Inquiry - The first step is a time of Inquiry, a "no strings attached"
time to explore your desire to serve God as a religious. During this time,
you will have a sister as a contact person. She will help you get acquainted
with our community, its life, its goals, its mission. You will have the
opportunity to visit our sisters, to learn what it means to them to be
a sister in this community. All these experiences will help you decide
if, at this point, religious life seems right for you. If your decision
is "Yes," you are ready to formally apply for admission to the
community and move into Candidacy.
Candidacy - The time of Candidacy is spent living the regular community life with
a group of sisters. Depending on your life experience and needs, you will
be involved in a combination of activities: prayer, study and ministry
experience. You will have a sister sponsor who will accompany you during
this stage, helping you in your process of integration into the life,
spirit, heritage and mission of the community. In accord with your life
experience and needs, the time of Candidacy may be from six months to
two years. If your time of Candidacy confirms in you that God is calling
you to life with the Sisters of St. Francis, you are ready to be admitted
to Novitiate.
Novitiate - Novitiate is required by the Catholic Church for anyone wanting to profess
the vows of poverty, consecrated celibacy and obedience. The church requires one year
of Novitiate, usually called the canonical year. It is a time set aside
for prayer and study, for deepening your personal commitment to the life
and mission of Jesus Christ. It is also a time for deepening your understanding
of the vowed life and Franciscan spirituality. Besides the canonical year,
our congregation requires a second year. This second year emphasizes the
integration of contemplation and ministry. Upon completion of Novitiate,
you will make an initial vowed commitment for three years.
Initial
Vowed Commitment & Ongoing Vowed Commitment - During Initial
Vowed Commitment, you participate fully in the life of the congregation
and its mission. As a vowed member of the community, you have pledged
to live your covenant with Christ within the Franciscan charism of the
Sisters of St. Francis of Millvale. At the end of Initial Vowed Commitment,
you will profess vows "for the whole time of my life," thereby
reaching Ongoing Vowed Commitment. As a Sister of St. Francis of Millvale,
your life is one of ongoing conversion and commitment.