FORMATION CONTINUES

CANONICAL NOVITIATE: If a woman decides to continue after postulancy, then she goes on to the novitiate. This year is a more intense year, where the woman spends more time in community and personal prayer. The key to this year is not so much in the doing but in the being. In the postulancy, the woman could go out pretty much whenever and went home for at least two weeks at Christmas and in the summer. In the canonical novitiate, the woman has two weeks vacation in the summer (to do with as she desires), but is not as free to go out otherwise, because energy and space are needed to get to know herself better, to deepen her relationship with God and her community. It is at this time, that she is given the title sister, but she still dresses in lay clothes.

APOSTOLIC NOVITIATE: The apostolic novitiate concentrates on the apostolate. The novice resides in one of our other houses and gets to participate in some of our missions. This is a time for her to incorporate what she has learned and to balance her time among prayer, community, and ministry.

The novice is free to leave at any time, since no vows have been taken--even though the novice lives the same rules as the professed sisters. If she desires to continue pursuing religious life, she then asks to make first vows.

FIRST PROFESSION: "A solemn promise made to God before the Church to do some greater good." This is the solemn definition of a vow. It is through the vow ceremony that a woman becomes a sister (a religious).

The ceremony takes place during the Mass with a bishop or a designated priest who represent the entire Church and its authority to bind on earth what is bound in heaven. The woman invites her immediate family to celebrate with her.

At first profession, the woman promises to live the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience for one year. They are promises to live a life according to the evangelical counsels--which means a life patterned and founded upon the life of Jesus as found in the Scriptures. These vows taken by the sister are received by the superior general or a designated representative of her religious community. The assembled members of the community in one voice promise the newly professed sister that they will accept her as she is now and will support her in good times and in bad.

It is at this time that the woman receives her apostolic dress (religious habit). She is also given a solemn reminder in the form of her mission crucifix. The crucifix symbolizes her acceptance of her apostolic vocation, and the priest reminds her that she is following the Lord; she must lay down her life. The act of profession is an act of faith that God will be her God and will give her the support and love she needs.

NEXT ISSUE: FINAL PROFESSION