Catherine's Cafe Vocation Blog

A few weekends ago, I attended my first Inter-Community Pre-Novitiate (ICPN) Retreat at the Siena Retreat Center in Racine. To be very honest, I did not know what to expect, so I was nervous, self-conscious and yet excited to meet new people and to reflect on my journey thus far. Our first evening began with a prayer and “get-to-know-you” activity, it was during that time that all of my fears and anxiety melted away. I felt that I was at a family gathering. From Salvatorians to Capuchins, and Viatorians, it was wonderful to meet, “the family.” I was also overjoyed by how beautiful and diverse our group is, with people from all over the world: Brazil, Iraq, South Korea, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Poland.   My spirit felt completely nourished and recharged as I was able to experience bits of the different cultures that were shared whether through stories, dance, or music!   Our weekend was a time of reflection which allowed us to be open and honest about our transitions ...

Ever have one of those…days, weeks, months...fill in the blank?   Speaking of blanks, my mind is just that.   Blank.   Nothing.   Nada.   What?   Well, just because a woman is in a religious order doesn’t mean she has it all together all of the time!   What have I been doing? How has life been going in Spokane in Novitiate Year Two? There’s too much to write about. Remember when as a kid you would take a stack of index cards, draw a different picture at the bottom of each, and then flip through them quickly … making the cards look like a moving picture?   Sure you do.   Well, here’s my Novitiate ~ Part II in a stack of cards with words; close your eyes and use your imagination.   On second thought, open them or you won’t be able to read this. Spokane, laser tag (yep!), granola, sadness, gladness, community, St. Anne’s, working together, the Hearth, children, laughing, crying, homesick, praying, New Leaf, Gonzaga, Service Learning, p...

Last month, my family had a wedding.  My nephew, the oldest son of my twin sister, was married.  It was amazing to share in this journey with my twin as she and her husband accompanied their son and his bride-to-be in this life transition.  Some of the accompaniment was financial, some sharing included plain old practical advice, but most of it involved trying to move out of the way as the young couple negotiated all that it means to start a new life together…for two to become one.  Our families are often signposts for us.  They point us to the ways God finds us and loves us.   They remind us of God’s call to mercy, to generosity, and to our vocation to be God’s presence in good times and bad.  What a gift!!! Who is a signpost of God for you today? Peggy Ryan, OP Whitefish Bay, WI

I want to believe that if Saint Dominic were alive today he would just love Pope Francis because he is calling us to bear witness to the Gospel – the good news of Jesus.   And he has a way of doing this so that all of us are able to understand. Saint Dominic must have been this way as well.   There is an account of him staying up all night talking with a tavern owner – sharing the Gospel with him. On the first Sunday of September I led a Theology on Tap evening for young adults at a local bar.   I channeled my “inner Dominic” and had a great conversation with a wonderful group of people. What our Pope is calling us to – as he wrote in “The Joy of the Gospel” – is to be Missionary Disciples.   We are to go out and proclaim the good news in every place and in every way.   Yes, Saint Dominic would have liked this very much for it is inherent in our charism to go and bring the good news of God’s love in Jesus Christ.   As members of ...

Have you ever had computer problems ?   It always happens to me when I already feel   over extended. Everything seemed to be going all right and then all of a sudden I got left behind.   I do understand that the computer world changes overnight, and I just want to continue doing what I’ve always done.   That’s no longer possible!   “Vanity of vanities” it says in the reading from Ecclesiastes today.    My wishing it would be otherwise will not slow the world down! That’s when I need to breathe .   Stop what I had been doing, and take time out to just breathe.   And to remember…that it doesn’t all depend on me. What do you have a hard time letting go of?   Ruth Poochigian, O.P. Madison WI