Catherine's Cafe Vocation Blog

Each month Pope Francis, as his predecessors also have done, calls the whole church to a particular prayer intention.   This month, he broke with the ordinary way of giving this news by sharing his intention by video.   And he was not the only “star.” At this link is the video. Please watch it before continuing to read this blog: http://www.romereports.com/2016/01/06/this-innovative-video-of-the-pope-is-causing-a-sensation#.Vo2dmHHLtXw.facebook Pope Francis’ intention for the month of January is that we will be part of sincere dialogue with women and men of good will across religious traditions.   Why? So that from our dialogue will come the fruits of peace and justice. For Dominicans – the Order of Preachers – as we continue to celebrate our 800 th Jubilee Year, this intention this has deep meaning.   Around the world we encounter, dialogue, befriend, minister to and with, people of all religious backgrounds and some with no affiliatio...

Talking with others about my faith is something I do a lot.   Talking with men who are incarcerated about faith is something I’m learning to do.   At one of prisons for men I visit, I was one of several religious leaders who participated in an 8-week session called “Interfaith Dialogue.”   As we went around the circle each person had a chance to talk about his or her spiritual tradition – and it was fascinating.   Prisons are not places where you’d expect to find spirituality.   Yet, one of the things I learned is the importance of spirituality to the men.   It gives them hope, and for many of them it offers a form of independent study, prayer and meditation. We represented several Christian denominations: Catholic, UCC, Baptist. Others in the circle were Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, Jewish, Native American.   Several also practiced various kinds of Paganism.   These were the least familiar to me, and among those from whom I learn...