Catherine's Cafe Vocation Blog

Where I dwell, I witness Creation's resources being shared. Deer, rabbit, squirrel, sandhill, oriel, frog and me. Turkeys strut. Red wings and mourning doves eat from the same table. Wild flowers, grasses, weeds and trees converse in the wind. Fireflies blink to the starlit sky.  Diversity, thankful for the other's gift, enabling all to live. Together we pray and converse, sharing the collective wisdom. Unknowingly or perhaps knowingly, we weave a tapestry that reveals the Devine's portrait! Without God's presence Eden's Garden in the Cosmic  womb would not exist.   How do you contribute to the Community's tapestry? Will you join the sisterhood?   Caroline Sullivan, OP DePere, WI

Many things to think about, pray about these days. People are sharing the abundance of their gardens-- a large butternut squash, wonderful tomatoes, gallons of maple syrup. “ Bless us O Lord and these thy gifts.” Grateful thoughts come to us as we share an evening meal together. Then we share the wake service of a sister or the talk on the Doctrine of Discovery from our sister, Christin. We ponder together what struck us and what we are to do now. What a blessing to share Dominican community. Where are you being called now--compassionate care for others, joyful singing making hearts glad, teaching a child to read? Each of us is called , vocatur, vocation. As we grow in vocation so also does our vision. In the Sinsinawa community new visions have moved us to take on new commitments together. We have spoken together in corporate stances. RESPONSIBLE GUN OWNERSHIP 2021 ANTI-RACISM 2020 CLIMATE CHANGE 2018 JUST IMMIGRATION REFORM 2013 HUMAN TRAFFICKING 2008 AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY 2002 I...

One member of my Dominican community made a special effort to buy  Pączki  so we could have them for Pączki  Day or Fat Tuesday, the day before the 40 days of fasting we call Lent. My Polish ancestors could have told me how to pronounce Pączki , the delightful Polish filled donuts, but now I had to look it up on the internet. Pączki , but then 40 days!  What should I do for those long 40 days? When I was teaching religion in a school in Tulsa, I encouraged the students to reflect on 40 days of Lent, but I delighted more in telling them to celebrate the 40 days after  Easter. Now I am appreciating that both 40 days are important and go together like vinegar and honey. It’s not all a bowl of cherries.  Community life itself has Pączki  days and searching days.  Days to struggle with knowing how to be intentional in our antiracist actions and days to rejoice when we realize transformation and celebrate all people ...

 Last week I was sharing our beliefs about forgiveness with a group of women.  One woman was quite distressed when she came in and when sharing began we found out why.  She had just called her daughter-in-law who had hung up on her.  This hadn't happened before and she wasn't sure what she should do next. The other women gave her some suggestions:  don't call back immediately, but wait until both can process what happened. Wait a few days and then bring her a freshly-baked cake.  Wait and then ask for the Holy Spirit to guide her in the words she chose.  Pray for her daughter-in-law that she will open her heart to receive forgiveness. In all of our suggestions the key word was  waiting.  When we have wronged someone we decided it's best not to offer an apology immediately but to wait until the moment seems right.  Forgiveness doesn't happen instantly; it needs time and prayer, and it especially needs God's grace.  Have...

This morning, I found myself in a quiet house, with a cup of good coffee, a book of poetry, and a window inviting me to simply sit, be still and reflect on the goodness of God. A gnarled knot on the thick tentacle that was a maple tree branch stared back at me, like the eye of an octopus.   While neither the tree nor the ‘eye’ was God, I could see God in both.   In that moment, a connection was made between God, a tree, an ocean creature, and me – reaffirming the interconnectedness of all Creation.   The pregnancy of that moment birthed thoughts and images of so many people who are part of my life – family, Sisters, friends, former co-workers, people with and for whom I’ve ministered - life-long connections and connections only days old. Those connections between a wood knot, an octopus eye, God’s omnipresence, and the people in my life, prompted me to ponder the meaning of St. Paul’s exhortation to “pray without ceasing”, a challenging one for me.   Could ...