Catherine's Cafe Vocation Blog

When the feast St Andrew was announced before morning Mass, bells went off inside me.  I suddenly remembered that it was on the evening of St Andrew I received the sacrament of Confirmation with other members of my sixth-grade class. It came to me that the bishop that confirmed us also commissioned building the Parish where I belong now.  I was smiling at this wonderful intersection when an older man, Tony, offered to walk me home so I would be “safe” on my long walk from the church to the sisters’ house where I live.  We both laughed, since it is about 50 feet away.   I learned that my escort had worked as a landscaper and had helped prepare the land where the Diocesan office now stands.  It is named for the same bishop! Tony talked about trees, and the gift of nature which provides us with clean air and nutritious soil.      I encouraged Tony to preach his truth. What truth are  we  called to preach these days?...

So, I had the students who came on retreat dream about a world where peace prevailed.  What might that world look like?  And they, with crayons and colored pencils began to create that world together.  In their world they did not litter, they shared their snacks with each other, they went to church and some even spent time meditating in beautiful natural surroundings!  In the discussion that followed these 12-year-old kids came to understand that peace takes some doing! That peace began with each of them, one small act of peace at a time.  They recognized that they had to leave behind old habits that did not bring peace and begin to form new habits of love, care and consideration for themselves, for earth, for each other and for God who is our peace.  The reality of Easter with its renewed hope and promise of new life, of deep peace and joy, takes us beyond the violence and hatred around us, to a place where we can dare to dream of a different re...

Grace Roidt, associate, who lives with us in Madison especially wanted to see Mavis Staples on the Kennedy Honors. Then our friend rang the doorbell, and we missed the portion of the show with Mavis.  So today we researched Mavis Staples on line.  We found her singing “Wholy, Holy” on a UTube,   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfRw_WdWazU Besides the energy that Mavis brings to this song, written by Marvin Gaye, the words speak to my thoughts and mood these days between 2016 and 2017. Many ask, What stands out about 2016? What calls us in 2017? 2016 often found people divided, but the song and many leaders said, We all gotta come together 'Cause we need the strength, power. In April 2016 at chapter (our highest governing body) Sinsinawa Dominicans realized “God’s mission is our mission” It’s like the song says, We should believe in one another (Believe in Jesus). We can conquer hate forever. In April, much like the song, we proclaimed our vis...