Formation

Someone who intends to be a religious has a period of formation and study.

Communities require stages of preparation before final vows and full membership. Keep in mind, the time of each stage may differ from community to community.

People who think they are called to religious life and a particular community usually meet with the vocation direcotr for that community periodically, from several months to a year before entrance.

During this time these people, sometimes called pre-candidates, discern with the vocation director about their baptismal call in life. These months include visits to the community, which may last for a weekend or a week or more.

People who decide to apply to a community go through an application process that includes writing an autobiography, taking physical and psychological tests, and supplying letters of recommendation.

If it is mutually decided that the persons are healthy, and free from impediments, the communities accepts them as candidates or postulants.

Postulants (candidates) live in one of the community houses but are often financially independent and keep their own jobs for a period of time. From anywhere between six months and two years, the candidates get to know the community better and the community gets to know them.

A candidate director or mentor guides them through the process. At the end of the candidacy, the community may accept the candidates as members, and they enter the novitiate, or a formal formation period.

After a period of time, they are called novices. In a ceremony they receive the habit, insignia or ring of the community and in some cases a new name or reaffirm their Baptismal name.

The novitiate usually lasts two years. During one of these years (the canonical year) the novices withdraw from their usual ministry to devote themselves to learning the spirit and history of the community and growing in the spiritual life.

The other year is spent in ministry and getting to know the community better. After the novitiate formation, the novice makes temporary vows which are renewed for several years.

During these years much time is spent in theological, spiritual, and professional preparation before final vows or perpetual vows which are made for the rest of their life.