Postulancy
Young women entering the community begin with a six-month postulancy, during which they follow the community schedule and receive classes from the Postulant Mistress about the rules, regulations, and customs of the Community, as well as the principal obligations of the religious life and the fundamentals of religious perfection.
Novitiate
The novitiate lasts for two years and begins with the reception of the holy habit. At the ceremony of the reception of the habit, the novice also receives the name of a saint, always with some form of the name of Mary. A title of Our Lord, of the Blessed Virgin, or some other special title is added to the Sister’s name for devotion and imitation. She also receives a copy of the Rule and Constitutions of the Community.
The first year is the canonical year, during which the novice engages in studies of the religious life and may not be occupied in the apostolate of the Congregation. This year is spent in the study of the Rule, the Constitutions, and the Book of Customs of the Congregation, as well as the study of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and other topics pertinent to religious life. During the second year, the novice may be assigned in a limited way to the works of the apostolate.
Vows
At the end of the Novitiate, each Sister admitted to vows will take temporary vows for the duration of one year. These one-year vows will be renovated twice. At the end of the third year, the Sister takes temporary vows of three-years duration. At the end of this three-year period, the Sister, with the approval of the Superiors, may be admitted to final (perpetual) vows. However, at the end of the three-year period of vows, the Superiors may require the Sister to take temporary vows for an additional year, which may be renovated, but which will not exceed three additional years. The Sister herself may request this same extension of temporary vows. At the end of this additional period of time of one to three years duration, the Sister will either take final vows or return to the world.
