ALiFe

(continued...)

First Profession

The newly professed actively participates in the life of the local community and shares in the joys and burdens of community life. She grows in grace and in her commitment to Christ. In community life she strives to live in Christ with, "One Heart and Soul," as an eloquent witness to the Trinity.

The sister lives according to the example of Christ who, "Though he was rich... became poor." in a life of vowed obedience she freely offers herself by surrendering her will to God.

Each year, a month prior to the renewal of her vows, the sister is interviewed by the Superior General to whom she presents a written request to renew her vows. She renews her vows annually for four years before she makes her perpetual profession of vows.

The sister professes to live in consecrated celibacy for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven. Her choice is made out of love for God and his Church. Through her vow of poverty she follows the poor Christ and leads a life poor in fact and in spirit.



Perpetual Profession

Two months prior to her perpetual profession, the sister participates in an intensive two month program of preparation for her perpetual profession of public vows. The sister sends a written request to the Superior General who reviews her evaluation and interviews her to assess her suitability and her sincerity in making a final commitment to the Lord and the consecrated life. After the approval of the Superior General and her Council, the sister is admitted to perpetual profession of vows.

The rite of perpetual profession is a community celebration in which the professed sister is joined by her family and friends in a Eucharistic celebration with the Community to thank God for the extraordinary grace received and to petition continuing Divine Assistance.


Aspirant House (left) and the chapel.


Inside the chapel.

For those who are interested in the formation process of the sisters at the Daughters of Mary Immaculate, here's an extract of what they go through.

Aspirant
This is a pre-preparation stage where the candidate, as early as 17 years of age, can enter the community. Many of the candidates still attend high school or university, so the duration of this stage differs with each individual, which can last to up to six years.

An aspirant candidate uses the time here to learn about community life and to discern which path she might want to choose later in her community life.

Postulancy
This is a time when the postulant discerns where the Holy Spirit is leading her and she strives to strengthen her personal relationship with Jesus. She studies the history of our community and the spirit of our Founder and Founding Sisters.

The Postulant shares with our sisters in prayer, ministry and community life. During this time she makes the transition from her former way of life to living in community. She seeks to attend the Eucharist daily, whenever possible, and to study Sacred Scripture and spirituality on her journey. She joyfully accepts the challenges of religious life as she moves to the next stage of her journey, the novitiate.


Novitiate
The duration of the novitiate is two years. One of these is designated a canonical year. During the time of novitiate formation, the novice remains in the novitiate community under the direction of the novice directress in a house canonically established for this purpose. The novice is initiated into deeper study and meditation on the life of Jesus through classes in Sacred Scripture, liturgy, theology, and the fundamental elements of consecrated life. She intensifies her life of prayer. She studies the evangelical counsels.

The novice meditatively reads Sacred Scripture, books on spirituality, and lives of the saints. She prays privately and communally. The Liturgy of the Hours has a particular place in her prayer life.

The novice participates in the Eucharistic Liturgy daily, whenever possible. She grows spiritually through days of renewal.

She receives the Sacrament of Reconciliation frequently.

The novice continues her studies of the history and life of the Daughters of Mary. She lives and studies our mission, spirituality, charism, credal and commitment statements.


Second Year Novitiate

During the second year of novitiate, at the discretion of the directress of novices and the Superior General, the novice may have integrated periods of apostolic and community living outside the novitiate community.

These periods of apostolic experience terminate two months prior to profession so the the novice may renew the spirit of her vocation and prepare for her first profession of vows.

Prior to profession, the novice makes a seven-day retreat to prepare herself for union with Christ through the profession of the evangelical counsels.

The novice submits in writing her intention to make profession. After an evaluation by the novice directress, the novice is interviewed by the Superior General. The Superior General, with the consent of her Council, admits the novice to first profession of vows for one year.

By the act of profession, the novice gives herself totally to God and fully participates in the life and mission of the Daughters of Mary.

(To be continued...)