Deena Pavinato – Journeys

Hello. Thanks for taking the time to read my blog and follow me. It’s an humbling experience to write and presume that I might have something to say that would be interesting or helpful to you on YOUR journey. If I have learned anything throughout the years, it is that we experience many of the same things in life. Yes, we walk it in our own unique way but love, joy, inspiration, sadness, hurt, and death are experiences we all encounter.

I am a Catholic woman involved in my small town parish. I am a sister to two wonderful men, a sister-in-law to a caring and faithful woman, and an aunt to two amazing and talented adults, their spouses and children.

I am a Benedictine Oblate (lay associate) of St. Mary Monastery in Rock Island, IL. Being Benedictine, and drawn to monastic spirituality, is very much a part of who I am and what is important to me in life. It forms and inspires my choices.

I have a Masters in Counselor Education. I worked in higher education and then for a software company that trained schools, K-12 through college. While training at a college in Michigan I learned about the EDS/General Motors acquisition and moved to Michigan for five years. I moved back home to Illinois to open and operate my own business for 8 years before returning to corporate work. I retired from that corporation, after 23 years, in August of 2021. For the past three years I was a part-time member of a virtual ministry team, Ignatian Ministries, organizing online retreat content and accompanying others as they participated in the retreats.

During all these years, I have assisted with various parish ministries and taught many courses in personal development and self-growth. Some of my other others interests and passions are paper crafting and mixed media and wellness. I love using essential oils on a daily basis for health and emotional well-being.

I believe that part of my journey as a Catholic Christian woman is sharing my faith with others. We all discover our own way on that journey. I have a deep desire to talk about our spiritual and emotional well-being with others and to continue growing in those areas myself.

In Advent 2022, I began sharing my thoughts in this blog. It has become one of the ways that I can share my faith. Thanks for joining me on the journey. I would love to hear from you as well. Feel free to comment on the thoughts I share here.

Wishing you abundant peace, Deena

Image: The bell tower at St. Mary Monastery in Rock Island, IL.