Catherine's Cafe Vocation Blog

The parishes where I minister here in Trinidad are Holy Rosary - in the heart of the city of Port of Spain -and St. Martin de Porres in the hills just behind. One Sunday, each month, our two parishes come together for Sunday Eucharist. We alternate between the two parishes.   Today, our new archbishop Joseph Harris came to celebrate Eucharist with our parish cluster at Rosary church. It was like coming home for him, he said. As a child he had been a pupil at the Rosary Boys’ School where his father was principal. Bet he never thought that one day he would be archbishop of Port of Spain! Ministering in Rosary is for me also an experience of coming back to my roots. When I was a child I attended the parish girls’ school, St. Rose’s. It was in Rosary Church that I received Holy Communion for the first time and was confirmed. It is a Dominican church with stained glass windows of several Dominican saints.   I never thought then that one day I would be a Dominican...

Recently, at the High School where I have the great privilege of ministering, our student preachers brought the Red Thread Movement to school in order to raise awareness of the $32 billion sex trafficking industry.   Besides highlighting India and other parts of the world, this team of young men and women made us aware of the problems with human trafficking that occur in our own city.   This great initiative reminded us as a school body that we are all one and brought back the words of an oldie but goodie by Marty Haugen for me: Give us strength to love each other, every sister, every brother. Spirit of all kindness, be our guide I believe with all my heart that having the opportunity to spend each day with these wide-eyed and open-hearted youth can truly make me kinder, gentler, and even more fun!   They also remind me each day of God’s dream for us to be truly one – with God, with each other, and with our Universe.   So, what opportuniti...

Worldwide, the Order of Preachers has been observing a 'novena' of years of our 800 years in the life of the Church.  We began this observance in 2006,  remembering the year 1206 when St. Dominic brought together the first people to form the order, what became known as the Holy Preaching .  Each year has a designated theme with 2012 being:  Dominican Women & Preaching . Fr. Bruno Cadoré, O.P., Master of the Order, wrote in his January 2012 letter to members of the Order, remembering our patron saint, Mary Magdalene, that this year: "invites us to place the announcement of the resurrection at the source of our mission in the Order." You will find his entire letter here: http://curia.op.org/en/index.php/eng/news/739-letter-of-the-master-of-the-order-january-2012 Additionally, Dominican Sisters International, an organization that keeps apostolic sisters connected around the world, has materials related to this year's theme available at this link: http...

In the midst of this electoral primary season, U.S. voters are being inundated with words. Lots of money is being poured into campaigns. There are attack ads and counter attacks.   Is anyone listening? Words, words, words.   Is anyone listening?! Paul said in his First Letter to the Corinthians, chapter 9, that the obligation to preach has been “imposed” on him, and “woe to me if I do not preach it!”   By what authority has it been imposed? Is it burdensome? Is it compulsory? Is it enforced? As Dominican women we can say, like Paul, the obligation to preach has been imposed on us.   In 2012 Dominican women all over the world (some 25,000) are preaching the good news of God’s love for all!   However, it is something that is freely embraced.   And done creatively!   As a recent book called The Dominican Way says: “…they are to be found in every part of the world and engaged in every sort of activity, from fighting for justice and pea...

This weekend, via stretch internet, (Yeah and  thanks to Tricia!) I and many others, were able to join our sisters at the Mound  to watch the wake and funeral of Toni Callahan. Toni was one of a growing number of our US sisters who have visited with us here in Trinidad.  Toni stayed a while longer than most others though.   She came to assist with sister formation. As I reflected on my own interaction with Toni I remember her genuine smile, her look of pure delight at seeing me and her childlike appreciation for the simple things of life.   And as I listened to those who knew her, share their memories of her,  I heard many speak about Toni's compassion for the 'other.'  For Toni in fact, there was no 'other.'   She saw everyone as beloved creatures of God.  I was moved to tears by the way this gentle delicate soul had touched the lives of so many, giving them a reason to be and to do.   As Dominicans...

This month I traveled to Memphis, TN, to attend a special ceremony honoring Sister Janet Delperdang, OP, and others of the Memphis diocese who have served the People of God faithfully and well.   What a joy it was to gather with our sisters from KY, TN and MS to celebrate Janet’s 14 years of service in Tennessee.   While in Memphis I also visited the National Civil Rights Museum at the site of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s assassination.   King gave his life for the cause of justice. One of our Sinsinawa Direction Statements for 2011-2016 is to “Speak courageously and risk for justice.”   How can we do that in our day-to-day lives?   Every time we refuse to laugh at a racist joke, or educate ourselves on the real issues confronting us, or do anything that treats another person with the dignity that they deserve, we “risk for justice.”   Today we honor Thomas Aquinas, a Dominican and great seeker of truth.   Today also my community viewe...