Become a sister
Some people find a kind of vocation in their dream job. Others find happiness in a partnership or family. And then there are the people who ask themselves: What if there's more? Is there perhaps another path for me?
Becoming a sister - a special kind of vocation
God has a place for each of us. For some, becoming a religious sister is the right path - a lifelong path.
Anyone who wants to become a sister in our community is welcome. No matter what education, what skills and what interests she has. Of course, she should also be able to identify with our values.
More about us and our values:
Becoming a Sister - This is what the path looks like with us!
Postulate
The start of the postulate is the official entry into the community and the beginning of the actual training period. This first phase, however, is very individualized. It is aimed at laying a foundation for the spiritual formation of the novitiate: Basic knowledge of the Christian faith is supplemented in class, there are initial introductions to religious theology and history, an introduction to our prayer practice, regular reflection sessions with the postulancy companion, and also practical assignments to test one's abilities and expand boundaries.
When the postulant is ready to begin the actual spiritual formation of the novitiate, she asks the sisters if they agree. As a rule, by that time, the cooperation has become so well established that both sides feel: it is time for the next step.
Novitiate
The novitiate lasts two years. The first year is the so-called "canonical year" prescribed by Canon Law. It is devoted exclusively to spiritual formation. Novices in the canonical year are allowed just four to five hours a day of practical, mostly domestic, activity that does not bind their attention beyond that time.
The focus this year is on one's relationship with God and reflection on one's relationship with people. This happens through:
- Lessons
- Participation in the services of the community
- fixed times for own meditation and personal prayer
- regular conversations with the novice master
- Exchange and joint activities with the other novices
In the second year of the novitiate there are at least two longer internships. In these, the novice can try out what could be her field of work after the novitiate. Above all, she learns to combine the intense spiritual life of the first year with work and the demands of community life. If the novice decides to remain in this community, she asks for admission to the commitment to the Congregation.
Time commitment
The commitment is for three years at a time and is a legally binding act. A sister with a time commitment participates in all community meetings: she contributes with all her abilities and enjoys active voting rights at all levels.
The first three years of attachment are still part of the religious formation. During this time, the young sister is still intensively accompanied. Particular care is taken to ensure that she finds and maintains her balance in the demands of community, work and spiritual life. After that, the formation period is over and the sister decides whether she still needs time for her final decision and renews the bond (she can do that two more times), or whether she wants to consecrate herself completely to God and place herself at the disposal of the community in perpetual profession.
Perpetual profession
In perpetual profession, a religious sister commits herself to her community for life in order to be accepted into a religious order.
Before the lifelong commitment in perpetual profession, which is possible at the age of 24 at the earliest, there is a trial period of at least one year of novitiate and at least three years of temporary profession.
During the novitiate and after the expiration of a temporary profession, leaving the religious community is possible without any problem. After perpetual profession, however, this must be permitted by the Pope.
