Catherine's Cafe Vocation Blog

As we remember Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr … one of his quotes comes to mind: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”   As Christians, we are called to live justly and bring about justice for all people.     Acknowledging injustice requires leaving your safe place and expanding your view of the world around you.  It is difficult to see and hear the injustice people experience everyday.  Religious life has helped me to see those who are invisible, forgotten, or have no voice.     Working for justice involves risk: taking action, speaking out, and extending help, likely meeting opposition.  It means being your sisters and brothers keeper, so all may have a just life.   I speak out against the death penalty, against racism, and for immigration reform to name a few.   What do you speak out for or what kind of actions do you take to improve the world for others? Priscilla Tor...

I just finished watching the Inauguration of President Obama.  I am both grateful today to be an American and inspired by the President’s speech.  Of the many things about which he spoke, I felt challenged to “step up to the plate” in order that our country might be all it can be.  In a certain way, he articulated a mission for us as a country and reminded us that it only can become a reality by our working together. As Sinsinawa Dominicans we have articulated our mission: As Sinsinawa Dominican women,  we are called
  to proclaim the Gospel
      through the ministry of preaching and teaching       
      in order to participate in the building
      of a holy and just Church and society. Many men and women share with us a relationship for mission.  There are associates, friends and benefactors, students and young adults, those w...

I am currently a part-time student in a graduate program at Barry University in Miami, FL.  As any  good Dominican would be;  I am enthralled with this rigorous study and all that it entails.  That being said, there are few opportunities in life equal to the examples we learn from others.  One person who constantly teaches me about life and love and God’s eternal compassion is my younger sister, Sharon. There she is in the picture tubing with her youngest, Gracie. My sister Sharon is an amazing woman.  She loves life and is so open to the endless possibilities available to us.  She absolutely refuses to name “normal.”  Her wellspring of compassion matches her zest for life.  Sharon is one of those people who has learned how to always tell the truth.  Smart, funny, full of good humor; Sharon is a joy to be around.  Recently, Sharon, along with her family, had to face an incredible struggle.  She did this with an unfla...

How "was" your Christmas?  I ask the question in the past tense.  Did you notice I was wrong in doing this?  The Christmas season lasts much longer than one day.  In fact, some Christians observe the season until the presentation of Jesus in the Temple (February 2). Epiphany is a favorite celebration for me.  I find the account in Matthew  compelling - full of intrigue - just plain cool.  Of course we have lots of legendary material that has enhanced & expanded the story, but I prefer to take the account just as it comes to us in the Gospel. This year, for Epiphany, I attended Mass in the Maronite Rite.  This is one of the 23 Rites in our church and is one of the oldest, established in what is present day Lebanon.  In the US, the Rite is celebrated with parts in English, Arabic & Aramaic (the language of Jesus). In the homily, the preacher noted that our English translation of the story in Matthew has always transla...

You’ll never guess what I could possibly be writing about this time! My nephew, Brian, and his wife, Susan, came to Madison for a visit with their son, Ofori.  I’m Ofori’s “Great” Auntie and he is my “Grand" Nephew. We had a huge snowfall in Madison, so along with Mary Ann, we all went snow shoeing and sledding. Not only that, the next day we walked out on one of the frozen lakes in Madison to talk with ice fishermen and to watch a pick-up hockey game.  These were unusual experiences for me to say the least! They were also wonderful! This is the second time I’ve lived in Madison, yet it’s the first time I’ve ever done any of these things. What did I learn? It’s important to take time with family, to tell the Grands how central they are to who I am and who I am becoming (read Great), and it’s important to take time off from the usual to do the unusual!! So why are these things important?  Younger generations keep me active. And as I ag...

As I write this on the Feast of the Holy Family, I’m thinking about what that means to me.  My biological family comes to mind, for sure.  We are a tight-knit group and were blessed to spend quality time together on Christmas night.  Being a mother, my son immediately comes to mind.  We’re not a “typical nuclear family” because I’m a single mom.  Never doubt, though, that he and I are as much family as any other. With such a diverse universe, what is “typical” anyhow?  How did “nuclear” come to define the love bond that holds so many people together? My candidacy has expanded my family, but that family has also welcomed my son as their own! On Christmas Eve at the Mound, I witnessed family at the 7:30 mass as sisters and outlying community members enjoyed breathtaking music followed by the breaking of bread together in the Eucharist.  The best kind of family meal! On Christmas morning, I witnessed the profound meaning of...