Process
Down the Path (Taking your first steps)
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First Step - AFFILIATE
You become acquainted with the lifestyle and charism of the Sisters. You will meet with the Vocation Director about your desire, qualifications, and readiness. There is an application form to complete and there may be other interviews. The basic qualifications are as follows:
. AGE: Between 20 and 45 years of age.
. EDUCATION: High School Diploma plus two years of College or work experience.
. MARITAL STATUS: Single or ready to begin the annulment process.
. HEALTH: Must be of good physical and psychological health.
. DEPENDENTS: No dependent children.
There are no sure-fire, quick steps to answering the call to an apostolic community in religious life. It is something to be realized over a period of time. As each individual is unique, so too is the amount of time involved and the actual process. Much depends on the person's psychological and spiritual growth and whether or not she is ready to enter into serious discernment.
The Affiliate is invited to attend regional assemblies, prayer days, professions and jubilees and she will meet regularly with her Affiliate Director for vocation discernment.
She continues the life of a single person and does not reside in a CSJ community but is invited weekly to share meals and prayer in community.
Ordinarily a woman will stay in discernment as an Affiliate with a community a year or two. When an Affiliate asks to begin the admission process to be a Pre-Novice, the Vocation Director will explain the process and the tests involved in the application for admission.
Second Step - PRE-NOVICE
The Pre-Novice stage is for discerning whether or not one is called to the apostolic religious life of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Medaille. It is a time for testing one's aptitude and qualifications for undertaking this lifestyle. The Pre-Novice continues training for ministry or engages in ministry for which she is prepared while she resides in a CSJ community and fully participates in regional community life.
During this phase, the Pre-Novice must continually seek and explore how God is working in her life. Prayer is of paramount importance. The grace of a religious vocation can only flow from fidelity to our Christian commitment, as a further living out of the baptismal promises.
Third Step - NOVICE
This phase begins with being accepted by the Congregation as a candidate for membership. Required by the call to religious life, this is a period of inner growth, prayerful discernment, and spiritual transformation that lasts two years.
Participating in a program of studies, experience and reflection of Apostolic Religious Life, Theology and CSJ Spirituality as the Novice lives in the CSJ Novitiate Community. During her second year as a Novice she participates in the CSJ Federation Novitiate Program.
Fourth Step - RELIGIOUS VOWS
Temporary Profession
Upon completion of the novitiate, the Novice becomes a temporary professed Sister of St. Joseph. She makes vows of chastity, poverty and obedience. This phase lasts for a period of 3-6 years.
Final Profession
After three to six years of temporary profession, the Sister makes her final profession as a Sister of St. Joseph of Medaille.