INVITATIONAL PHASE

The Invitational Phase offers a woman interested in religious life the opportunity to discern the meaning and ramifications of religious life. During this time, she meets with the Vocation Minister to reflect on her experiences in relationship to a call to vowed life. Various opportunities for meeting our sisters are provided sot that she can further discern membership with us.
This phase comes to an end, with no time limit, when the woman decides that this way of life is or is not acceptable to her. The woman may express a desire to enter the Pre-candidate phase, to look at alternative membership, or to terminate her relationship with us. A simple prayer service celebrated at one of the Congregational Homes marks her entrance into Pre-candidacy.

You may find the "Links of Interest" will help in discernment.

PRE-CANDIDATE PHASE

In order to continue her discernment, Pre-candidacy offers both the Congregation and the woman opportunities to come to know each other through a variety of experiences. She meets with the Pre-candidate Minister and with a Companion Sister regularly to learn about the Franciscan way of life as well as to further reflect upon her experiences. She is encouraged to seek spiritual direction if not already doing so. During this time, she takes the opportunities to participate in congregational events when appropriate.

Pre-candidacy is not less than six months and usually extends no longer than two years. At the end of this time, the woman may ask to become a Candidate, consider an alternate way of membership with us, or terminate her affiliation with us. A simple prayer service is celebrated at one of the Congregational Homes to mark her entrance into Candidacy.

CANDIDATE PHASE

Candidacy is the term applied to the period of preparation prior to entering the Novitiate. During this time, the Candidate begins to live within community, continues regular spiritual direction, meets regularly with the Candidate Minister and her Companion Sister. She studies the history of our Congregation and our Constitutions, along with further study of the Franciscan way of life. She participates in a local community, gatherings, meetings and events within the Congregation. During this time, she is engaged in full time work or study and is financially responsible for herself.

This phase is not less than six months nor longer than two years. At the end of this time, the woman formally requests entrance into the Novitiate by writing a letter to the Central Board. This letter is accompanied by a recommendation from the Candidate Minister, Companion Sister and the Vocation/Formation Commission. Following approval by the Central Board, the Candidate is welcomed into the Novitiate with a simple ritual celebrated in one of the Congregational Homes with sisters, family and friends invited.

Arlid Berrera Becomes a Candidate

CANONICAL NOVITIATE PHASE

 The time of Canonical Novitiate is an extended period of reflection and experience that marks the formal beginning of religious life within the Congregation. During the Canonical year, the novice withdraws from full time employment in order to devote herself to serious prayer and study. This time enables the Novice to learn the essentials of religious life and learn in a lived way the meaning of the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience. The Novice shares completely in the life of the Congregation except where restricted by the Constitutions and/or Canon Law.

The Novice participates in the Common Franciscan Novitiate in Joliet, Illinois, for nine months with the remaining months spent in the Congregational Novitiate.
This period is completed when the Novice has devoted twelve months to serious prayer and study, thus fulfilling the canonical requirements for a valid Canonical Novitiate.

APOSTOLIC NOVITIATE PHASE

The focus of the Apostolic Novitiate is the integration of Franciscan spirituality, communal life and ministerial life. During this time, the Novice is associated with the congregation’s Novitiate House and meets regularly with the Novice Minister to evaluate and discern her growth in living a Franciscan religious life.

During this time she participates in no more than three different apostolic experiences within the Congregation. These experiences are decided through mutual consultation with the Novice, the Novice Minister and the members of the Vocation/Formation Commission.

The Apostolic Novitiate phase comes to an end at the completion of the apostolic year. At least three months prior to First Profession, the Novice writes a letter to the Central Board requesting vows. This letter is accompanied by a letter of recommendation from the Novice Minister and the Vocation/Formation Commission. Upon approval of the Central Board, the Novice is invited to profess first vows during a liturgical celebration attended by sisters, family and friends.

TEMPORARY VOW PHASE

By the profession of Temporary Vows, the Sister is consecrated to God and publicly lives the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience in community. This is a time of continuing formation and discernment with the Temporary Professed Minister, her Companion Sister and the members of the local community with whom she lives. The sister in temporary commitment serves in a professional capacity, or if necessary, completes her education.

Temporary vows are made for a three year period. At the end of the three years the Sister is free to leave the Congregation, to request a subsequent renewal of vows, or to request perpetual vows after mutual discernment by both herself and the Vocation/Formation Commission.  A sister wishing to profess perpetual vows writes a letter of request to the Central Board. This letter is accompanied by a letter of recommendation from the Temporary Professed Minister, the Companion Sister and the Vocation/Formation Commission. Upon approval of the Central Board, the Sister is invited to profess perpetual vows during a liturgical celebration attended by sisters, family and friends.
 

Sister Rosanna Hodlik Pronounces First Vows and Reflects on "Transitions"

Sister Lisa Alexander Makes Final Vows

Sister Marge Kalina Pronounces First Vows