Dear friends as you can tell by the lack of posts my last year was "hell on wheels"
I arrived in Lexington to find that my mentor was embroiled in serious personal and marital challenges and by August she and her spouse moved to Cincinnati.
I requested a new mentor and Elly from FL was assigned to me.
The normal process is to write 5 units on the sacraments, be ordained a deacon in 6 months, then a year after that to be ordained a priest. The process taking at least 18 months and oftentimes longer. Because of my special circumstances I completed the program in less than 10 months which meant I was writing papers and not writing on this blog.
I was ordained a Roman Catholic deacon in December of 2009 and a priest in Sarasota FL February 6, 2010. Dena O'Callaghan was ordained with me and we added Mary Ellen Sheehan as deacon on 2/6/10.
I have started another blog as a RCWP and have begun to post regularly.
The abuse crisis has demanded that I do so. http://katyzatsickrcwp.blogspot.com/
So to update info I live at:
3099 Kirklevington Dr. Apt 18
Lexington Ky 40517.
cell phone: 773 401 4012
Home 859 368 0666
email: katyzatsick@insightbb.com (I use this most often)
katyrcwp@gmail.com (need for the blog)
I hope this helps
Monday, April 19, 2010
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Lunch with My Spiritual Director/Lunch with the Birds
I met Sr Iris SSND for lunch today. I took along my photo album from my time at Walter Reed and introduced myself and my family. I told her of how pivotal that time was. Jason's injury changed my life and who I am for ever.
While we were eating a little sparrow flew and sat on our table. He continued to do so probably for the hour we were eating and talking. He was asking for some of my bread which I placed on the ground. I have never had a bird do that before.
Since moving to KY I seem to becoming more at peace within myself and animals come to me. When I walked this evening, each time I passed this brown dog, he would come to me to be petted. His person said, "Found a new friend?" to him.
I had my neighbor cat come and see me today. She came in and checked the apartment out-her second time at this. I feed her catnip treats. She ate some and wanted me to scratch her ears and pet her. Although a very small cat, she sure can purr.
I felt like St. Francis and the animals and I like it. I can't have any of my own, so God's Providence gives me visits regularly. When I visit with Connie I will be taking care of her kitty who is a real sweetie. I bought cat treats and a toy to take with me.
Blessings on each of you and all the pets in your life.
May we come to know that we are all equal beings on this planet. We depend on each other. And we who know have the responsibility to care for the earth and for all our fellow beings who cannot do the work.
While we were eating a little sparrow flew and sat on our table. He continued to do so probably for the hour we were eating and talking. He was asking for some of my bread which I placed on the ground. I have never had a bird do that before.
Since moving to KY I seem to becoming more at peace within myself and animals come to me. When I walked this evening, each time I passed this brown dog, he would come to me to be petted. His person said, "Found a new friend?" to him.
I had my neighbor cat come and see me today. She came in and checked the apartment out-her second time at this. I feed her catnip treats. She ate some and wanted me to scratch her ears and pet her. Although a very small cat, she sure can purr.
I felt like St. Francis and the animals and I like it. I can't have any of my own, so God's Providence gives me visits regularly. When I visit with Connie I will be taking care of her kitty who is a real sweetie. I bought cat treats and a toy to take with me.
Blessings on each of you and all the pets in your life.
May we come to know that we are all equal beings on this planet. We depend on each other. And we who know have the responsibility to care for the earth and for all our fellow beings who cannot do the work.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Time to Listen to the Spirit
I have a friend who is searching for healing. I invited her over to take part in a meditation for healing. I would also participate. I prepared the space on the table, covered with plastic cloth. I had purchased 5 pounds of clay to work with. We each had about 1 pound and there was plenty if more was needed. She was hesitant as she had "never worked with clay." I reassured Mary that this is not a "project" but a way to concretize feelings and images that might arise from the unconscious, the Spirit within.
I put a Celtic harp CD on the player, softly so that it would block the noise of the day and yet be not intrusive on images that might come to mind.
We read from Mark's Gospel: the healing of the woman with hemorrhage of 12 years. My friend, I will call her Mary, has also been seeking healing. I led the meditation of meeting Jesus on the road, seeing the woman being healed, speaking with Jesus and listening to him respond. Then it was 30 minutes of silently working with the clay.
I will tell you of my piece. I had just begun to work with pastels, had done 3 pieces when my brother died in February 1991. The snow was deep in Michigan at his funeral and when I returned to Blacksburg, a purple crocus had opened up amidst a bank of melting snow in my flower bed. I thought, "A sign of resurrection." I knew I needed to paint this sign, to release me from my grief. I have never done it. I had done clay meditations before but not to really "create an image from memory." So I asked for healing and began to work the clay. It turned out perfect for me. I was amazed. "The crocus is open in the snow within a crevasse of melted water." New life from the frozen earth of winter death. Joe is alive in eternity at peace and I believe continuing to learn the lessons God intends.
After our meditation time was complete, I took both of us back to Jesus and let us speak to him. I saw Jesus laughing and holding both Mary and myself as young girls. I know I will create again.
Mary also had a good meditation and created three different images that had arisen from her silent reflection time, recognizable and filled with meaning for her. Mary wanted to meet again, but my day will be too busy tomorrow. She did take the clay home with her and I encouraged her to work with it if she desired. Mary can also dialogue with any image asking, "Who are you? what do you want from me? what do you bring me?" or any other question to open up the particular meaning of the image for her.
Both of us listened to the spirit and were blessed with meaningful images for our spiritual growth and healing. The ministry of priesthood, it is enough.
I put a Celtic harp CD on the player, softly so that it would block the noise of the day and yet be not intrusive on images that might come to mind.
We read from Mark's Gospel: the healing of the woman with hemorrhage of 12 years. My friend, I will call her Mary, has also been seeking healing. I led the meditation of meeting Jesus on the road, seeing the woman being healed, speaking with Jesus and listening to him respond. Then it was 30 minutes of silently working with the clay.
I will tell you of my piece. I had just begun to work with pastels, had done 3 pieces when my brother died in February 1991. The snow was deep in Michigan at his funeral and when I returned to Blacksburg, a purple crocus had opened up amidst a bank of melting snow in my flower bed. I thought, "A sign of resurrection." I knew I needed to paint this sign, to release me from my grief. I have never done it. I had done clay meditations before but not to really "create an image from memory." So I asked for healing and began to work the clay. It turned out perfect for me. I was amazed. "The crocus is open in the snow within a crevasse of melted water." New life from the frozen earth of winter death. Joe is alive in eternity at peace and I believe continuing to learn the lessons God intends.
After our meditation time was complete, I took both of us back to Jesus and let us speak to him. I saw Jesus laughing and holding both Mary and myself as young girls. I know I will create again.
Mary also had a good meditation and created three different images that had arisen from her silent reflection time, recognizable and filled with meaning for her. Mary wanted to meet again, but my day will be too busy tomorrow. She did take the clay home with her and I encouraged her to work with it if she desired. Mary can also dialogue with any image asking, "Who are you? what do you want from me? what do you bring me?" or any other question to open up the particular meaning of the image for her.
Both of us listened to the spirit and were blessed with meaningful images for our spiritual growth and healing. The ministry of priesthood, it is enough.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Needing Support on the Journey
One of the recommendations I heard by the analysts before I left Chicago for Lexington was, "You need to reach out for support from others. You are making a difficult move and you are subject to blue moods (depression)."
I have been thinking about emotional support but felt, like so many other things, I need to wait until after I return from taking care of my sister in Ann Arbor for the next two months as she recovers from surgery to replace her second hip joint. I lived 8 months at Walter Reed so I consider this healing time to be a "cake walk."
I attended the Friends meeting this morning. I find it a place of peace compared to the RC parish liturgies which are often an "occasion of sin" because of the language and focus of the sermon. After the meeting I reached out to two women who I will call M1 and M2 for privacy. M2 is a chaplain.
What struck me was how God put us together. For all three of us suffered abuse at the hands of our x-spouses. Mine was spiritual and emotional, both of the women suffered not only emotional but physical abuse also to the extent they had to get restraining orders, move to a different state, etc. Both were now in the process of healing and we had a good discussion for about 45 minutes, sharing the stories of our lives and emotional/spiritual growth.
We plan to get together "for lunch" when I return, they may do so before I return. What M2 said that struck me was, "My son, who this spouse was his step dad, when I told him the truth about the divorce he had a mental and emotional turn around." He was very supportive of M2 and their relationship was much improved. For M1, she only had step daughters but could no longer be in contact because doing so would provide info to her x as to where she was and she fears for her life.
For me, I was filled with hope that I might be friends with either or both of these women. We walk the same road to healing for ourselves and hopefully for our children as well. God/the Source of Life does provide for our needs, we only need to be open to the opportunities.
I was also pleased that M2 is a chaplain and said she would check about my possible part time work as a chaplain with her health care system. I do not know if I will need finances, but I might and I do love being a chaplain. I see it as a central "being a priest" for myself. In a hospital setting I could focus on healing prayer for my patients which is different than hospice where the prayer is for letting go and accompanying the loved ones in their grief. I will see what God has in store for me as I walk the path to the formal recognition: ordination of my priesthood.
I still have not gotten over how peaceful I feel inside since leaving Chicago. I needed to put physical distance between all that occurred there and within me. I feel released from the prison of an abusive relationship that lasted for 30 years. Each of the women talked about trying to discover the "why did I stay in the relationship so long?" It gave me much solace; victims cannot "overcome the abuse" on their own. It seems there has to be an event which clearly forces the choice "to live differently."
I have been thinking about emotional support but felt, like so many other things, I need to wait until after I return from taking care of my sister in Ann Arbor for the next two months as she recovers from surgery to replace her second hip joint. I lived 8 months at Walter Reed so I consider this healing time to be a "cake walk."
I attended the Friends meeting this morning. I find it a place of peace compared to the RC parish liturgies which are often an "occasion of sin" because of the language and focus of the sermon. After the meeting I reached out to two women who I will call M1 and M2 for privacy. M2 is a chaplain.
What struck me was how God put us together. For all three of us suffered abuse at the hands of our x-spouses. Mine was spiritual and emotional, both of the women suffered not only emotional but physical abuse also to the extent they had to get restraining orders, move to a different state, etc. Both were now in the process of healing and we had a good discussion for about 45 minutes, sharing the stories of our lives and emotional/spiritual growth.
We plan to get together "for lunch" when I return, they may do so before I return. What M2 said that struck me was, "My son, who this spouse was his step dad, when I told him the truth about the divorce he had a mental and emotional turn around." He was very supportive of M2 and their relationship was much improved. For M1, she only had step daughters but could no longer be in contact because doing so would provide info to her x as to where she was and she fears for her life.
For me, I was filled with hope that I might be friends with either or both of these women. We walk the same road to healing for ourselves and hopefully for our children as well. God/the Source of Life does provide for our needs, we only need to be open to the opportunities.
I was also pleased that M2 is a chaplain and said she would check about my possible part time work as a chaplain with her health care system. I do not know if I will need finances, but I might and I do love being a chaplain. I see it as a central "being a priest" for myself. In a hospital setting I could focus on healing prayer for my patients which is different than hospice where the prayer is for letting go and accompanying the loved ones in their grief. I will see what God has in store for me as I walk the path to the formal recognition: ordination of my priesthood.
I still have not gotten over how peaceful I feel inside since leaving Chicago. I needed to put physical distance between all that occurred there and within me. I feel released from the prison of an abusive relationship that lasted for 30 years. Each of the women talked about trying to discover the "why did I stay in the relationship so long?" It gave me much solace; victims cannot "overcome the abuse" on their own. It seems there has to be an event which clearly forces the choice "to live differently."
Synchronicity
On Saturday I went to work out at Curves. The morning before I had read in the newspaper about the Lexington community chorus holding a Pop's Concert with selections made by fans via computer. I love hearing songs,I can understand and was thinking, "This would be a nice evening out and reasonable ($18 a ticket). I didn't have the go-to to pursue a ticket however.
I headed to Curves and one of the staff told of how her neighbor had purchased four tickets to the concert and found she couldn't use them. Gail and her husband Hal were going and she offered "Would anyone like to purchase a ticket?" I tried to find a person for the fourth but couldn't find one.
I couldn't believe the synchronicity-an event over which I have no control but which affirms how I am feeling (Jungian concept). So...I raised my hand, wrote a check and was delighted to be entertained for 2.5 hours in the beautiful Lexington Opera house now used for such venues.
Music by a chorus of 150 magnificent voices included (I can't list them all) Broadway medley: There's No Business Like Show Business, More, That's Amore, Moon River, You Raise Me Up, Beach Boy Medley, Seasons of Love, Mac The Knife.
The Universe is loving and kind, and will oblige by fulfilling our life nourishing needs. We but need to ask.
I headed to Curves and one of the staff told of how her neighbor had purchased four tickets to the concert and found she couldn't use them. Gail and her husband Hal were going and she offered "Would anyone like to purchase a ticket?" I tried to find a person for the fourth but couldn't find one.
I couldn't believe the synchronicity-an event over which I have no control but which affirms how I am feeling (Jungian concept). So...I raised my hand, wrote a check and was delighted to be entertained for 2.5 hours in the beautiful Lexington Opera house now used for such venues.
Music by a chorus of 150 magnificent voices included (I can't list them all) Broadway medley: There's No Business Like Show Business, More, That's Amore, Moon River, You Raise Me Up, Beach Boy Medley, Seasons of Love, Mac The Knife.
The Universe is loving and kind, and will oblige by fulfilling our life nourishing needs. We but need to ask.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Jason and I Talked Today
I received the invitation to Jason's and Jodi's wedding. I had a question about seating on the boat-yes, they will be married on a Disney cruise to the Bahamas. Jason was home and picked up the phone when I called.
We talked about the wedding and his "in process" for a position in National Security in DC. Sounds like they may be moving to DC in the summer/fall depending on clearance. Jodi will attend graduate school as the assignment is for 3 years if all goes well.
I think it would be amazing if Jodi gets into VT in Blacksburg where Jason grew up. They built their Vet school while we lived there probably during the early 80's. It is a very beautiful part of Virginia. I was very sad when Dow moved us to Chicago. But now I have the Bluegrass, rolling hills and this too is a beautiful part of the world.
I found two new saints this week:
St. Jason from Acts who offered St. Paul hospitality. I had looked for a patron saint for Jason all his life. Dow named Jason and I always felt badly that he was named after a Greek myth and not a Saint. Now Jason has one and I feel so good that I can pray to him for Jason. I will do this everyday-for health, for his upcoming marriage and for our reconciliation.
I also met a new saint St. Rita of Casio Italy. She was married to a brutal man who was murdered. Their twin sons wanted to commit a vendetta but were stopped by dying themselves before they could carry it out. St. Rita argued with them not to seek revenge as was the response in Medieval Italy. St. Rita is the patron saint of impossible causes. We learn to seek reconciliation, not revenge. Would that we had done this after 9/11. Our country and the world would be a much different place. So I will pray to St Rita as my patron saint of peacemaking and being peace.
For fun this evening I went to the movies and saw "The Battle in the Smithsonian" Lots of high tech adventure and Amelia Earhart was the very best. It is so neat to see the "historical characters" come alive. Of course, Abe Lincoln had a leading role as did Einstein.
We talked about the wedding and his "in process" for a position in National Security in DC. Sounds like they may be moving to DC in the summer/fall depending on clearance. Jodi will attend graduate school as the assignment is for 3 years if all goes well.
I think it would be amazing if Jodi gets into VT in Blacksburg where Jason grew up. They built their Vet school while we lived there probably during the early 80's. It is a very beautiful part of Virginia. I was very sad when Dow moved us to Chicago. But now I have the Bluegrass, rolling hills and this too is a beautiful part of the world.
I found two new saints this week:
St. Jason from Acts who offered St. Paul hospitality. I had looked for a patron saint for Jason all his life. Dow named Jason and I always felt badly that he was named after a Greek myth and not a Saint. Now Jason has one and I feel so good that I can pray to him for Jason. I will do this everyday-for health, for his upcoming marriage and for our reconciliation.
I also met a new saint St. Rita of Casio Italy. She was married to a brutal man who was murdered. Their twin sons wanted to commit a vendetta but were stopped by dying themselves before they could carry it out. St. Rita argued with them not to seek revenge as was the response in Medieval Italy. St. Rita is the patron saint of impossible causes. We learn to seek reconciliation, not revenge. Would that we had done this after 9/11. Our country and the world would be a much different place. So I will pray to St Rita as my patron saint of peacemaking and being peace.
For fun this evening I went to the movies and saw "The Battle in the Smithsonian" Lots of high tech adventure and Amelia Earhart was the very best. It is so neat to see the "historical characters" come alive. Of course, Abe Lincoln had a leading role as did Einstein.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
My First Peace Vigil in Lexington
The Peace folks hold their vigil on Thursdays at 5:30PM downtown. We stood on the corner in the very warm-86 degrees afternoon and held our banners for 15 minutes. Then we prayed for peace for 15 minutes. Not much foot traffic but lots of autos drove by.
We are all very "gray heads" who had been peacemaking a long time! We discussed that nothing was planned for this Memorial Day weekend in Lexington. Louisville will have a vigil for peace remembering our soldiers and also the civilians who have died.
It was good to meet folks and be with them focusing on peace. I liked praying for peace in our small group. I remembered Ken Meredith and his mother Karen who will be at Ken's grave in Arlington cemetery this weekend as she has been each year since his death in Iraq five years ago. Jason and Ken were in the same tank commander class together. I met Karen because she contacted me during my stay with Jason at Walter Reed. It was good to be with Karen at the graveside remembrance and for dinner after.
Remember all the soldiers across the world who have lost their lives and their families. Remember all the civilians who have died during war: 1,000,000 in Iraq. Let us pray and work to end all wars. Let us relegate war to the dustbin of history.
Go to the site for fightingforlifethemovie.com. It is being shown on PBS stations all over the country this weekend/coming week. Jason and I appear in it as we were interviewed for it.
Have a good holiday weekend with family and friends or quietly resting as I plan to do.
We are all very "gray heads" who had been peacemaking a long time! We discussed that nothing was planned for this Memorial Day weekend in Lexington. Louisville will have a vigil for peace remembering our soldiers and also the civilians who have died.
It was good to meet folks and be with them focusing on peace. I liked praying for peace in our small group. I remembered Ken Meredith and his mother Karen who will be at Ken's grave in Arlington cemetery this weekend as she has been each year since his death in Iraq five years ago. Jason and Ken were in the same tank commander class together. I met Karen because she contacted me during my stay with Jason at Walter Reed. It was good to be with Karen at the graveside remembrance and for dinner after.
Remember all the soldiers across the world who have lost their lives and their families. Remember all the civilians who have died during war: 1,000,000 in Iraq. Let us pray and work to end all wars. Let us relegate war to the dustbin of history.
Go to the site for fightingforlifethemovie.com. It is being shown on PBS stations all over the country this weekend/coming week. Jason and I appear in it as we were interviewed for it.
Have a good holiday weekend with family and friends or quietly resting as I plan to do.
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