By growing in their relationship with the Lord, those marked with the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience contribute mightily to the holiness of the Church.
The Universal Church becomes more what she is destined to be when consecrated persons, by their faithfulness to their unique vocation, testify far and wide to the beauty and splendor of the living Christ.
Consecrated to Christ: How the "Vowed Life" Builds up the Church by Msgr. Charles Mangan
After five years of temporary vows, the sister may request to make her solemn vows. This is a definitive, lifelong commitment the sister makes to the community, formally promising to live the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience for the whole of her life. Formation and ongoing conversion are a never-ending process, as a sister lives out her consecration in anticipation of seeing her Bride Groom face to face at the close of her life.
Advancing from the novitiate, the sister professes temporary vows, also known as simple vows, of poverty, chastity, and obedience for a period of one year. These vows are renewed annually for a period of five years. Formation in the vows and charism of our community continues during this time.
Official entrance into the community begins with the novitiate. This two year period is a time of intense prayer and formation within the community as the novice prepares for a vowed life. The novitiate begins when the postulant is clothed in the holy habit and receives her new name in religious life. During this stage of formation the novice experiences more fully our manner of living and is formed in the spirit of our order. She deepens her fidelity to Jesus through the practice of the Evangelical Counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience, in anticipation of her First Profession of these vows.
Solemn Vows
Temporary Vows
Novitiate
The term “postulant” means “one who asks”. The postulancy is a candidate’s formal entrance into religious life. The postulant lives with our community, sharing more fully in our life of prayer, apostolate, and community. At the end of this one year period, the community may admit her to the novitiate.
A continuation of the aspirancy, where the community and candidate become further acquainted. During this stage of discernment she continues her journey in a deeper way.
A period when both the candidate and the community can discern. After being in contact with us, the aspirancy is a time of getting more acquainted with each other and our life and charism.
Postulancy
Candidacy
Aspirancy