Catherine's Cafe Vocation Blog

Juneau, Alaska is located in a rain forest, which means many cloudy or rainy nights.  Therefore, though the aurora borealis (Northern Lights) are often active in our area, we don't see them because of the cloud cover.  A couple weeks ago we had one of our rare clear nights.  I looked out to see the stars and a ribbon of green light danced across the sky.  The Northern Lights!  For fifteen minutes I delighted in watching the green streaks across the sky.  Pure gift, and unexpected! This made me reflect on the little surprises, totally unexpected, that pop into our lives at times when our spirits need a sign of hope, of joy. During this Easter season and amid the warming air of spring little surprises seem to be more profuse.  They are everywhere!  Maybe it's because our spirits need these signs of hope and joy in a world that often seems out of touch with goodness, gratitude and reverence for God's...

The invitation to be a blogger for Catherine’s Café is part of the grace of being a Sinsinawa Dominican Sister.  Normally, each of us are writing from our experiences and ponderings – not necessarily linking with others’ blog postings. This time I want to invite you to read [or reread] the recent posts from Sisters Tanya Williams, O.P. and Joan Duerst, O.P. and then come back to this reflection. . . Dominican Life does take openness to the future that unfolds for us both personally and communally.  We do need to consider the present, remember the past and take thoughtful steps into the unknown. In our Constitution, in the section on Membership are the words I used for the title of this piece:   “It requires all of us…” Tanya and I serve on our Community of Preachers and along with Joan, we are part of our Anti-racism Transformation Team.  More importantly, we are Sisters to one another – and – to about 500+ more members – living faithfully – th...

Talking with others about my faith is something I do a lot.   Talking with men who are incarcerated about faith is something I’m learning to do.   At one of prisons for men I visit, I was one of several religious leaders who participated in an 8-week session called “Interfaith Dialogue.”   As we went around the circle each person had a chance to talk about his or her spiritual tradition – and it was fascinating.   Prisons are not places where you’d expect to find spirituality.   Yet, one of the things I learned is the importance of spirituality to the men.   It gives them hope, and for many of them it offers a form of independent study, prayer and meditation. We represented several Christian denominations: Catholic, UCC, Baptist. Others in the circle were Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, Jewish, Native American.   Several also practiced various kinds of Paganism.   These were the least familiar to me, and among those from whom I learn...

OMG! Just when I seemed to be settling into a great rhythm of life things have changed once again for me.   Once I may have thought that saying " yes" to God's call to become a sister would settle all the questions of life once and for all-- Whom shall I love? Where can I be me? What will I do to make a difference for justice? What does God want of me? I am learning, however, that there continue to be new calls within the basic call to be a follower of Jesus. As a Dominican woman I have had many experiences through which I have developed skills for ministry and community life.   I love the Church.   God not only gifts the Church with the message and grace of Jesus, but also challenges it through our human frailties. I have had the opportunity to serve a number of parishes and live with sisters in many places.   I appreciate the gifts of the people God has put into my life. But I have also learned l to carefully hold the tensions that arise in any place wh...

As I thought about what I might share in this blog post, more questions than particular insights flooded into consciousness.   Imaging myself sitting at the feet of my grandmother or a few wise Sinsinawa Dominicans, I share some of my questions with you. What does it mean to be a follower of Jesus, in word and deed? What does it mean to be a young woman of faith in an old Catholic Church? What does it mean to be a minister of the Word in the 800th year of the Dominican Order, a year designated to acknowledge and celebrate Dominican Women and Preaching? What does it mean to value on-going theological study, engaging in “faith seeking understanding?” What does it mean to commit to Catholic social justice teachings in a world of injustices and crimes perpetrated against the created? What does it mean to be a vowed Catholic religious and a compassionate presence and companion with the marginalized? What does it mean to be a member of an ...