Vocations Blog

Every vocation story begins with a call – a call to share your gifts with others who want to make a difference in the world. If you believe that you’ve heard God’s call, and you want to write your own story with the Dominican Sisters of Peace, contact us to begin a conversation.

 

Journeying with God in Kentucky

Pat Dual
Blog by Sr. Pat Dual, OP

Last weekend several women traveled to the rolling hills of Kentucky to spend a few days with the Dominican Sisters of Peace at the St. Catharine Motherhouse. They came from different states – Ohio, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia – but they came with the same purpose. They came in response to the stirring in their hearts. They came sensing that God was inviting them to consider a different path, one of service and purpose. They came with open hearts and minds, ready to pray, share and reflect with the Sisters and with each other about this mysterious call of God.

Our participants for the Come and See weekend were warmly welcomed and enjoyed not only the Motherhouse community and each other, they also enjoyed a tour of St. Catharine College, a sponsored ministry of the Dominican Sisters of Peace, along with a personal tour of the Abbey of Gethsemani – home of the Trappist Monks in Kentucky. One of the highlights of the visit to Gethsemani was our group singing Salve Regina in the main chapel of the monastery. The acoustics were wonderful and it was a Spirit-filled moment for each of us. Continue reading →

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Where is Home?

Catherine Arnold, OP
Blog by Sr. Cathy Arnold, OP

I realize writing a blog is about sharing something of importance in the life of the writer, and it’s also about getting folks to read and stay on your website. But today I am breaking the rules of blogging by sending you to the Christian Peacemaker Teams’ website to read a blog from one of their members who recently spent time in Iraqi Kurdistan. With our own Dominican Sisters and Brothers suffering from similar circumstances in Iraq, we are called to remain mindful of the harsh realities others in our world are facing, and to pray and act on their behalf. Continue reading →

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God’s ways are not our ways

Blog by Sr. June Fitzgerald, OP
Blog by Sr. June Fitzgerald, OP

Last weekend I attended a young adult retreat sponsored by the local Diocese. It was held at a beautiful retreat center in a bucolic setting – replete with walking trails with the Stations of the Cross, several grottos and Silence. I would like to say that I was one of the young adults but, I don’t think I qualify in that category anymore. I was there to serve as a companion and Spiritual Director to the retreatants. I was deeply touched and impressed with their witness of faith and their quest to intentionally live lives of meaning and service. Continue reading →

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“Whom Shall I Send?”

Pat Dual
Blog by Sr. Pat Dual, OP

“Whom Shall I Send? Here I am Lord, send me!” – Isaiah 6:8

I love this “call and response” verse from Isaiah. It is the question and answer at the root of every vocation call (religious or lay) when God is truly part of the discernment process. God is still calling and inviting women and men to consider religious life, but the invitation may go unnoticed in the busyness and noise of today’s society. However, Pope Francis has helped to energize people’s interest in viewing religious life as a viable option for their future. Francis has encouraged young people to pray about God’s call for their life. The Church is, indeed, finding that there are young people responding with a willingness to be “open and sent” in answer to God’s invitation. Continue reading →

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Jesus, the Marginalized, and Us

Blog by Associate Mary Ellen George, OPA
Blog by Associate Mary Ellen George, OPA

Many times we’ve sung the lyrics to the song, “We Are Called,” in which the refrain begins with the verse, “We are called to act with justice.” Or perhaps you’ve watched the television show What Would You Do? with John Quinones and questioned what your own actions would be in a particular circumstance of injustice. When it comes to responding to injustice, as followers of Jesus, we are reminded of the Gospel message in Matthew 25:40 “The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.'” Jesus describes the “least of these” as the hungry, thirsty, homeless, naked, sick and imprisoned. We might describe the “least of these” as the marginalized who society does not want anything to do with or with whom we do not want to relate. Many of us may retort that “they” should be able to pull themselves up by their own bootstraps. Continue reading →

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