Catherine's Cafe Vocation Blog

In his book, The Holy Longing , Ron Rohlheiser leads his reader to a deeper understanding of spirituality in the context of the daily struggles we experience … with faith, with the Church, with our own understanding of our place in the world, with our deep longing for right relationship with God, and with our need to initiate, to act .               In her book, When the Heart Waits , Sue Monk Kidd leads her reader on a journey to a spot where we can nestle – to an understanding of waiting as a holy, sacred action.             Lately, I’ve been feeling like the child of a marriage between these two books.   While I’m trying to be fully present to my life as a 1 st year novice, I’m also longing to be in the world, to act, to help in whatever meager way I can.   A longing to dive in headlong, bellowing like Tarzan! There is so much need…    ...

Our life as vowed women offers many opportunities to examine who we are and explore ways to live our mission - our purpose or calling. As a member of a planning committee of newer Dominicans representing 8 different congregations, I had such an opportunity two weekends ago in our first face-to-face meeting. Since last summer, 10 of us have been working on a gathering for newer Dominican women religious to come together to share our hopes and dreams for the future of religious life and share our ideas on how we might respond to the needs of our times. A few questions posed in our recent planning meeting included: “What is our 800 year Dominican history calling forth within us?” “How is our presence in the world reflected in the world?” “What steps are we called to take today?” We are hoping for over 100 Dominican sisters to attend the late-August event. It is very exciting to think of newer members from many different congregations representing different ministries, cultures, e...