Once these steps have been completed and a few visits have taken place, the applicant may get a letter from the Provincial Council inviting her to enter the postulancy.

Postulancy

The postulancy is a time for the woman, or postulant, to know the sisters, live the schedule and begin understanding the prayer life and charism of the community. During this time the postulant may work, she retains her possessions and lives in community. She is not a formal member of the order.  This helps the postulant discern freely whether she feels our congregation is a fit.  The sisters also help with this process by providing input and guidance.

Because this is not as an intense stage as the next one, the postulant will take classes within the community. The classes will pertain to our history, St. Vincent Pallotti, the Union of Catholic Apostolate, religious life, community living and prayer.  The postulant will also be involved in some form of volunteer work in order to begin understanding her role as a minister

The postulancy can last six months to two years.  When the postulant, the community and the formation team feel that this part of the discernment is calling her to continue forward, then she will enter into the novitiate.

Novitiate

The novitiate begins August 15, the Feast of the Assumption of Mary.  It consists of two stages that last one year each: the canonical year and the apostolic year.  When the postulant transfers into this stage she is called a novice, receives our constitutions and is given the title “sister”.   She may also take on a new name as part of the process of dying to self.  The novice also becomes more dependent on the community financially, spiritually and communally.  Because this time is divided into two parts, each one focuses on a different aspect of religious life and life in our congregation.

The Canonical Year is a very intense period of time. Much of the focus of this year is on prayer, discernment, self and Our Way of Life (the constitution and manuals for our congregation). Classes are given on Church documents, prayer and meditation, the vows, St. Vincent, the history of our congregation and province, charism and Pallottine spirituality. The novice will participate in an inter-novitiate program in the St. Louis area. This allows her to understand the charism of other communities and be in sessions and workshops with well-known authors and experts in the fields of prayer, mission, Meyers-Briggs, the vows, etc. Because of the intensity of the year and its purpose, the new sister will not seek formal education or any sort of employment but will do volunteer service one day a week.

The Apostolic Year is very different than the canonical year. Much of what was learned in the previous two years is now applied to the real experience of living in religious life. The novice will not seek formal education but will be involved in a full-time ministry.This allows the opportunity to take what has been taught and experienced over the past two years and apply them to balancing a life of prayer, community and ministry.It is the time to make the transition from having a job to having a ministry.

The procedure for entering into the next stage is similar to that of the postulancy.  The novice and her director are in constant communication with one another in a variety of ways.  The novice director is in communication with the formation team.  If the discernment process leads the novice, the director and the formation team into going to the next stage, then a recommendation is made to the council.

Temporary Profession

Temporary Profession is marked by the public profession of the vows during the Mass of Profession. Before the ceremony the sister receives her habit and has it blessed.  For us, the habit consists of a black suit and veil.  During the Celebration of the Mass, she professes the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience by publicly reciting the vow formula.  During the ceremony she receives the profession crucifix.  When the Mass ends, the sister is now a professed member of the community.  She is temporary professed because she agrees to live out a vowed life for one year.  After one year, she will renew her vows again.  Temporary profession lasts from three to six years.  As a professed member she will continue to be involved in full-time ministry.

Final Profession

Final Profession is the last stage.  Vows are professed one last time.  The sister will receive the profession ring as a symbol of her consecration.  She has all of the rights and freedoms that every other sister has in the congregation.