Posts tagged ‘commitment’
Come and You Will See
Today’s Gospel passage (John 1:35-42) tells of Jesus inviting the disciples to follow him by inviting them to “Come and See.” He’s not asking them to make a commitment. He’s not saying they should follow him. He’s not telling them how they should live their lives. He is simply inviting them to investigate . . . to observe . . . to see for themselves just who he is and what he is about.
We, the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael, are hosting a Come and See Day on February 4th. We’re not asking for a commitment either, we are simply inviting single Catholic women, between the ages of 20 and 45 to come . . . to investigate . . . to observe . . . to ask questions . . . and to find out for themselves just what being a sister might be like.
Why don’t you come? Why don’t you encourage someone?
Come and You Will See
Walk this Way
Today is the Feast of Saint Luke; the Gospel of Luke is attributed to him. We read today from that Gospel:
St. Dominic may have walked this way through the streets of Toulouse
Jesus said to them, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the mast of the harvest to send out laborers for the harvest.”
So today we pray for vocations to the service of God’s people. We Dominican Sisters pray especially for vocations to Dominican Life. We invite you to Walk this Way.
They’re singing our song!
The Prima Voce Choir from St. Mary's High School in Stockton
How wonderful it was to hear the strong and clear voices of the Prima Voce Choir from St. Mary’s High School in Stockton on Sunday at our celebration of 135 years of presence and ministry in the Diocese of Stockton. They sang a song that is special to the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael, “Hail Holy Queen,” and English translation of a special arrangement of the Latin “Assumpta Est.” It was a delightful surprise to the sisters, and a culmination of an afternoon of celebrating our heritage in Stockton. (Here’s the You Tube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f01-H8ksA9M)
We also enjoyed a surprise visit from our foundress, Mother Mary Goemaere – remarkably well-preserved for a woman 202 years of age! Bishop Blaire presided over Mass. And as we listened to stories from our history, we were reminded that “the more things change, the more they stay the same.
What a joyous occasion!
Mother Mary Goemaere's portrait, circa 1860
Clearly, Mother Mary has improved over 150 years!
Committing to More than a Tattoo
I had to laugh this morning when I looked at the paper. Every morning I look for this little box inside the Datebook section, entitled: “Public Eavesdropping.” Readers send amusing remarks to Leah Garchik, who makes them part of her daily column.
Today it reads: One woman was heard saying to another,
“I can’t commit to anything except tattoos.”
We live in a society where the “C” word is frightening to many. We live in a culture where there are so many choices . . . and sometimes making a choice shuts out other ones, and that’s . . .that’s . . . that’s . . . a commitment. It feels safer to keep one’s options open.
Strangely enough, I live in a culture – the convent – where we have uttered the “C” word, and have made vows that will hold us, and that we will hold, for the rest of our lives. That final commitment – perpetual or solemn vows – keeps us from making other choices. But it also frees us to give ourselves in ways we couldn’t otherwise. It also means I have sisters that I share this commitment with. I’m not going it alone!
The gift of this life is that one can try it for a time and see if it fits. Sometimes it’s not clear how God is calling us. And our answers are often found in our living of our lives. So before sisters, brothers, and priests say the “C” word, we get to try the life on for size – for five to nine years.
Most of the nuns I know are okay with the concept of 
commitment of their lives. But they are a bit squeamish about the commitment of a tattoo! (except for the really brave ones, of course!)
