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You are here: Home / Archives for A change of habit

A Change of Habit – by Patty Kogutek (Sister Mary Kateri)

March 10, 2015 by Patricia Brooks

A Change of Habit Patty Kogutek, author  www.pattykogutek.com

Book Reviewer:   Patricia L. Brooks www.plbrooks.com

Author Patty Kogutek is torn between her life in marriage to God, and being away from her family.  She’s lonely and often questions her decision.  At times the story is funny, other times it skates close to stereotypical, but it is never dry or boring. Even while allowed to teach young children at a school near the convent, Sister Mary Kateri finds a lack of intimacy in her life.  She seeks God, the church and others in the convent again and again for answers. Patty shows us well the struggles and frustrations of all she’s asked to endure and accept, as if a caged dove.  We walk with her in those dark moments of yearning for peace in her new life to those special moments of commitment to the convent. The habit in this memoir’s title is a symbol of the personal guilt and grief endured by Patty during her impressionable years.  It is both the black wool habit a young teenage nun wears in the 1960’s that evolves to the less confining habit after a Vatican II upheaval in the Catholic Church of the 1970’s. This piece of clothing that adorns her in the convent is fraught with pain and loss.  It comes to symbolize all she has hoped to leave behind in the secular world.  It makes itself almost unfit for a dynamic young woman’s naïve and humble beginnings before God. Does she want it any other way?  Is it too late for her to change her mind and go back to her other life?  Can she even make that decision without being engulfed in guilt? Her convent life is an interesting backstory to her change of habits and interests, and yet the story is so much more.  

The Change of Habit is almost beside the point as we witness this metaphor unfold in her tremendous drive and determination to heal and grow into the person she was meant to be. Her fans will support her and she will endear her fans to her.  Her lack of true intimacy in the past is addressed for the reader.  Her mindless devotion to the church and all its rules and need for control are offered but not hammered relentlessly.  She explores alternatives for her life and shares them with us. Her important insights will influence even the staunchest Catholics.  This book is thought provoking and at times fun to read.  The details are delightful; the emotional rollercoaster is worth the ride.  Some readers may yearn for a little less naivety and a little more depth, but Patty will not disappoint them as she takes them on her journey of hope. This reader found the story respectful of the women who serve God as a nun.  You be the judge as God is their judge. Respectfully submitted,   Patricia L. Brooks, author, publishing consultant www.brooksgoldmannpublishing.com

Filed Under: Blogroll, Book Reviews, Memoir Tagged With: A change of habit, book reviews, Catholic Church, convent life, memoirs, nuns, Patty Kogutek, religion, SCOTTSDALE SOCIETY OF WOMEN WRITERS, women writers

Scottsdale Society of Women Writers welcomes Patty Kogutek – author and workshop facilitator on No Guilt – Join us to Celebrate the Holidays!

November 26, 2013 by Patricia Brooks

PATTY KOGUTEKScreen Shot 2013-03-10 at 11 29 33 AM                                   SCOTTSDALE SOCIETY OF WOMEN WRITERS

 

Welcomes Patty Kogutek

Award winning Author and Workshop Facilitator on No Guilt

 

 

 

 

 

 

WHO:                          Scottsdale Society of Women Writers

 

WHAT:            Monthly Speaker/Dinner Meeting

Camaraderie for writers and speaker/member book signings

 

WHERE:          Chaparral Suites Resort, 5001 N, Scottsdale Rd. NE corner

Enter off Chaparral Rd – 4th Floor Grill entrance

 

WHEN:                        Wednesday – DEC 18th, 2013   5:30-7:30 pm

 

HOW:              PLEASE – RSVP now to Patricia L. Brooks, president/founder

Cell 480-250-5556 or [email protected]   See Details Below

 

WHY:   The Scottsdale Society of Women Writers gives members access to events of interest, a format for exchanging ideas, an opportunity to network with other women writers and authors, an alliance with businesses relating to writing, publishing, camaraderie and support.  

 

6:45 p.m. SPEAKER  Patty Kogutek, award winning author of A Change of Habit and workshop facilitator on No Guilt shares her spiritual journey and book marketing ideas.

Were you one of those “pregnant” women with a book in you that just had to come out?   Well, I wasn’t.  With a guilt-laden heart I was led kicking and screaming to my computer. Learn how the writing process and marketing experiences have helped identify the journey from Sister Mary Kateri to Sister Mary Vodka.

 

 After serving as a Catholic nun for seven years, Patty Kogutek continued her work in education as a teacher, school librarian, and school administrator.  Her degrees include a doctorate degree from the University of Southern California.

 

Based on her award winning book, “A Change of Habit, Patty conducts workshops, speaks, and writes (including Montana Woman magazine and SmartFem magazine in Phoenix) to help readers move from a life based on guilt and anxiety to living life on their own terms. 

 

Learn more about Patty and her work on her website:  PattyKogutek.com

 

 

See notes below for dinner fees, meeting format and location directions.  Thank you.

 

MENU:  A light dinner – salad or sandwich and soup, dessert, beverage and roll with tax and gratuity included – make your choice the night of the meeting.  

 

NEW dinner prices and NEW menu items – enjoy!

 

COST:  price increase:  members $25 and guests $28 – please RSVP early – thank you

 

CHECKS or cash:  Please make check payable to (SSWW) Scottsdale Society of Women Writers prior to coming to the meeting to save time at check-in.  Thank you for the help.

 

CHECK-IN:  Please check-in between 5:00 and 5:45.  The meeting starts promptly at 6:00.  All those attending the meeting must pay for the dinner/room/speaker – cost noted above.  Pick up your name badge at the front table and ENJOY a wonderful night!

 

AGENDA:  The agendas will be on the dinner table – always a lot of good INFO for you. 

 

DIRECTIONS:  Located in Scottsdale at Chaparral Rd just north of Old Town.  Chaparral Rd has a light.  Parking is to the rear – two large lots.  Note: best to enter from the side elevator for the 4th Floor Grille – NOT the main lobby.

 

From the 101 freeway exit Chaparral Rd and go west.  Just prior to Scottsdale Rd enter the side drive at 4th Floor Grille – take that elevator.  Note awning marked 4th Floor Grille on the Chaparral side.  This is the easiest way – NOT through the main lobby.  Welcome!

 

Goals of the Group

 

  • Value all the professional women writers seeking to share their expertise
  • Honor all genres and all forms of professional writing
  • Attend monthly meetings  to move the group and its members forward
  • Learn and share in the experiences of monthly professional speakers
  • Grow the group to a membership of active and contributing women
  • Encourage participation by members as presenters, mentors, judges and volunteers
  • Support and challenge each other to always be writing
  • Help members to stretch as writers and reach lofty personal goals
  • Have fun, meet trustworthy women writers, share dreams

Filed Under: Blogroll, Featured post, SCOTTSDALE SOCIETY OF WOMEN WRITERS Tagged With: A change of habit, book club stories, books, Catholic Church, guilt writers, nuns, Patty Kogutek, publishing and spirituality, readers, SCOTTSDALE SOCIETY OF WOMEN WRITERS, women and writing, women writers, writer's groups, writing

Register for Events

Register for: SCOTTSDALE SOCIETY OF WOMEN WRITERS

Your RSVP will be secure through my PayPal link!

Welcome!

SANDRA MARINELLA – SPEAKER FOR SEPT 27th at 6:00 pm

THIS IS THE 18TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SSWW MEETING!

REGISTER BY SUNDAY – before the Wednesday September 27th meeting.

$20.00 covers the cost of the room and the food. Sign up here on PayPal.

TEXT Patricia L. Brooks with any questions – 480-250-5556 OR [email protected]

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Patricia L. Brooks, President/Founder of Scottsdale Society of Women Writers

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