Catherine's Cafe Vocation Blog

There’s a new consignment shop near where I live that’s called “Stuff, Etc.” What a perfect title for my life at this time!  I’m in the process of moving out of one house while a friend moves into my former house. We go back and forth with boxes and boxes and boxes. Do you want this set of pots and pans? Here, take these cleaning supplies. It’s become overwhelming.  Years ago, before I entered the congregation, each Sister was required to pack up her belongings so everything fit into a trunk…yes, one trunk! She left in June and went off to her summer assignment. In August she received a letter indicating her next assignment. If it was the same one, she went home and unpacked her trunk. If it was elsewhere she went directly to her new home and her trunk was shipped to her. Simple? Yes! Liberating? I think so!  Is it possible to return to that tradition? Is it possible to let go of all of the stuff that surrounds us and practically buries us? What would it ta...

One of the Gospel images of Jesus I have when I read and ponder scripture is that of being on the move. He is moving towards people (crowds, followers, religious leaders & even the Romans), moving people away from false claims and ideologies, calling people to move (stand and take up your mat) and more. In our time and place, trusting that Jesus travels with us, where are we going together? This past year, I continued to travel with people who yearned to hear the voice of God in their lives, to make sense of sad events and who wondered if they were worthy of God’s love.  I traveled with my Dominican congregation as we continue to look to the future needs we have together.  And these travels have not ended. I also met up with fellow travelers in the concluding days of their cross country mission to bring the truth of the work we have to do in this country to ensure all are able to not only survive but to thrive.   Nuns on the Bus  ...

Sifting through my clothes and belongings for the umpteenth time gets old and frustrating.  My attempt to strategically pack for yet another move is a struggle.  I’ve gotten quite good at it and each relocation involves shedding a fair amount of “stuff”.  But I focus a lot of attention and thought on sorting-out what I like, what I might need, what I should get rid of, what’s easy to pack, what needs to find a good home and what will be saved and stored.  There’s a seeming dissonance between the vow of poverty and this process of meticulously inventorying and prioritizing lots of belongings.    And then I ponder the prioress’ recent letter about itinerancy—the Dominican call to itinerancy and the different ways that we are each sent.   The forced itinerancy of our sisters in Iraq, for example.  Those ready to “journey to a new place of encounter” in great and difficult ways.  Small nudges like these help me maintain perspective ab...

Moving is considered one of the most stressful experiences.   No one moves without a good reason because it is so much work .   Like everyone else sisters move.   Why?   We move for many reasons: a change of ministry, a desire to downsize and simplify life, a desire for community and, because we mostly are renters, an increase in rent or a change in ownership of the property. I live with one other sister and we moved from a rental house to an apartment complex on the other side of town where other of our Dominicans of Sinsinawa live.   So, we moved because we wanted to downsize and so that we could be part of the community that has formed there in the past year! Moving was a community event.   Sisters and an associate carried and unpacked boxes, put together furniture, fixed food, hosted slumber parties and laughed a lot all weekend.   See accompanying photo for proof!!   Moving can be a harrowing experience, but sharing it with them made...