Catherine's Cafe Vocation Blog

What's in a name.   As many Americans would say about the trio in the title - these are hurricane names. Living in Florida, we keep a close watch on the weather as it crosses the ocean and this year has been epic. "Irma" became the one I had to personally keep a close watch on but others call me to be watchful for those who were in the wake of destructive paths.   "Irma" stirred me to be prepared and I was but it is "Maria" and its aftermath that is the most alarming.   What is now developing for our citizens of Puerto Rico needs our country's immediate attention. What is the Christian response toward those affected?   Come to the aid of those in need.   Our Catholic check list called:   Corporal Works of Mercy provides us with our starting place. In this reflection, I am mindful also of the fires that have raged throughout the western part of our country (yes, more than California is affected), of our neighbors in ...

I find appalling the verbal raw sewage I hear thrown about in the public sector, but that’s another topic.  When I was in grad school at Iowa, I was fascinated by what others called me.  I told everyone to call me Win.  I try to avoid Winnie because, though I can claim other positive attributes, neither “little” or “cute” have been apropos since I was six.  Some fellow grads and my students did call me Win.  A few always called me “Sister.”   A few others called me “Winifred.”   I figured their choices reflected the degree of formality they felt toward me.  You can hear their ingrained Southern training in the voices of people whose grandmothers never let them address ANY adult by anything other than “mam” or “sir.”  Mom, Dad, Momma or Daddy, are usually terms of endearment carrying lifetimes of love.  I’m a bit embarrassed when my ESL student addresses me almost reverentially as “Teacher.” I know at least a couple Sisters who...