Catherine's Cafe Vocation Blog

A while back, sisters posting to this blog were asked to think about the "perks" of life as a Sinsinawa Dominican. A big one for me is Dominican hospitality. I claim it as a big part of our charism. I have practiced it as a virtue and pleasure, and enjoyed its fruits throughout my Dominican life. The summer before I became a Dominican, I traveled to California with Sister Ginger Phillips. We were the beneficiaries of something Ginger took for granted, but which captured me. Doors and hearts were opened to us in Minneapolis, Cheyenne, Oakland, Los Angeles and beyond. I came to understand in new ways what being part of a family is all about.These days, I count on the warm welcome, animated conversation, great food and drink, and unconditional love I receive from my sisters Georgia and Geri, my half-way stop between Alabama and Wisconsin. Here in Mobile, we think we have an unbeatable combination to offer: Dominican Hospitality + Southern Hospitality! Dominican hospitality goes...

I have never been a coffee drinker. I am an unabashed lover a tea since childhood and enjoy this time in which tea seems to have gotten great favor because of the varieties available. I trust that St. Catherine Cafe includes a fine offering of global teas. I have had the opportunity to travel and study throughout the Middle East where it is not unusual to be offered a cup of "chai" - the word used by peoples of the Middle East for all teas. From Bedoin tents to priory or convent of Dominicans Sisters or Friars in that part of the world, the offering of chai was a wonderful adventure. Hospitality is an important part of Arabic culture with certain attributes that can be seen even in Old Testaments stories. Abraham and Sarah welcomed three strangers, offering them the best their household could provide. In those days, to be a sojourner gave the opportunity to welcome the stranger who had the potential to become a friend. When a woman considers our vowed life, she provides us t...

I am brand new this school year. I do not know anyone at either the school where I study or the school where I work as a part-time social worker. One thing I have noticed is what happens when I smile. Yes, I mean smile, that simple gesture we all do occasionally. If I smile as I walk down the hall of school or on my way to class or while getting on the bus, others smile back. And, often, the next time we see each other, we will share a greeting or strike up a conversation. And, before you know it, we are having lunch together or sharing a cup of coffee. Imagine, all it took was a smile! Saint Dominic, the founder of our Dominican Order, was known as the joyful Friar. His smile power must have been tremendous. I never knew that there is a psychology that studies smiling. It is called gelotology. The word is from the Greek, gelos, geloto meaning laugh. My father used to say, “smile and the world smiles with you.” Would you like to join with me in changing this often distant and fearful ...

Being a Dominican preacher brings great joy to my life. I live in Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico and I have a wonderful ministry in a cross cultural immersion center. In the past two weeks we have been helping many families with their financial needs for school costs for the children and youth. Pilar, a young woman 25 years old came to visit the other day. She was telling me how excited she is about being at the Latin American University. She is studying psychology and wants to work with children when she graduates. She is especially excited since we visited an orphanage in Chiapas in July. Pilar reminds me why I love my ministry. Through donations from groups who have visited in our programs we are able to help Pilar and other students in their education costs. My ministry is about forming relationships. My work here is about making connections with people. God sends me the help I need. Being a Dominican preacher calls me to intense prayer and a ministry which empowers individuals....

It’s been a very full year, and I’ve been looking forward to this vacation. Long sleeps, long (gentle…) walks, long books, long loving looks from two doggies (until they’ve gobbled down the meals their feeder - me – provides), and long periods each morning for contemplation and prayer. How lucky can a person be? What have I been up to for the past year? Well, primarily a residency as a hospital chaplain. In the midst of that daily grind, however, I broke my ankle! It quickly got me signed up for a practicum in “observing health care” from the bed rather than from the bedside! When I was able to return to the residency it was with some added wisdom I had picked up along the way. There were many lessons in being patient and kind. I learned not to insist on my own way, and that it didn’t help to be irritable or resentful. I needed to find those things that helped me rejoice in the truth (and there were many). More than anything I learned that I needed to bear all things, to b...

This question was asked on my last blog post and I thought I would address it in this post. Personally for me, letting go of control is hard because it means I have to fully trust, have faith and be vulnerable. For example, today is one of those times of letting go. I was at “Haven for Hope” (a homeless/transitional campus) to begin a new spiritual program of “being present” to others one on one. I’ve been excited about it for weeks. I arrived and was asked if I could lead this group for women. I attended this group the week before, so I agreed. After the group ended, I was asked to consider leading the group from now on. Wow, this hit me like a brick. I really enjoyed the gathering with these women, it was a blessing. But, being the leader was not on my radar. Leading a group is a different dynamic than one on one with another. I felt disappointed and frustrated because I had this beautiful vision of what my new ministry would be. It was difficult to let go of “my plan,” sounds like ...

On August 7, I stood in front of 400 people (mostly sisters) and was officially welcomed as a Candidate of the Dominicans of Sinsinawa. It was the next stage on a journey that will take many years, but as I looked out on all those people holding up their hand in blessing I had to smile. I felt their love and support as I took this formal step toward becoming their sister. Not only did I continue to feel their love as I received numerous hugs after the prayer, but as I opened the many cards of congratulation from sisters I had never met, I knew I was now part of a large family. Since that day, joy has been overflowing from my heart and my spirit feels at home. A month and a half ago, I left behind a spacious two bedroom apartment full of my own furniture and now have a bedroom in a large convent with ten other women. These sisters, who are many years my senior, have welcomed me into their lives and agreed to journey with me in a special way this year as I continue my formation. We share...