Catherine's Cafe Vocation Blog

I spent this summer in Wisconsin at my motherhouse, not something I had planned on. To my surprise it turned out to be a summer embodying the many stages of religious life. We had celebrations of new novices, a Sister making first Vows, a Sister making perpetual Vows, a Sister completing her degree, 50 th Jubilees, and funerals.    I reconnected with Sisters and connected with “New Sisters” whom I didn’t know because they were out in mission.   I was given the gift to be fully present as Sister to my Sisters in assisted living.    I also met new lay people journeying with us in mission.   It turned out to be a summer of “unexpected gifts.”   What was an unexpected gift or surprise for you this summer? Priscilla Torres, OP

I’ve been joking lately that I am becoming a very good Dominican: between visits to friends and family and getting ready for another move, I’ve taken itinerancy to a new level! All this travel brings to mind a favorite poem by Jan Richardson, called “For Those Who Have Far to Travel: An Epiphany Blessing.”   The first two stanzas read: If you could see the journey whole you might never undertake it; might never dare the first step that propels you from the place you have known toward the place you know not. Call it one of the mercies of the road: that we see it only by stages as it opens before us, as it comes into our keeping step by single step. How true!   I could scarcely find better words to describe my journey into religious life.   Many times I have longed to see just a little further ahead; yet I realize that if I could have seen the whole picture perhaps I wouldn’t have dared to take the first step.  ...

So far, in this month of August, we have been offered the opportunity to listen to and take to heart the images of Jesus as living bread from John’s gospel.   Living bread – being the Body of Christ in our time and place.   Living bread – offering our very selves for the needs of others.   Jesus did not say, “I am the living bread” when your own belly is full and you have time to offer others a helping hand.   Jesus did not say, “I am the bread of life” when your life is without difficulty or struggle.   Jesus said, “The bread I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.”     How am I the living bread today for others?   What do I offer when I am lacking energy, feeling chewed up and spit out, and painfully aware of my shortcomings?    What if I have this huge problem at the Food Pantry or the neighborhood has an attempted robbery, or my prayer seems dry and ineffective?   I am called to give from my very sustenan...

As I pondered what I would write about this month, much crossed my mind and heart.  In particular, this summer, I have been thinking about and praying for our Iraqi Dominican Family as the first anniversary of their night of terror (August 6) was observed this month. I am part of a US Dominican Committee whose focus is on the situation for the Iraqi Dominican Sisters and Friars and the people they are serving in displacement camps and refugee centers. We prepared and sent out a prayer for the anniversary and other ways to observe this time including an origami peace crane project. This latter project tied into the 70 th anniversary of the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima & Nagasaki. A horror no one should ever repeat again.  The peace crane has become a symbol of hope in the face of terror and tragedy.  And yet more comes into this few August days.  One of our oldest sisters died on the eve (August 7) of St Dominic’s Feast Day – just as two women were receive...

A few weeks ago I was in Skagway for a few days.  It's a beautiful, serene area nestled in the mountains with ocean access at its feet.  At least now it is.  But in the late 1800s it was a bustling area because gold had been discovered  in Canada.  The quickest access to the gold was through the Alaskan mountains, and the long, arduous trail began here.  Gold seekers climbed mountains in the winter on foot with huge packs to pull.   Many died but finding gold kept them going no matter what the cost.  Imagine their disappointment, their devastation when they reached Dawson City in Canada and found out that all the land had already been claimed.  All that they had gone through and not a fleck of gold to show for their brutal journey. These men were seeking a treasure--they went to unbelievable lengths in their quest--and they ended up empty-handed.  I reflected on the fact that I need the same kind of persistence, acceptance of hardsh...

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...