It is not that I have already taken hold of it or have already attained perfect maturity,
but I continue my pursuit in hope that I may possess it,
since I have indeed been taken possession of by Christ Jesus.
(Philippians 3:12)
Postulancy
And Jesus said, ‘Come and you will see. (Jn 1:39)
The process of formation for a young woman interested in becoming a Dominican Sister of Mary Immaculate Province begins with the postulancy. This period of one to three years aims at a mutual process of discernment between the postulant and the Congregation, whereby the postulant grows in self-knowledge and virtues. This particular stage of formation enables the postulant with opportunities to personally encounter and experience the essential elements of religious life and the charism of the Order. Therefore, she takes part in the common liturgical celebrations and various activities of the religious community. She also attends daily classes in the convent to establish a firm foundation and understanding of the Church’s teaching as well as strengthens her commitment more consciously and freely. Classes include: Sacred Scripture, Sacraments, Moral Theology, Prayer and Spiritual Life, Dominican History, and other related subjects in Theology, Philosophy, and Human Formation.
Novitiate
I will lead her into the desert… (Hosea 2:16)
The next step in the stages of formation is the novitiate in which the postulant receives the Dominican habit with a white veil and a new religious name. This marks the beginning of her Canonical Year as a novice. In these two years, the novice attentively focuses on God’s presence in prayer, the interior life, assiduous studies, and the community, especially in the practice of the Evangelical Counsels. Furthermore, the novice experiences the Dominican way of life and comes to embrace the spirituality of the Congregation. In the second year of the novitiate, the novice participates in the Congregation’s apostolic life as a catechist at one of the local parishes. At the end of the novitiate years, if it is God’s will through the mutual discernment of the novice and congregation, the novice will make her religious profession of publically vowing to observe chastity, poverty and obedience. She is consecrated to God through the ministry of the Church and is incorporated into the Congregation for one year.
Scholasticate
As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. (Jn 15:9)
After making her first profession, the sister begins a new phase in the formation process to complete her vocation and prepare for the perpetual profession. During this time, the sister renews her religious vows annually for the duration of six years. The first two years of the initial profession, the sister lives at the Provincial house to strengthen her faithfulness to God and the Congregation. She also continues her theological studies and apostolic ministry according to the mission of the Congregation. For the next three years, she is sent out to serve at one of the Province’s mission houses. The goal is to help the professed enter more fully into the life and mission of the Congregation as well as to confirm her Dominican vocation as she strives to harmonize the love of God with apostolic fervor, contemplation with action, personal responsibility with obedience and individual duty with universal charity. Prior to making perpetual vows, she returns to the provincial house for a special year of preparation. This yearlong period is metaphorically a third year novitiate, in which the professed withdraws into silence for spiritual nourishment and deeper reflection before she fully commits herself for life to God and to the Congregation.
Ongoing Formation
I am confident in this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus. (Phil 1:6)
Formation is a life-long process; therefore, the final professed sister continues to live her consecrated life to its fullness through on-going formation. The fundamental purpose of ongoing formation is to help the sister be transformed and achieve maturity in the different stages of human life in regards to the spiritual, human and fraternal, apostolic, cultural, and professional dimensions and the charism of the Order. As a final professed sister, she strives toward a pursuit of holiness through faithfully living the religious vows in perfection of charity by maximizing the given opportunities for personal growth and enrichment.