Catherine's Cafe Vocation Blog

If you haven't read the previous blog for July 20th - I encourage you to take time to read it.  The Sister who wrote it is part of my "crowd" - we entered/joined the congregation together. As I considered what to share for this blog entry, I wanted to see what Sisters wrote in recent blogs as we continue to live in these days of pandemic and calls for racial justice.  Seeing Peggy's beautiful posting had me turn toward a constellation (yes, stars) of memories and ways our lives have crisscrossed.  It was a good journey - an arc of our particular relationship. During these days, weeks, and now months of living through pandemic(s), we might find our world closing in and forget the many people who have "populated" and indeed, enlivened our hearts and minds. There is a long arc of relationships worth nurturing.  Who has crisscrossed through your life?  Are there some whom you haven't seen for a long while?  Reach out - be in touc...

“I love the dark hours of my being.”  Rainer Maria Rilke These uncharted times have shown a light on some new self-learning. Like many of you, I have less face-to-face contact with family, friends, colleagues. Even while I have managed to find good healthy activities (i.e. daily exercising, letter writing, phone calls, gardening) I have found this an inwardly quiet time.  Have sorted out my drawers and closets and papers, I find this a time for a new ‘self-awareness’.   I’ve taken to pause with poetry.  I remember in new ways pieces of my family history.  I recall special moments of ministry and service.  And I find myself seeing them in new ways, with a fresh perspective. In a word, I have new HOPE.  This has allowed me to have a new openness, curiosity and wonder.   How is this time deepening your self-understanding?  What are you learning ‘new’ about yourself and your history? What ...

Several years ago one of our elder Sisters asked Sr. Ann Willits, OP this question:   Are we coming or going?   Ann was in the process of writing a presentation for an event as the Order of Preachers was celebrating our 800 th anniversary worldwide.  She said the question was just what she needed for her presentation. I have never forgotten this question and in times of transition it especially comes to mind.  For me this summer is a time of transition as I move from a long-time retreat ministry in Florida to my hope of developing an itinerant preaching ministry…and…moving back to the Chicago area. (Oh my – the artic vortex!) This time of transition is filled with the question – am I coming or going?  The only correct answer is: YES!  That little connector – “OR” --  belies the truth about transitions because these times in our lives include both. They include goodbyes and hellos, letting go and going forth, p...

In April I went to my 50 th class reunion at Dominican College of San Rafael in California.   I had a blast!   I stayed with my friend (of 50 years!), Patty, and her husband, Phil. Then in June, because I was a transfer student from then Rosary College, later Dominican University, I also went to their reunion. In between there was a smaller reunion of my classmates from high school.   We celebrated our 50 th reunion in 2014.    And then there is a reunion of parish consultants from the Archdiocese of Milwaukee in August, to which I’ll also go. That is a lot of remembering!   Especially when you consider all the 50s in there! What do you remember? Are you willing to go back there? Ruth Poochigian, O.P. Madison, WI 

I visited my favorite park for the last time today—squeezing in one more walk in the drizzle this morning, before the next downpour.  Rarely have I experienced a rainy and overcast Colorado, but it's springtime.       Entering the park, I’m always struck first by the Tower of Memories—the mausoleum at the neighboring cemetery.  From anywhere in the park it looms in the backdrop—the imposing art deco design often partially obscured.  How portentous it seems today: soon my entire Denver experience will become memory.  The Front Range mountains frame the backdrop on the opposite side of the park.  Red winged blackbirds sing their aggressive tunes as they hover around nests hidden along the banks of the lake.  With the soft wind supporting their wings they look almost suspended from above, swinging over the cattails.  They will also be greeting me when I return to Wisconsin next week. There is also the wetlan...