Catherine's Cafe Vocation Blog

These days of national, global, environmental upheaval are a challenge for me. Yes, some days the messiness of life can be challenging and very disconcerting.  It is an invitation for me to lean into where I feel rooted.  It is there where I need to breathe.   First, I lean into gratitude.  Where is it pulsating around or within me? I take hope in the witness and the work of my vowed sisters.  Look at what good work they are doing down at the border with our ‘southern’ sisters and brothers.  Or note the teaching that is happening with young children.  Can I  hear the compassion and empathy spoken to our service to the elderly? Whether in Bolivia, Trinidad or Washington, DC, who is speaking truth to power? Meditation, mindfulness, contemplation is also salve to this messiness.  It is before the Holy that I learn . . .                   "to hold...

This past week as I drove to a meeting, I saw trees with colorful autumn leaves peeking through snow laden branches and thought “This isn’t right!”  This past week I worked through my November calendar and kept adding lines for meetings and events and “to do” items that have seemingly popped up out of nowhere and thought, “This isn’t right!”  This past week I determined to tackle that closet with doors that can barely close but it is still a mess and I say to myself, “This isn’t right!”  Do you too ever think there is too much to do in your life, too much stuff in your life, too little time in your life, and it isn’t right? Ain’t it great to be human!  When we get stuck on this track of grousing about all there is to do and wondering how to find time (it’s normal and natural), we must stop and find the deep calming center in it all.  We must stop to breathe in and breathe out the Spirit, to realize that all the “whats” are because of the ...

We live in a very fast pace world where many people are occupied with their own lives and the challenges of their lives and of their family.  Lent is a time where we are called to slow down.  Take a breath and reflect on what is the condition of my spiritual life and the quality of my relationship with others.  For many people this slowing down may not be possible.  However, realistically at some point in our lives we will have to slow down.  Hopefully it will not be too late for us to then enjoy what is really meaningful and life-giving to us.  Pope Francis in his message at the beginning of Lent states, "God’s people, then, need this interior renewal, lest we become indifferent and withdraw into ourselves...." More importantly Lent refocuses and reminds me that their are many other people who are in some very difficult situations and that they are my brothers and sisters who may need my help.  Personally this Lent has been way too busy...

Have you ever had computer problems ?   It always happens to me when I already feel   over extended. Everything seemed to be going all right and then all of a sudden I got left behind.   I do understand that the computer world changes overnight, and I just want to continue doing what I’ve always done.   That’s no longer possible!   “Vanity of vanities” it says in the reading from Ecclesiastes today.    My wishing it would be otherwise will not slow the world down! That’s when I need to breathe .   Stop what I had been doing, and take time out to just breathe.   And to remember…that it doesn’t all depend on me. What do you have a hard time letting go of?   Ruth Poochigian, O.P. Madison WI