Celebrating Caturday, Celebrating a Special Cat and Her Books: What People Say about Them

Sula checking her book inventory; photo by Stacey Gentry

Here are some of the comments that readers have made about Sula books.

Surviving Cancer, Healing People:  One Cat’s Story

Surviving Cancer, Healing People: One Cat’s Story is comprised of truly charming, heartwarming, endearing, and inspiring stories, shared by parishioners and told from the point of view of a lovable and amazingly insightful cat. [This] is one of those books that will linger in the mind and memory of the reader long after it is finished and set back upon the shelf. Heartwarming and thoughtful, Surviving Cancer, Healing People is a joy to browse and highly recommended. –

Reviewers’ Choice/Small Press Bookwatch/Midwest Book Review

Once you meet Sula through the pages of this book, you won’t soon forget her. While it’s Sula’s “meowmoir,” it’s also the story of those whose lives she’s impacted and an inside look at California’s Spanish mission. Whether you’re a religious person or not, the history is fascinating, and the connection she has with the people she’s drawn to is undeniable. I’ve always said if there is such a thing as angels on earth, they come in the form of fur and four legs; at least, I know that’s how they’ve’ always presented themselves in my own life. Sula is further proof of what I’ve suspected all along.

Melissa’s Mochas, Mysteries, and Meows blog

The inscription “Hic domus dei est et porta coeli,” which means “This is the house of God and the gateway to heaven” towers over the portal to the church of Old Mission San Juan Bautista, greeting all who enter. But if guests happen to glance down, they might see a slightly rotund white cat with black markings and no ears. This would be Sula, the mission cat decreed by God, who he calls his Boss, to welcome all to the mission and to comfort those who are hurting. Sula knows about pain because he suffered through two bouts of cancer, having lost his ears in the process. Surviving Cancer, Healing People: One Cat’s Story by Sula Parish Cat at Old Mission was written and photographed by staff and friends of the mission, but cleverly presented in the voice of Sula. As we learn about Sula, we also learn about the mission as well as St. Francis’ Friars Minor and the Sisters of Atonement. As a tourist destination, the mission calls to all to come to the table and worship. To quote Fr. Jerry from Sula, “the Table is ready, and all are invited.” Surviving Cancer, Healing People: One Cat’s Story was written to raise funds for the Old Mission San Juan Bautista. Because the over-200-year-old mission sits on top of the intersection of three fault lines, earthquakes have struck twice in the past and each tremor has weakened it. Beyond being a fundraiser, though, the book is an inspirational call to worship. This little book about Sula, the mission cat, not only weaves short sermons into each chapter, but gives a short history of the mission of San Juan Bautista. We learn why cat doors were installed, why the church doors were built so high, and why the church was arranged around the sun of the winter solstice. Thanks to the great writing, photography and editing, the book flows nicely and leaves the reader with a positive and peaceful feeling. Loved this little book! I want to go to the mission now and visit with Mr. Sula in person. I highly recommend this sweet little book to all readers.

Claudia Coffey (Readers’ Favorite)

I LOVED this book and highly recommend it. Sula the cat lives at Old Mission in California, a Franciscan mission which needs many repairs from past earthquakes and to secure it for another one. The book is part of a fundraiser for those efforts. Sula takes her job very seriously at the mission. She visits a statue of St. Francis every day where she learns of what her duties are that day and who needs her the most. She then enters the church and sits with those people during mass. As a Catholic (somewhat lapsed) I enjoyed reading about the mass, but you don’t have to be any particular religion to read this. Sula is mainly white and the California sun has not been good to her. She has had to have surgery for cancer on her ears twice so she doesn’t have ears anymore, but that doesn’t stop her from loving everyone and everyone loving her.

15 and Meowing blog

There have always been cats living at the Old Mission San Juan Bautista. It is one of twenty-one Spanish missions in southern California built by the Franciscan order. Round holes were cut into its heavy doors during construction. Early cats were welcomed to hunt mice, but the current parish cat, Sula, has been tasked with a different mission. Every day this big, white Turkish Van cat reports to the garden statue of St. Francis of Assisi, a lover of all animals… and people. In this book, Sula claims to receive orders concerning which church visitors need the comfort of a cat companion on any given day. Regardless of how she recognizes her charges, Sula instinctively approaches someone in need. It might be a communicant taking confession for the last time before joining her departed spouse. It may be visitors who arrive at the mission in time for a mass. She sits quietly at their feet or climbs onto a lap. Perhaps it is someone who has read Sula’s story online and has come to meet and pet this now famous cat. Why is she famous? Sula is a cancer survivor. She has lost both ears due to melanoma skin cancer and resulting surgeries. (Two parishioners took care of her during that time.) Like any human might, Sula enjoys spending a great deal of time outside in the bright California sun. Being a survivor, she now attracts people who have or did have cancer themselves. The mission’s gift shop office is Sula’s official place of residence. The team there has encouraged the telling of her story, and that of some parishioners, in books and magazine articles.

Donna Ford (US Review of Books; Recommended)

I loved this book. Sula the cat lives at a mission in California. She visits a statue of St. Francis daily where she learns who she should spend time with that day. She goes in the church during mass time and visits with those she senses could use some love. She also visits with people in the gift shop and on field trips. Poor Sula has lost her ears from skin cancer, but that doesn’t make her any less lovable. The mission has been through earthquakes and is in need of repairs if it is to stay standing through another one. Sula wrote this book to help raise funds for this. If you love cats, you will definitely love this book.

Ellen Pitch (Goodreads)

A Wise and Eminently Sane Cat, May 5, 2017. Sula is a feline inhabitant of the Old Mission San Juan Bautista in California. Her personal mission is to bring comfort and reassurance to those who need to experience God’s love in a tangible way. She selects individuals in the church and sits by them or on their laps during services. She accompanies visitors as they tour the grounds or walk the stations of the cross. This charming book is full of lovely photos of Sula fulfilling her mission as well as her reflections as she does so. Sula is wise and eminently sane. She has learned to grieve (for the loss of her ears due to cancer) without becoming stuck in grief. She has learned the joy of helping others and lovingly seeks to offer comfort and aid whenever she can. At the same time, she has learned to gratefully accept help when she is in need. She has learned to look for silver linings in the darkest clouds. When she had to wear a cone after her cancerous ears were removed, she was forced to find unusual ways of eating from her bowl. Sula said this helped her to understand that physically and mentally handicapped parishioners face additional challenges and also need to find alternative ways of doing things. The experience increased her acceptance and understanding of others. Her faith is strong and she trusts her maker. The Old Mission surrounds her with reminders of His love and care. She is grateful and content. Her example serves as a reminder to seek the things that can make us truly joyful. I would love to have a friend like Sula.

Charles Lord (Amazon review)

Sweet Cat on a mission to save a Mission, August 22, 2016. I loved this book. This is a memoir of sorts written by Sula, a cat that lives at a mission in California. She takes her work of communing with people very seriously. All day, every day she spends visiting with people in the church, gift shop and walking around the mission grounds. The California sun has been harsh on her. Poor Sula has had surgery twice to remove cancer on her ears. Despite no longer having ears, she is still adorable and loving. The mission has been around a long time, through many earthquakes which has weakened the structure. Sula has written this book to raise funds to help do the work necessary to keep it from falling down. This book is a must read for all cat lovers. I know all Catholics would enjoy it as well, but that is not a requirement to read it :)

Amazon customer (Amazon review)

Tale of a Mission Cat

Remarkable Sula! Love that Supercat!

Kris Maas (Sula fan)

 

All reader reviews have been 5 stars!  Thank you, readers!

 

These are just some of the early reviews collected in one place. You can find more -- and Sula has written more books --- check for them on the Internet!