Catherine's Cafe Vocation Blog

These past several weeks have been an extended time of family celebration - a time truly representative of what religious life, Sinsinawa Dominican life, and life, in general, is about. A time of honoring the cycle of life and the family that makes that journey with us.   The Celebration of my first profession of vows on August 2 came on the heels of a huge family reunion that we call Community Days.   These distinct yet intertwined joyful events had as bookends goodbyes said to two of our beloved Sisters - Florus Castle and Jean Brennan.   As I sought the mercy of God and of all, Florus and Jean had fulfilled their profession promises, ‘even unto death’.   What an extraordinarily graced cycle of birth, life, death, and birth into new life! During these sacred celebrations, my family experienced the truth that they were not losing a sister (or mother) but are now loved by and part of a much bigger family… a family of Sisters, Brothers, Associates, Mound brot...

Megan is here!  A Sinsinawa Dominican Candidate shares life at Monona House before going to her next assignment.  What a whirlwind of blessings! It is also the last days for us to live at Monona House where we began a house with a mission 4 years ago.  Sisters and associates easily live with a strong sense of mission, but having a house with a mission may be unique.  We named it Monona House.  We live in  Monona, WI,  and the literal name, "Monona" says "beautiful."   We sought to be aware of the beauty of each person who entered Beautiful House whether to visit, to live, to meet or to perform maintenance tasks.  Four years later we experience the fruits of beautiful as we look through  Megan's eyes. The dining room table is where many beautiful people share bread and life stories. Many come to share while Megan is here. We share   Navajo wisdom with friend, Omie pictured here.   But others come by as well, our 80...

I find myself reflecting on Sr. Peggy Ryan’s question posted on Catherine’s Café on Monday:   “ And you, where and how has God’s grace come to you? ” God’s grace comes to me always in so many different ways.   Fortunately, sometimes I am actually aware of those circumstances of grace.   God’s grace comes to me: ü   During my period of reflective and contemplative prayer each morning ü   When God reminds me of something I need to do ü   When God coaches me on what to write at this moment ü   Through an unexpected call from one of my sisters ü   Through the kind, understanding compassion of one of my sisters when I was under stress yesterday Yesterday our Congregation, the Dominican sisters of Sinsinawa, began gathering for the annual event we call Community Days. God’s grace is always in abundance during those days.   God’s grace came to me: ü   Through all the hugs of greeting we extend to one another ü ...

Have you ever gotten through something difficult and wondered afterward, “How did I ever make it through that?”   Have you ever mustered up an incredible amount of strength, courage, trust, and gratefulness and then wondered, “Where did those inner gifts came from?”   I believe with all my heart that this is the definition of grace.     I recently went through an operation for a cervical disc problem.   I was in the process of finishing a five-year study program, had recently begun a new ministry, and on top of it all, just moved to a new city.   Timing for illness is never good, but this was over the top horrible.   I had to just let go, rely upon those around me for help and care, and trust in a brand new set of medical personnel.   God’s grace got me through it all. Grace comes to us in so many ways.   To just give you one example – a family member, with health issues of her own, spent the whole day of surgery with me in the hospi...

"Ok, I'm old."   That is what I say to the confirmation students during their retreat day prior to receiving the sacrament.   Then I tell them a couple of stories from my 'distant' past. I begin this blog entry with that thought because this past week something happened that took me to a similar memory. In the late 60's, I stay up all night riveted to the TV with my workbook from a geology class I had taken because WE were landing on the moon. Perhaps I would not have consciously thought of the two astronauts as representing the whole of humanity but looking back I do.   What happened this past week?   WE flew past Pluto.   Ok, a stellar probe flew past, but humanity has a marked moment with this event. What about the holy 'fly bys' that are happening in us and among us and around us. When someone or a group does something that is remarkable. Recently I heard about a group making a contemplative retreat who were sent throughout New York City...

I recently spent a weekend with people I hadn’t seen for many years!   And it was wonderful!! When I graduated from college I spent a year as an Extension Lay Volunteer.    My roommate, Terry, had just graduated from a college in Philadelphia and we met briefly when she and her parents made a trip to California (where I lived at the time). The year was 1968.   We spent six weeks (for orientation) in Chicago, and watched   on TV as the Democratic Convention unfolded.   Then we boarded a flight for New Orleans!   There I came face to face with the struggle for Civil Rights.   The schools were facing a Federal Injunction – either integrate or don’t open.   I saw signs that said “white only” and “colored only” and I had my first (and only!) encounter with the Ku Klux Klan!! Many things have happened since then – both in my life as well as that of New Orleans.   The biggest being my life as a Dominican, and Hurricane Katrina and ...