Catherine's Cafe Vocation Blog

A few days ago, I celebrated my seventy-fifth birthday. Seventy-five is a robust number, a solid number. After all, it’s three quarters of a century, isn’t it! I have nothing against the number, but to have to attach it to my person seems bizarre.     When I think of a seventy-five-year-old woman I think of my grandmother, but that’s not who I am. There must have been some mistake in the records. But wait! What’s wrong with being seventy-five? I now have seven and a half decades of experiences to hold onto. I have, as we say, been there and done that. My bucket list is getting shorter, and I feel a deep sense of satisfaction in the realization that my life has been fruitful. I give thanks for friends and family and for my Dominican Congregation that supports me more than I deserve. Seventy-five is a ripe age and it’s time for the harvest – drawing in the wisdom and the gifts as well as the challenges that have shaped me into the woman I am. Come to think of it, I like being se...

How sad we have been!  In the midst of sickness and death of the pandemic, we saw repeated over and over again the murder of Mr. George Floyd by those who are named peace officers.  Three Dominicans share community where I live .  Gratefully in the midst of such sadness and stay at home challenges we can also make one another laugh. We reflect on scripture together.  Share articles of interest.  Come together for wake services and Mass that are live streamed from the Mound. We take turns cooking and pray together. We mourn with those who are mourning and speak out for justice with those who are protesting. For a number of years the Sinsinawa Dominicans have supported me in the work I get to do to advocate for change in the criminal justice system with another community called MOSES (Madison Organizing in Strength Equality and Solidarity.)  Then there is the parish community with which I share scripture study each Friday. I am...

When I look in the mirror or push my hair out of my eyes, it seems like a big deal.  Yet I know, in the grand scheme of things these days my complaint is rather silly.  During the six weeks we’ve been staying at home I’ve become aware of a lot of different realities—the heroism of health workers and people making sure we have food, the creativity of so many homebound families, the oneness of our world, the need to work together, the beauty of our planet, and the list could go on. So what am I to do?  I could whine a lot, trim my hair myself, try a new hair style, or put the whole issue in a more global perspective.   What are some of your challenges these days?  What is God calling you to do or be these days?  How will your life be changed when this is all over? LouAnne Willette OP Austin, TX