Catherine's Cafe Vocation Blog

Lately, it seems to me that God has been reminding me and calling me even more intentionally to service.   The Scripture readings at liturgies, novels I’m reading, and conversations I engage in all seem to have this thread of service running through them.   In addition to this, we are in the midst of celebrating the 800 th year of the Dominican order.   As we reflect upon the lives of Dominicans who have gone before us, I notice again the role of service in their lives.   Dominic himself was led to see a need in his time to serve the people of God by preaching the Good News.   Actually, he did this by befriending people, engaging in conversation with them, listening to their needs, and telling them the Good News revealed to him.   Our Congregation is preparing for Chapter, an event occurring every 5 years.   Our next Chapter is in early April 2016.   We will engage in significant conversations about the renewal of our life and mission – ...

I just got back from a regional meeting in Orlando.  Twice a year in various parts of the country, our sisters and associates gather for what we call regionals. These are times when we come together for pray, conversation, congregation business, and relaxation together.   This fall our regionals are focused on preparing for our Chapter, which is a meeting that happens every five years, where we make decisions together, set a direction for ourselves and elect new leaders.   So, while there is usually business to be done and we to do that, for me, it's connecting with my sisters and the associates that feeds my soul. I love being part of this group, Dominican sisters and associates of Sinsinawa, whose focus is on mission.   These days there's a lot of chaos as we move into an unknown future.   We don't all agree on where and how we want to go, yet we listen to one another and work toward a decision that we all can live with.   And what I always know is t...