If Today You Hear His Voice . . .
Stages of Formation
Prior to asking to join our community, a woman spends time in prayer
and discernment, considering carefully her attraction to our way of
life. We try to make it possible for an interested candidate to visit
for times of retreat. In addition, we encourage an interested candidate
to make an extended visit of two to three weeks -- a Visitation VISIT.
During that time, the candidate spends time in daily activities with
the community. She attends the Liturgy of the Hours, Mass, assists some
of the sisters in their daily chores and attends community activities
and has an opportunity to experience firsthand the balance between school
and monastery.
Postulancy
After a woman has asked permission to enter the community, she prepares to begin the first official stage of formation, postulancy. Before moving into the monastery, a candidate completes an application and an interview which are reviewed prior to her entrance. The focus of postulancy is one of continued discernment. During this time the postulant takes part in the life of the community. She dresses simply in a blue skirt and white blouse. She is presented with a medal of Saint Francis de Sales to mark the official beginning of this stage of initial formation.
Novitiate
If it is discerned that the postulant is prepared to continue her formation, she is received into the novitiate and clothed with the habit. The first year of the novitiate is dedicated exclusively to initiating the novice into a life totally consecrated to God as a Salesian religious. She attends in-house formation classes and meets regularly with the novice mistress. The second year of the novitiate is a time of greater involvement in our apostolate -- both in the school and in the monastery. She continues her in-house formation classes and learns to integrate both the physical and spiritual duties of our daily life.
Profession
Toward the end of the second year of novitiate, the novice writes a formal request to be allowed to make her first vows, taken for a period of three years. During the period of first vows, a sister assumes more significiant responsibilities in school and in the monastery. In addition, she continues to participate in some formation activities in the novitiate. Three months before the end of her third year of profession, the junior professed may write a formal request for either solemn vows or a second period of three years.
Perseverance
Although the canonical stages of "formation" end with the profession of solemn vows, formation itself is a life-long process. Saint Francis de Sales told our early sisters not to be surprised to find that they are always novices in the spiritual life. For this very reason, our community provides professed sisters with opportunities for continuing their life-long formation.
By our solemn profession of vows we intensify the promises made for us at our baptism. A sister making her solemn profession prostrates under the pall that will someday cover her casket. In baptism we have died with Christ and the white pall reminds us of the white garment in which we were clothed at our baptism.
At first profession, the novice receives a new name, a new veil and the pectoral cross. Pictured above, Sister Mary Roberta receives the veil of a professed sister.