Catherine's Cafe Vocation Blog

Dominicans are Easter people.   First of all, we are devoted to newness and open to risk.   Our founder, Saint Dominic, began the Order of Preachers in order to launch new ways of spreading God’s Word. Secondly, we are women and men of hope.   As our brother, Thomas Aquinas said, “Faith has to do with things that are not seen and hope with things that are not as hand.”   We want to see with eyes of abundance, not scarcity.   Finally, we are committed to the belief that anything is possible.   When a situation appears without promise, we will look for what could be there.   We will live in the paradoxical.   We will strive to turn our deepest sorrows into a joy that cannot be contained.   We long to share our talking to God and about God.        So, how about you?   How are you connected to Easter? Peggy Ryan, OP Waukegan, IL

The summer of 2014 Daesh (ISIS) swept through the northern part of Iraq.   Dominicans Sisters and Friars, fleeing with their neighbors, have done heroic ministry among their people even as they suffer their own displacement. For this blog entry I am sharing a portion of the Easter letter from the Prioress of the Iraqi Dominican Sisters sent to me and others here in the US.   She writes: "... As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man…and they were alarmed. "Don't be alarmed," he said. "He has risen! He is not here." Mark 16: 5-6   Dear Sisters, Brethren and Friends,   It is great to hear the good news about Jesus’ resurrection. But if we were to think about the place from where the good news is announced, we would be a bit surprised. The women came into the tomb, and they saw a young man sitting there. Important things happen inside the tomb.   The community that announce the good news is surprisingly in the tomb. The sam...

The little things in life make the big things work—and vice versa.   Sometimes I look around in my small community and notice how many little things get done—seemingly without organization.   I’ll be in the kitchen getting my breakfast, and I notice that “someone” has bagged up the garbage and left it at the back door.   A little later, “someone” else has quietly taken the bag out to the trashcan in the alley.   “Someone,” me, in this case, empties the dish washer while waiting for my oatmeal to cook. These tasks are very little things, but in a smooth-functioning community, they just “happen.” My local community consists of a disparate crew of four Sisters from different congregations and nationalities, of different ages, and with different jobs.   What makes us notice and deal with the little things, I think, is that we share values—including sincere care for another.   Yes, we do our jobs, and one or another of us also volunteers at a food pantry, h...

Hello my name is Sister Margaret and this is the first time that I am writing on a blog. I hope to share with you a little about myself. Waking up each morning and spending an hour in prayer is how I stay in touch with the love of my life, my God.  I lean on God through each day and live the mystery that is each of our lives.  The love of friends, family and sisters deepens my faith and enriches me in countless ways.  I have had the privilege of working in some of the poorest areas of this county and the people there have taught me about hope, courage and that with God’s help all things are possible. If I had not seen the sun, I could have born the shade But light a newer Wilderness My Wilderness has made - Emily Dickenson Margaret McGuirk, OP Richfield, MN

 Last week I was sharing our beliefs about forgiveness with a group of women.  One woman was quite distressed when she came in and when sharing began we found out why.  She had just called her daughter-in-law who had hung up on her.  This hadn't happened before and she wasn't sure what she should do next. The other women gave her some suggestions:  don't call back immediately, but wait until both can process what happened. Wait a few days and then bring her a freshly-baked cake.  Wait and then ask for the Holy Spirit to guide her in the words she chose.  Pray for her daughter-in-law that she will open her heart to receive forgiveness. In all of our suggestions the key word was  waiting.  When we have wronged someone we decided it's best not to offer an apology immediately but to wait until the moment seems right.  Forgiveness doesn't happen instantly; it needs time and prayer, and it especially needs God's grace.  Have...

Have you ever experienced in your life a time when you were at crossroads, an intersection, transition or whatever you called it?   A time when you were in-between two worlds or choices and both of them or several of your future options were all good?   Presently I am living in such a space.   It is definitely not the most comfortable space to be in.   I am in my fifth year as parish administrator and I strongly feel that the time is right to let go of this familiar ministry and people and move unto something new.   Yet I am not too sure what the something new is.   However, there are several options.   Have you ever experienced that? Another challenge that comes with knowing it’s time to move on is trying to live in the present and complete the present ministry in the last couple months; yet having that feeling of excitement when I think of the limitless possibilities of the next ministry.   I find myself having to be very intentional about ...