Catherine's Cafe Vocation Blog

Three years ago I began to journey with a Juneau-ite who was interested in exploring Associate membership in our congregation.  He filled out the initial questionnaire and downloaded the Associate Handbook.  We began meeting on a regular basis to go over the material in each of the chapters. After we finished working with the Handbook I asked him if he would like to begin the application process, but he wasn't ready for that step. Since I am the only Dominican of Sinsinawa he knew I made it a point to introduce him to anyone from our congregation who visited Juneau--at this point he has met 3-4 others.   We continued to meet periodically and had good conversations about the church, his faith life, and spirituality in general. During these conversations he never again brought up the subject of Associate membership, so one day I asked him where he was with a decision. He said he needed more time but to continue to check in with him, so this is what I have been doin...

Recently, I came across two news pieces about Native Americans: the first, about Native women standing-up for clean water laws; the second, about Native communities protesting open-pit uranium mining. This kind of information always grabs my attention because Native American people have dramatically affected my life and spirituality. My opportunities to live and work with Native Americans were among the most significant experiences of my life. On the Oneida Reservation in Wisconsin, where I worked for more than ten years, Melissa, tribal elder, taught me about the importance of taking personal responsibility for the shape of one’s life.   In Chicago, where I worked for six years with the urban Native American community, Peggy, community elder, taught me about the necessity of stepping-up and reaching-out to those in need in one’s family and community.   Both of these women taught more through their actions than with their words. For Melissa and Peggy, faith was centra...

Last week at meeting at Sinsinawa, our sister artist, Joeann Daley brought a kaleidoscope. Besides the fun we had passing the kaleidoscope around the circle, that kaleidoscope became a symbol of the group working together. As children most of us have played with a kaleidoscope that encloses colorful pieces which get reflected by three mirrors to give astonishing patterns.   This particular kaleidoscope, however, used only the colors it captured in the room. .   So as we looked through the kaleidoscope we were seeing beautiful patterned reflections of the people in the circle. How many times have I sat in a community circle?   Do I come there just to speak what I know or do I also try to listen deeply to each one?   In community we make new patterns as we reflect each others' thoughts back and forth and around the circle.   Thus our spirituality grows through community. Dominicans are called to practice community.   Community is much more than shari...

Reading the title for my blog offering may have you wondering…”What??!!”  If you were ever captured by a photograph that gave you ‘pause,’ took your breath away or taught you something about the world beyond your known concepts – then this title just might capture your imagination. I am taking a digital camera class this Fall.  I have a good SLR that is a few years old but I don’t make use of all the features, so now I am re/learning. Because of the assignments, I am purposefully noticing the world around me, taking all kinds of photos and not worrying about ‘good’ or ‘bad’ shots. And I am finding it a spiritual as well as a practical experience.  I am stopping myself from rushing.  I am noticing color, light and shape.  I’m looking at the world large – and – the world small.  I am taking time reviewing the photos – deciding what to bring to class.  And I am making ‘friends’ with the camera! What might be activities in your life...