🌸🐾 Caturday Reflections: Easter with Sula the Mission Cat 🐾🌸
This Caturday, we honor Sula, the parish cat who served faithfully at Old Mission San Juan Bautista until her passing in August 2022.
Sula was no ordinary cat. She was a comforter of souls, a quiet listener, and even an author—with seven books to her name, one in Spanish. Her heartwarming ministry of presence earned her features in Guideposts and All Creatures Magazine, but her most profound fame came from the people she touched daily at Masses, through her seven books (one in Spanish), and her 1000+ FaceBook followers.
Every single Mass—weekday and weekend—Sula attended. She knew who needed her and offered comfort simply by sitting by a sad or distracted parishioner, even climbing into their laps. On special occasions, she would lie next to the altar as the priest offered the eucharist and follow the priest around during the healing Mass, as he offered healing to each parishioner. Right before she died, she lay down at the end of the line of the parishioners, as if asking for healing for herself. After daily Mass, she would nestle in one of the nun's laps, both of them fully present in a moment of sacred stillness. This is the Sula so many remember: calm, caring, and completely attuned to the hearts around her.
She made her home in the Mission gift shop, where she greeted pilgrims and visitors with warmth. Watched over by the staff and the nuns, she gently watched over them in return. She was on the way work at the gift shop when she died; scheduled for euthanasia because of extreme pain from her sixth bout of cancer and unable to walk anymore, she was being taken to the gift shop to say goodbye to a waiting crowd of parishioners when her body gave out and she crossed the rainbow bridge on her own. Now she watches over all her parishioners (friends) from her well-earned heavenly home.
Physically, Sula now rests on the Mission grounds, her beautiful grave part of docent-led tours. But those who knew her will tell you: she’s still here. In spirit. In memory. In love. And those who stand by the grave often feel a moment of peace and comfort.
This Easter season, a time of resurrection and enduring grace, we’ll be sharing excerpts from Sula’s beloved book, Saints I Know. May her reflections bring a little extra light to your heart.
Happy Caturday. And thank you, Sula, for your mission of love. 🕊️🐾💗
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