encounter, dialogue, befriend, minister to and with, people of all religious backgrounds and some with no affiliatio...

I was in the hospital this week.   It was only a brief stay but the lasting impression was that everyone was so NICE !   (It probably helped that it was the hospital where I had done CPE and was a chaplain!)   It’s a teaching hospital so they are accustomed to students coming and going.   Still, I was impressed as an “outsider” this time by the competence of everyone and their friendliness. I appreciated the chaplain visits I had, including the one from Gary, who is older and who I have known for years, and who is from the Evangelical Free Church of America, and Lars, an Episcopal student, who felt intimidated by me.   I was older, a Dominican and an experienced chaplain, after all.   But he did fine and their prayers for me focused on all the right things.   So one of the things I loved about CPE were all the denominations that were present. The mix was great, and we were all able to learn from one another.   (There weren’t any other rel...