Catherine's Cafe Vocation Blog

"What will life look like in the future?" (Georgia's last blog.)   Sunday morning our Sister, Rose Marie Conway, may have been wondering the same. She knew she was living with cancer for the past couple of years. And she was living!     She planned time to connect with each person she met or had known. She would sit quietly with   a friend enjoying the beauty of a park or kayaking on Madison's lakes.   "I love you," she would say to each duck or bird on those excursions. And she put up her hands and blessed the water. " I love you," sparkled in her eyes as she greeted me or others. She participated fully in each gathering of sisters. On Sunday morning she was called to truly see future life. She died as she had lived with a peaceful smile on her lips.   Those of us who live in Madison gathered by her bed to pray with and for her. The picture that Sister Isabel had taken of Rose blessing the water was placed on the bed where Rose's body...

As we celebrate the saints who have gone before us during this chilly (yes, even in Kentucky) fall season, I have taken some time to reflect on recent opportunities I have had to delve deeper into my Dominican heritage. On November 4 we Sinsinawa   Dominicans celebrate Founder’s Day, the birthday of our founder, Samuel Mazzuchelli, OP. Samuel left home at an early age and devoted his life to bringing the Good News of God’s love and mercy to everyone he met, particularly the Native Americans and immigrants. My study group recently spent some time sharing our insights on the life of Fr. Samuel.   Another opportunity came to me this year as Sister Geri and I spent a week volunteering at the McGreal Center in Chicago.   This center is a place dedicating to telling the story of American Dominicans -   sisters, nuns, brothers and priests.   Helping out there always reminds me of the great 800 year heritage of preaching and teaching begun by St. Dominic but al...

A few months ago, there was a lengthy front page article in the Minneapolis newspaper about hidden poverty in the suburbs. The number of people living in poverty in Minneapolis suburbs has more than doubled in the past ten years; a story repeated elsewhere around the country. I minister at a non-profit, started over 30 years ago by an incredible woman who invited others to join her and respond to the needs of the poor in eight west suburban communities. That was the beginning of an outreach project that initially involved 9 faith communities. I have always worked in human services. Before this ministry, however, I never thought about suburbanites possibly living below the national poverty level. My understanding of things sometimes gets turned on its side or flipped upside down. I love it when that happens because it wakes me up. I am grateful for reminders that everyone counts – including those not seen because of my blinders, misperceptions and flawed opin...

One of my favorite songs lately is “God of Day and God of Darkness.”  Not only is the tune beautiful, but behind the lilting Celtic melody are some pretty powerful words: “Come and wake us from our sleeping so our hearts cannot ignore all your people lost and broken all your children at our door.” I love the inclusivity of these lines: “ALL your people,” the song proclaims.  We’re all lost and broken, and there’s a beautiful kinship in that.  I also love the image of being awoken: all of us, no matter how socially conscious we might consider ourselves, are “asleep” in some ways.  But asking God to wake us up is both bold and risky; once we’re aware of a need or an injustice, we can no longer ignore it.  Our congregation’s founder, Fr. Samuel Mazzuchelli, took a great risk when he joined the dwindling Dominican order in Italy, then moved to the “new frontier” at age 22.  He took risks in the form of ministering to and...

Does that not seem like a simple question?  Yet, each time I am asked, “Where do you live?”  I hesitate.  Currently, my home is in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  I love this city!!  And, our Motherhouse, the home of every Dominican Sister of Sinsinawa, is located in the Southwest corner of the state, on County Road Z.  We call it God’s country!! But, the fact that I have two homes is not the real root of my hesitation. For Dominicans, our home is first and foremost in the grace-filled and spacious heart of God.  Wherever we are, with whomever, we strive to be at home.  Home means being deep listeners and faith filled prayers.  Home means being totally open.  Home means deepening our inner awareness.  One place where I feel so at home is in my studies.  I am studying theology.  I study about God.  It is amazing and stretching, eye-opening and mind boggling.  And, of course, a never-ending process!...