Journey of Formation
Religious formation extends from the time one enters consecrated life to the last breath.
Aspirancy
Candidates are accepted in June. At the end of the “come and see” period, after a day of retreat, they receive the aspirants’ uniform and a steel chain with a pendant of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception.
Aspirants have many opportunities to discern their call and gain a basic knowledge of the Congregation — living with the sisters, experiencing canonical prayer and the apostolic works of the Congregation.
Postulancy
After a three-day retreat the candidates enter postulancy — the second stage, where preparation for religious life begins. It is a time of growth in awareness of the nature of religious life, its obligations and the particular charism of the Congregation.
Postulants cultivate virtues, deepen their spirituality, take part in the life of the Congregation, and are trained to proclaim the Word of God through house visiting — the heritage of the Congregation.
Regency
Filled with intense love for Jesus, they grow in courage and zeal to follow Him by renouncing themselves and taking up the Cross.
Regents receive community experience, classes according to the syllabus, training in stitching habits, an exposure programme in the apostolic works of the Congregation, and the pre-novitiate — the immediate preparation for novitiate.
Novitiate
The fundamental period of religious formation. With the approval of the Superior General, and after six full days of retreat, postulants enter novitiate and receive a veil and the Holy Constitution of the Congregation.
This is a year of intensive spiritual formation. The Novice Directress guides them in the interior life and in the Congregation’s history, spirituality, constitutions and apostolic works.
Temporary Profession · Juniorate
After six full days of retreat the novices make their first profession for one year and receive the religious habit. They renew their vows every year until final profession.
The Juniorate is a time to deepen commitment to consecrated life and the charism of the Congregation, and to grow in the maturity needed for a perpetual commitment.
Final Commitment
Each junior sister is called to grow in holiness through discipline, formation and an ascetic life. Six years after temporary vows, after a period of prayerful discernment, she writes to the Superior General through the Provincial Superior asking permission to make final profession.
A six-day retreat prepares her for perpetual vows.
Ongoing Formation
Formation continues throughout a consecrated person’s whole life, through ceaseless study and exercise. After perpetual vows, sisters of each stage are accompanied by animators at province level.
Ongoing formation is essential and involves the sister’s entire religious life.
Come and See
Do you feel called to a life of prayer, purity, poverty and missionary service? The Daughters of Mary welcome young women who wish to discern their vocation.
- Candidates are accepted in the month of June
- A “come and see” period to experience community life
- Guidance from sisters and formators at every stage
“Every member of the Congregation is called to be pure and poor, to contemplate, witness, and proclaim the Word Incarnate for the Kingdom of God.”Charism of the Daughters of Mary