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You are here: Home / Archives for Catholic Church

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

Accidental Pilgrim – from mammogram to miracle

February 21, 2015 by Patricia Brooks

BOOK REVIEW              Accidental Pilgrim from mammogram to miracle     

Author:           Erin O’Brien    accidentalpilgrim7@gmail.com

Book Reviewer:          Patricia L. Brooks, author and publishing consultant

Erin O’Brien’s heartwarming, provocative and uplifting experience will capture your heart and challenge you to take a look at your own faith.  You will be enticed to read on.

The Accidental Pilgrim is more than a story about a woman’s battle with breast cancer and coming back to her faith.  It is a story of hope, and the willingness to sign on for the challenge of her life.  Erin reminds us we are all going to die and to live in faith and God’s grace while we are alive.

When O’Brien hears the news she reacts as anyone would – this happens to other people.  And despite a fierce fight against it and a stance on taking the lead in her cancer journey, she feels overwhelmed as things progress.  She makes life changing decisions in a small amount of time while feeling helpless to do so when life begins to take on its own persona. She realizes how preoccupied she has been with a safe life and that she does not know an authentic connection with the space she inhabits.

O’Brien writes engagingly about the human spirit when faced with a life threatening illness.  In this highly introspective tale she deeply examines the meaning and complexities of her faith alongside her battle with stage 4 cancer.  Her mind is a playground and at times her take on things is amusing, and certainly refreshing.

She addresses hard questions such as how will my body changes change me?  How will my spiritual life take me toward new life?  How will I refresh myself with God to grow stronger?

O’Brien’s healing in the spirit proves to be a meaningful milestone as she begins the New Year after her endless dark days of treatment.  She begins to recognize how we are like flashes of light until we learn to stop and tough the light.

This powerful book takes us from mammogram to miracle as the sub-title suggests.  It is the story of a woman knocked down by cancer playfully and courageously getting up after chemotherapy, radiation and surgery to a spiritual transformation and open to a miracle.

O’Brien’s prose has a spare, clean elegance that is precise, but can, at times, leave the reader wanting more.  Her love of life is infectious.  She does not offer any explanations beyond her faith and personal convictions.  She prods us along to accept death and life as part of our journey.  You might be frustrated with her casualness, but don’t be; her heart is beautiful.

She shares the lessons she learned about life and herself.  She’s open to possibility – both in battle with life threatening cancer and a return to her faith.  She does not sanitize things for us by minimizing cancer or illuminating faith.  She does not baby-proof anything and takes things head-on.  I challenge you with this memoir.

Respectfully submitted,

Patricia L. Brooks, author, publishing consultant

www.brooksgoldmannpublishing.comAccidental Pilgrim Cover Small

Filed Under: Blogroll, Old Reviews, PUBLISHING PICKS Tagged With: accidental pilgrim, books, breast cancer, brooks goldmann publishing company, Catholic Church, erin o'brien, memoirs, Patricia L. Brooks, SCOTTSDALE SOCIETY OF 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 patricia@plbrooks.com   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

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