Catherine's Cafe Vocation Blog

I suppose one reason I entered religious life was that I had a sister (Sr. Dominicana Dwyer), an aunt, and a cousin who were Sinsinawa Dominicans and another cousin who was a Racine Dominican.   I was always getting in trouble in school. Always in detention. So, when one day I came home and announced that I was going to enter the convent, everyone was surprised and said I wouldn’t last. But I did. This is to where I was called and in 2021, I am celebrating 67 years professed as a Dominican Sister of Sinsinawa! Catherine Thomas Dwyer, OP

A song that represents my call to religious life:  “God has chosen me…”Without God’s call, I wouldn’t be here.   cf; God’s call to Samuel (1 Samuel 3). Listen and respond.    Geri Kline, OP

At my Golden Jubilee (50 years of professed life), I realized, “I’m going to be here a while!” I was happy and my heart was at ease. When I made my first profession, I was a little nervous. For me, the best part of religious life is that I am never alone. This year, I am celebrating my 60 th   anniversary of the profession of my vows! Elaine Taylor, OP

  “Whatsoever you do to the lest of these you have done to me.” Matt. 35 “Yours are the hands through which Christ blesses all the world. ...Christ has no body now on earth but yours.” Teresa of Avila I have tried to live out my religious life following these two quotes, realizing they are addressed to lay folks as well. In 100 years from now, I hope people will remember the Sinsinawa Dominicans for doing this, responding to the needs of the day with courage and love, strengthened by living the 4 pillars of the Dominican order (prayer, study, community and mission) and knowing that we have each other's back. Stella Storch, OP

This week, as we celebrate All Saints and All Souls Days (Nov. 1/Nov. 2), I am mindful of the vocational call God asks of each of us. All Saints Day is a day to remind us how we're supposed to live – as patient, kind, virtuous people. All Souls' Day calls us to pray for those who have gone before us and to remember their life here on Earth. Both days call us to connection while at the same time calling us to some letting go.   In the last 10 days, we’ve said goodbye to several beloved sisters at the assisted living facility where I minister. We’ve said goodbye to many others at our congregation’s skilled care facility. We celebrate them as we remember their lives among us. Our vocational call – no matter what path we find ourselves on in life – is essentially the same. We are here to be present to each other, and - in the words of Ram Dass – to walk each other home.   Kathy Flynn OP Madison, WI