Explore a Vocation

If you feel drawn to a life of prayer, silence, and community centered on Christ, we invite you to explore the possibility that He may be calling you here. Come and listen with the ear of your heart.

Vocation Inquiry

Stages of Formation

Aspirancy

The aspirancy is a time of active engagement with contemplative life to determine if the Lord is calling the candidate to a deeper relationship with Him as a Dominican woman. It begins with initial contact and exploration with the vocation directress, and may progress to short-term lived experiences within the enclosure. The period of aspirancy lasts one year. An aspirant enters the enclosure and lives with the community for a flexible amount of time based on interest and availability—ideally two to six weeks—in an effort to further discern if she is being called to our way of life. After a few weeks with the community she returns home. Based on need and other circumstances, the inside visit may be repeated multiple times. After prayerful reflection on her experience in dialogue with the nuns and a spiritual director or other competent spiritual authority, if she feels called to this life she makes an application asking to enter the monastery.

Postulancy

The period of postulancy is to help the candidate transition from secular to religious life. “During the time of postulancy the aspirant gradually comes to experience the goal and the means of our contemplative life, through suitable catechesis and personal dialogue concerning both the life of union with God and monastic observance.” (LCM III.1.131) The duration of the postulancy is one year.

Novitiate

The novitiate is a time during which the novice comes to know more intimately her call from God and also her Dominican vocation. The duration of the novitiate is two years with the second year designated as the canonical year. The canonical year is a more intense time of preparation for the first profession of vows.

First Profession

During her time of First Profession, the junior professed sister participates in a special formation program sponsored by the North American Association of Dominican Monasteries. This program is designed to introduce the sister to the riches of the Church's teachings and build a frame of reference that will enable her to approach various theological traditions with discernment and confidence.

Temporary profession is for three years and renewed annually up to the completion of five years, until a minimum of nine years of initial formation is completed making sure that no more than twelve years of initial formation are exceeded, beginning with aspirancy. Before Solemn or Perpetual profession, each sister spends at least one year living more fully with the professed community.

Solemn/Perpetual Profession

Upon Solemn or Perpetual (Extern) profession the sister completes her self offering to God, professing her commitment to follow Christ and leading an evangelical life in the Order, until death.

Requirements of a Vocation

A single woman between the ages of 21 and 40 years
A practicing Roman Catholic
American citizen/permanent resident
Fidelity and love for the Church
Good physical health
Good psychological health
Ability to live in solitude and community
A joyful, generous spirit
A willingness to learn
An attraction to prayer, and to the things of God
Zeal for the salvation of souls
A desire to give yourself entirely to Jesus Christ

Contact Vocation Directress

A Day in the Life

If you are interested in a look into our daily life, explore our Horarium and see how our days are filled.

See Our Horarium

Is God Calling You? Begin the Journey.

Inquire About a Vocation

On Considering a Vocation

“Blessed are those whom you choose and call to dwell in your courts” (Psalm 65:4). A religious vocation is a precious gift from God! How do I know if God is calling me? Basically there are four steps in discerning a vocation.

Trust Your Own Desires!

God speaks to us through our deepest desires. How do we recognize those? These are the desires that surface in the quiet moments of life, when we slow down and reflect on the ultimate purpose of life. Do you feel an attraction to religious life? If the answer is yes, then the first step is to trust that attraction and begin to act on it.

Trust God!

We only trust someone we know and usually it is someone we know well. The primary way to grow in trusting God is through prayer. This means praying daily (Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, Scripture). As you spend more time in prayer a loving and trusting relationship will develop between God and yourself.

Investigate the Possibillities; Do Something!

This means taking the time to contact various religious communities and gathering vocational materials. Next research the spirit of the different Orders to discover which match what you are looking for in religious life. Moreover, speak to a vocation or formation directress who can assist in your discernment process.

Apply!

Make a formal application to a community to whom you feel God is calling you. While you are in the process of discernment and after you have made your decision it is a good idea to seek out someone you trust with whom you can share your discernment experience such as a spiritual director.

In Conclusion

A religious vocation is a precious gift from God. It is nurtured by a life of prayer, reflection, service and, ultimately, love. If you think God may be calling you to this way of life, take some time to evaluate your life experience and ask yourself: what is it that gives me lasting joy and peace? Imagine yourself as a religious. Finally, if you are discerning a vocation we invite you to call us and request our prayers.