SsEW Formation Stages

          Many people have asked me questions about what it will be like for me after I enter the Sister Servants, so here is an overview of the different stages. This is the formation process for the Sister Servants, but most womens' orders are similar. There is still so much that I will continue to learn after entering, so I'm trying to keep it simple!



Postulant

(First Year)

          On her entrance day, a girl goes to live in community with the other sisters as a postulant. She wears a brown skirt and vest outfit and is addressed as "Sister" but keeps her baptismal name. The postulant year is one of transition into the religious life and discernment of whether it is right for her. The community also discerns whether they believe she should stay. She may leave at any time if that is the decision, but they say that even if you are not called to give your whole life in the community, God had a purpose for having you there, even just a little while! As a postulant, she begins classes, including Father Hardon's Marian Catechist distance course.

Novice

(Second & Third Years)

          After completing the year of postulancy, the sister asks to be received into the community as a novice. She receives the habit of the order, but with a white veil, and she receives a new name. Each sister submits three names to Mother, and Mother can choose from those or choose something entirely different.  The two years a sister spends as a novice are heavily focused on study and deepening her prayer life, preparing her to make her vows if she chooses to do so. During this time she is still absolutely free to leave if it is discerned that she should.






Temporary/Junior Professed

(Fourth - Eighth Years)

          At the close of her third year in the community, the sister may make her first profession of the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience according to the constitution of the order. At this time she receives the brown veil. These vows are only for one year, and are renewed for four successive years. She is still free to leave when her vows expire if she so chooses, but the first vows are made with the intention of perseverance.

Perpetual/Final Professed

(Lifelong)

          And so, after a total of eight years in the community, the sister makes perpetual vows. In doing so, she joyfully offers to live not for herself, but for Christ. She joyfully binds herself to observe the evangelical counsels in a radical way, freeing herself of the weights of the world, so she may live with her mind and heart focused on God alone.

          Please pray for all those who are discerning vocations to the priesthood or religious life, that they may have the desire, means, and the courage to follow God's calling. He is so good and loving!

Below is the average daily schedule of the sisters, as posted on their website.
5:30 am    Rise
6:00          Holy Hour
7:00          Office of Readings and Morning Prayer
8:00          Breakfast and Cleaning Duties
8:30          Novitiate Classes / Study / Apostolate & Convent Duties
11:40        Daytime Prayer, Holy Mass , and Rosary in succession
1:00          Lunch
2:00          Spiritual Reading, Divine Mercy Chaplet and Recreation (for Novitiate)
                Apostolate & Convent Duties
5:30         Evening Prayer and Rosary
6:30         Dinner, Followed by Recreation (whole community)
8:15         Rosary and Night Prayers
9:15         Retire
10:00       Lights Out

May it please the supreme and divine Goodness to give us all abundant grace

ever to know His most holy will and perfectly to fulfill it.

- St. Ignatius of Loyola