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...

At the Mound with 40 others involved in the Sinsinawa mission is where I spent this past weekend.  We invested 21 hours processing our role in working for racial justice.  Crossroads Antiracism trainers facilitated. “What in your spirituality leads you to this work?”  was one assignment.  I wrote in my journal—Holy Spirit, Source of Goodness and Life you bring us together to co-create with you. You created us to be HOLY and JUST as you are. Instead humans have sought to be God-like by putting themselves over others                         Outsmarting                         Out maneuvering                         Even ki...

This past December one of the world's greatest leaders was born into eternal life. Nelson Mandela left an indelible mark and I hope will continue to influence our understanding and living in a multiracial society. This coming weekend, we in the United States, will celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King and his contributions to racial justice. I pause to ask myself "How do/will I honor the legacy of Dr. King and Nelson Mandela and make a difference with my life?" As a Dominican sister, committed to racial justice through Anti-racism work, I consciously choose to reflect on my life and our society through the lens of racist attitudes and behaviors and to continually engage in conversion that leads to racial justice. Through study, daily living, caucusing, prayer and contemplation I hope to also leave a legacy. The people of South Africa, Black and White, mourned the passing of their beloved Madeba. The singing and the dancing, the memorials and testimonies touched my...

Historical perspectives offered through celebrations of the 50 th anniversary of the “March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom” and the release of Lee Daniels’ The Butler have prompted many conversations about racism, racial divides and a persistent call in this country for equality for all. I have been captivated by the old footage and freedom songs of the Civil Rights movement and the March on Washington. Voices from artists like Marian Anderson, Odetta and Mahalia Jackson will be heard throughout history and inspire prayer, as the human rights movement continues. “…Dere is trouble all over dis worl’….  I ain’ gwine lay my ‘ligion down….” “I’ve Been ‘Buked,” a Negro Spiritual sung by Mahalia Jackson just before Martin Luther King Jr’s inspiring “I Have a Dream” speech captures the essence of our collective call as women religious and people of God. There is indeed trouble all over this world. How do we continue to fight t...