Catherine's Cafe Vocation Blog

On Memorial Day weekend this year hundreds of people     came to Sinsinawa Mound.     It was the first time for some, and home coming for many. The Chapel was filled with people, song and light reflected from richly colored windows.   People came from as far away as Washington, DC and Portland, Oregon to witness perpetual vows of Christin Tomy and Nicole Reich. It would take all the electronic space in the world to write all the wonders of the day, but best was being able to personally greet these two graceful women who had begun to discern a lifetime commitment to being Dominicans nine years ago. You might watch the ceremony yourself at  https://portal.stretchinternet.com/sinsinawa/portal.htm?eventId=690739&streamType=video Then pause and ask, “what stands out for me”? I especially love this question they were asked -- Through apostolic poverty, do you choose freely to live in Gospel simplicity and to be generous with the gifts of life, recognizing you...

This past Thursday, on November 4 th , we celebrated the 215 th  birthday of our cherished founder, Samuel Mazzuchelli. Reports of celebrations came in from far and wide.  Of course, the Motherhouse and skilled care centers had a special Mass and dinner.  Our colleges and high schools reported special events as well.  Here at Dominican University, we had a study day and cake.  Doesn’t get much better than that!!! An Italian Dominican, from a wealthy Milan family, he came to this country at the age of 22, just a few years after entering the Dominican Order.  Father Samuel preached a gospel of radical inclusivity.  All found a friend and good listener in our brother.  As his sisters, to this day, we feel a closeness and bond to our dear founder.  He left us a legacy of tireless service, deep prayer, and a joy for life.  This is our prayer for him, for ourselves, and for our church.  LORD JE...

Recently I was watching  Amanpour & Company  on PBS as Andy Slavitt talked about Covid-19 and the impact of wearing masks. He believes that if 80%-90% of people wore masks consistently, the virus would almost disappear. When he was asked why wearing masks is such a problem for people in the U.S., he said that because there is such a deep cultural value placed on individual liberties, many don’t want their lives to be inconvenienced on behalf of other people. To explore this idea further, he suggested making 2 lists: One with words such as individualism, entrepreneurship, great wealth; and the other, with things such as society, community, equality. He speculated that countries described by the 2 nd  list will have fewer Covid cases because they are willing to wear masks out of concern for others. He mentioned Japan and several African countries as examples. This was a new moment of clarity for me. It is straight up evil that the value we place on individual liberties ...

I just finished reading  At Play in the Lions’ Den: A Biography and Memoir of Daniel Berrigan  by Jim Forest (Orbis Books, 2017). Daniel Berrigan, SJ has been a hero of mine for a long time because of his intrepid dedication to the cause of peace and non-violent resistance. Recalling his example reminded me about the importance of “showing up” to oppose whatever militates against the Gospel in our time. “Showing up” means acting even when it is inconvenient or frightening. Action on behalf of justice can be crushing if undertaken by one person, but a group can make it possible to be courageous and to persist when opposition is strong. Participating in communal action for justice can be truly joyous. There’s another kind of showing up that is more muted but is an expression of the love and caring that we have for those who are near and dear to us. It is definitely a high value in the Sinsinawa community that we go the extra mile (often literally) to attend wakes and fu...

During October I had the chance to participate in the  Nuns on the Bus  project sponsored by Network, a Catholic social justice lobby founded by Catholic Sisters [Check out networklobby.org] This was the 6 th  cross-country bus trip led by Sr. Simone Campbell, the Executive Director of Network. This year the theme was promoting “reasonable revenue for responsible programs,” a response to the tax law passed in December 2017 that will have devastating effects on programs for poor and middle-income citizens.   I joined a group of 9 other Sisters and some amazing staffers for week 3 of a 4 week journey. During week 3, we traveled through Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Virginia, and finally, Washington, DC.  We did lobby visits with legislators, held rallies in which local constituents spoke about their concerns, and had town hall meetings to help educate people about the tax law and how we can encourage the new Congress to change...

That was the big Spring announcement when, as kids, we found the Burpee Seed Catalog in our rural mailbox at the end of winter.   Eager for anything colorful, we poured over those pages - fodder for dreams of garden flowers and foods, for new life and the promise of a new season.   Now, hovering in mid-Lent, my dry soul/garden needs a version of the Burpee Catalog and I realize I have one, we all do   – it’s called the Gospel.   But unlike a package from the seed catalog, we don’t have to wait for it to arrive, we don’t have to be in the best possible condition to plant or harvest.   Because our God doesn’t work that way;     God’s mercy and grace abound even when we feel like we’re in a perpetual February or snowy March.   Gardens of every kind appear everywhere in scripture and the Holy is found there in all times and all seasons.   Take the time to ponder, sit with, and image these words of Catherine of Siena for your...

How am I aligned-- with people? With Universe? With God? Those questions have come since I fell flat on my face the other day.   I was walking with two friends and a dog. One said, “please hold the leash for a minute. . ..”   So, while watching the dog I missed an inch difference in the sidewalk pieces.    My shoe caught the difference, and splat! I was face down in front of God and everyone. As I picked myself up and shook myself off, I remembered that some time ago I had gone to a chiropractor.   Realignment of body is supposed to cure many bodily ills.   I thought it a good time to check my alignment.   I’ve been getting realigned for a couple of weeks now. I am feeling stronger and healthier. So how do I realign with people, Universe and God? You will tell me through prayer, meditation and Gospel. Yes. I need to remember to realign daily. Some of us met with an historian of religious life a couple of weeks ago.   We reme...