Sisters of St. Benedict

Have you considered a lifetime dedicated to serving God and the people of God?

Maybe you have what it takes to be a Benedictine woman. Do you have:

+ a longing to Seek God?
+ a generous heart?
+ a positive outlook and attitude about life?
+ a healthy body and strong mind?
+ a desire to be of service?
+ a willingness to grow?

If this sounds like you, keep reading to view the steps to becoming a
Benedictine Sister.

Affiliation
Postulancy
Novitiate
First Monastic Profession
Final Monastic Profession

When a woman is interested in religious life, she looks at many different communities
to see where she is called. All communities are different
and a person is drawn to one community versus another
for many different reasons. It may be their prayer,
community life, or mission that draws a person to a
particular place. Whatever the case may be, women
today carefully discern their call to religious life and the
community.

At Our Lady of Grace Monastery, we accept single
Catholic women between the ages of 22 - 45 who have
no previous marriages or children, who desire to serve
the People of God in community founded upon prayer,
work and hospitality. The affiliation stage can last from
six months to two years. It begins by a woman
expressing her desire to the Prioress and Vocation
Director to get to knowthe community better by attending
prayer, meals and visiting the community on a frequent
basis. It is also aperiod of time where the candidate
meets with theVocation Director and keeps in contact
with her as they discern her call together.

Once the candidate believes she is ready to take the next step she must meet with
the Prioress and then formally write a letter seeking permission to enter the
community as a postulant. Upon the acceptance of the request by the Prioress, the
candidate is ready to take the next step.

The postulant enters the community generally in September, and begins to live
the Benedictine way of life on a daily basis. A ceremony after evening prayer on
the day of her entrance marks the acceptance of her by the community. This time
is a tremendous opportunity for the postulant to get to know the community in a
much deeper way. It is also a chance for the community to see how the postulant

The postulant does not work outside the monastery during this time and
performs tasks in the monastery and in the two corporate ministries of the
sisters, St. Paul Hermitage and the Benedict Inn Retreat & Conference Center.
She also attends classes pertaining to the monastic life in addition to various
other classes. The postulant meets weekly with her formation director who helps
her ease into the monastic practices and schedule.

The postulant retains her own money and is responsible for any bills incurred
prior to her entrance and while she is a postulant.

After a period of approximately eight months she may seek permission from the
Prioress and the Monastic Council to continue her journey and go on to the next
step as a novice.

STEP 3 - NOVITIATE

The Novitiate is a two-year process.

The first year is dictated by Canon Law and is known as the novice's Canonical Year.
At the time of her investing, the novice receives the title of "Sister" and is referred to

by her religious name. She becomes dependant on the monastery for her needs.
Her time away from the monastery is limited and she immerses herself even more
deeply into classes such as the study of the Holy Rule, the Benedictine vows,
Scripture and various other classes. Her time is spent working in the monastery and
corporate ministries. The novice continues to meet weekly with her formation director.

During the second year, the Novice works part-time outside of the monastery in
addition to her duties inside the monastery. She continues her class work and
prepares for her monastic profession.

When the novice decides she is ready to take the next step she discusses it with her
formationdirector and then follows the process of talking to the Prioress, the Monastic
Council and finally the community. Once again, this is an important aspect of the
process as all are on the journey together with each person.

STEP 4 - FIRST MONASTIC PROFESSION

Temporary vows is a period of time where the woman lives the Benedictine way
of life as if she were bound for life.

She practices and commits herself to the vows of obedience, poverty, celibacy,
stability and conversion of life. She continues her personal and spiritual growth and
deepens her personal incorporation of the monastic values as she prepares for
perpetual vows.

The temporary professed sister works full time outside of the monastery and strives
to live a balance life between the demands of her ministry and of the monastery.
She continues to meet with her formation director, usually on a bi-monthly basis, for
spiritual direction and instruction. Classes remain an important part of this process
as her studies prepare her for future goals.

After a period of time deemed appropriate by her formation director and the Prioress,
usually about five years, the temporary professed sister begins to make plans for
monastic profession. She must follow the same admissions process as in her novice
year to move on to the next step. She also attends BSWR (Benedictine Spirituality
Workshop and Retreat), which is held annually for women preparing for final vows.
It is a three week intensive workshop and retreat experience which she attends one
year prior to her perpetual vows.

After the approval of the community, the sister may profess her perpetual vows where
she makes a life commitment to God and to the community.

STEP 5 - FINAL MONASTIC PROFESSION

This is the final step taken by a woman in our Benedictine community.

She vows for the rest of her life to follow the teaching of St. Benedict and to be bound
to this particular community. She lives the rest of her life within the walls of the
monastery and shares in the communal way of life with her sisters.