Catherine's Cafe Vocation Blog

Last month I had the opportunity to travel to Poland to touch base with my Polish roots. The first city we visited was Warsaw, the scene of the 1944 Warsaw Uprising. In retaliation for this uprising 85% of the city was systematically destroyed by the Nazis. Old Town with buildings that had dated back to the 13th century were completely demolished. After the war this area was painstakingly rebuilt using photographs and drawings of the buildings. Today Old Town truly feels like an old town. I was deeply moved as I walked through the area. After such devastation to their country the Polish people could have given up any idea of rebuilding or perhaps only have planned for a partial rebuild.  Instead they had hope--hope that they could once again touch base with the past while passing on a legacy to their children.  What an unquenchable hope in the face of such challenges!   We have just celebrated the Feast of Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit. Though these da...

“What’s his name?” “DONTRE HAMILTON!!!” “How many shots?” “Fourteen!!!” This chant is one of many that we have shouted throughout the streets of Milwaukee. The case of Dontre Hamilton, the young unarmed Black male who was executed in a downtown Milwaukee park last April has made national news. All of this being said, the tragic narrative of Dontre Hamilton is not a new narrative. Therefore, the murders of our Black brothers and sisters has sparked a new movement within the USA, from marches to “die-ins” our voices are loud and clear: BLACK LIVES MATTER! For me, being a part of this movement in Milwaukee with a social justice group known as The Coalition for Justice, which was formed after the murder of Dontre, has been a blessing. As we have blocked highways, shut down malls, and spent the night outside of jails, this group has helped me to delve even deeper within the meaning of my discernment. Being a Candidate with the Sinsinawa Dominicans Sisters here in Milwaukee du...