Formation

We invite young women to spend sometime with us by being part of our life for a few days.

After a young woman has decided to stay with us, she is admitted as a Candidate. As a rule, candidature lasts three to six months.

The aim of candidature is to enable the candidate to adjust gradually to the life in community of the congregation, to foster general education and formation of personality, to deepen faith and to supplement religious knowledge.  Candidature is also preliminary probation and a first introduction into Benedictine life.

During postulancy the formation started in candidature must be continued and especially the introduction into Benedictine life intensified, so that the postulant may come to recognize more clearly the special vocation of a member of our Congregation and so be enabled to test her own vocation, while at the same time the community can prove her resolution and suitability.

As a rule, postulancy lasts two years, however, it may be shortened or prolonged by the Prioress General.

The purpose of the novitiate is to enable the novices ot come to a clear discernment of her vocation as a Benedictine Sisters in our Congregation.  Formation in the novitiate is therefore a theoretical and practical introduction into religious and Benedictine life and includes:

• study and meditation on Holy Scripture.
• Explanation of the life according to our Benedictine profession and Evangelical Counsels.
• Introduction into the Rule of St. Benedict and the Constitutions of our Congregation.
• Formation and practice of prayer and meditation
• Information about the special spiritual character and the apostolate of our Congregation.
• Instruction on the history of the Church, of religious life and the Benedictine Order.

After Novitiate, Sisters can be admitted to make their temporary profession first for one year, then for another three years.

Although temporary profession can only be made in a spirit of undivided and unlimited commitment, the time of temporary profession is still a period of probation and formation.  therefore, a suitable sister is to be appointed by the Prioress General to be in charge of the temporary professed sisters.

Temporary professed sisters must be given enough time and opportunity for continuing and competing their religious formation as well as for special training and studies enabling them to serve efficiently in the various fields of activity of the Congregation.

During the time of temporary profession sisters should not be appointed to offices or works that might hinder their formation.

a temporary professed sister who wants to renew temporary profession or make perpetual profession, present a written request for admission to the prioress General.

the first profession and the perpetual profession are preceded by an eight day retreat, nenewal of temorary profession by a five day retreat.

After the completion of the Juniorate, a Sister may request admittance to final vows. By perpetual vows a sister becomes a full member o our Congregation.  The special privilege of a perpetually professed sister is that she is the member of the chapter of the Congregation. It can happen anytime from three to nine years after temporary vows. If the Congregation, after prayer and discernment, believes that the Sister has a permanent vocation, The Sister commits herself to live in total surrender of her whole being to God. She is admitted to final vows and receives a gold ring. 

Ongoing formation

Ongoing formation encompasses the longest and most fruitful period of religious life. The purpose of on going formation is to help the Sisters to remember their commitments to God. To respond to the urgent need of the Church and the Congregation.

During this process of Ongoing Formation, the Sisters dedicate themselves to the following: Every Day Holy Mass attendance, Annual Spiritual Exercises, Monthly Retreats and Conferences,  Courses on Religious life, Fraternal life and Community life. Spiritual Readings and Apostolic work.

The sisters are advised to share their talents and learn from each other.