Catherine's Cafe Vocation Blog

I continue to be appalled and deeply saddened by our human capacity for “othering” and demonstrating violent behavior. I am also in awe of expressions of openness, inclusivity, and delight. How do we continue to find and welcome each other, in our beautiful diversity, in this very different time of our lives? Not only did the horrific mass shooting happen in Orlando two weeks ago, but there are thousands upon thousands of gun related deaths and acts of violence around our country. At the same time, there are thousands upon thousands of ordinary and extraordinary incidences of inclusivity and welcome. I experienced one last week, with co-workers of the nonprofit organization where I work and members of a Muslim community in our service area. About 200 of us came together for prayer and the meal that breaks the daily fast during Ramadan. The witnessing of welcome, hospitality, and conversations about God’s/Allah’s presence during prayer and community remain with me in all of its mag...

An understanding I learned rather early (in the 1950’s) is the meaning of the word catholic (small ‘c’) as universal.   In fact, in the creeds Roman Catholics ordinarily pray, we use the small ‘c’ catholic. What my first teachers got across to us in our young lives is how wide and broad and deep the church is in the world. We learned the Church held together a global community. In time, I have also sadly learned, that as a Church, we still have lots to learn.   In the US, racism is a sin we still cannot rid ourselves from and so blacks and browns and, yes, whites suffer – in different ways.   This is true not only in the wider society but also among members of the US Catholic Church. The recent horrifying massacre at a gay bar in Orlando, Florida reminded me of another group that is the source of hatred in my country and even, for some, in the Church.   LGBTQ are God’s children loved into being and capable of manifesting God’s love.   Yet this universal a...