Cancer Diary: Reviews of Surviving Cancer, Healing People: One Cat's Story
A bit of a detour from the usual Cancer Diary posts, this week we are posting reviews about a well-liked but not widely known book about living with cancer (spoiler: it has a religious appeal): Surviving Cancer, Healing People: One Cat's Story by Sula, Parish Cat at Old Mission San Juan Bautista.
#1
Synopsis: Sula
is a cat with a divine mission who has an uncanny ability to sense which
parishioners at the California's San Juan Bautista Old Mission need her attention
at any given Mass. But is it really uncanny, or does St. Francis give Sula
tasks during her daily conversations with him? Or is she led by God? Sula has
developed a special bond with cancer survivors like herself. The bond between
her and the Old Mission parishioners saw her through two bouts of cancer,
flooding her with gifts: money for surgery, a home for recovery, prayers, and
love. In the pages of "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.
Critique: Simply stated, "Surviving Cancer, Healing People: One Cat's
Story" 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
#2
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
#3
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)
#4
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
#5
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 rating)
#6
I loved this book. Sula thee 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)
#7
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)
#8
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)
For more posts by and about Sula, click HERE.
For other Cancer Diary posts, click HERE.
Blog editor's note: As a memorial to Carl, and simply because it is truly needed, MSI Press is now hosting a web page, Carl's Cancer Compendium, as a one-stop starting point for all things cancer, to make it easier for those with cancer to find answers to questions that can otherwise take hours to track down on the Internet and/or from professionals. The CCC is expanded and updated weekly. As part of this effort, each week, on Monday, this blog will carry an informative, cancer-related story -- and be open to guest posts: Cancer Diary.
in exchange for reviewing a current or forthcoming MSI Press LLC book?
Contact editor@msipress.com.
Want an author-signed copy of this book?
Purchase the book at 25% discount (use coupon code FF25)
and concurrently send a written request to orders@msipress.com.
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