Catherine's Cafe Vocation Blog

Last night my spiritual direction peer supervision group gathered in my apartment. We meet monthly for presentations and reflections on our ministry, beginning with a potluck supper and check in. Last night was special because we were saying goodbye to one of our members, a School Sister of Notre Dame in Milwaukee who is leaving for the Hyde Park area of Chicago to be part of a new interprovincial house. It will be for “postulants” from across the country beginning to explore religious life. Gina is 80-plus and celebrating her 60th Jubilee. And once again, with discernment and generosity, she is “leaving home and all” for a new community and ministry. We celebrated her, blessed her, and stood in awe of our life-long vocation. Sr. Miriam Brown, OP Racine, WI

One afternoon I was talking with a Religious order priest about some of the blessings and difficulties of religious life. One phrase from our discussion that stayed with me was “as religious we are spoiled by people.” The first thing that comes to mind for most people would be the receiving of special attention, material possessions, expected respect or the status of titles. This is not what came to my mind. The spoiling I am thinking of is the many opportunities as a religious sister/brother we have to encounter the beautiful people of God. I have been blessed to see the richness of God’s love in people. I have come across lay people who live out God’s discipleship in beautiful ways. I have met people I would not otherwise have an occasion to meet. I have met women in a county jail, women struggling in poverty with children, people with language barriers trying to provide for their families, people who grapple with loneliness and depression and those who are wealthy who lack love. Th

In the 13th century Dominic recognized the need for preachers among society’s most marginalized: the imprisoned. Dominicans also remember the oft told story about Catherine of Siena ministering to a condemned prisoner. In the USA, “land of the free,” a May, 2009 report of the PEW Foundation says that an “Explosive growth in the number of people on probation or parole has propelled the population of the American corrections system to more than 7.3 million, or 1 in every 31 U.S. adults.” The numbers are huge, yet this population remains largely invisible. It’s also underserved. Many families are touched by this reality, perhaps even yours. I’m glad to be part of a national, small, but effective, network of Dominicans from Sinsinawa who are dedicated to local efforts to serve this population. I’d love to hear about your experience! A prayer by mystic Evelyn Underwood, To Follow in the Paths of Saints, says in part: Your paths are well-trodden. Along them you and your saints have carried