Becoming a Religious Sister of Charity is a life-long process. It includes personal and spiritual development, prayer and meditation, and living a vowed way of life. There are various stages of formation before final vows are taken, to ensure that each sister has chosen the right path for them. These stages take several years to complete, and are outlined below:

• Initial Inquiry

  If you feel that you are attracted to the religious lifestyle, you are invited to learn more about the life of the Sisters of Charity and the process of joining. Our Vocations Director, Sr. Rita Wynne, will guide you during your exploration.

• Application

  After a number of meetings with the Vocations Director, and time spent in prayer and reflection, the inquirer would then spend time in a number of communities to get a better understanding of our life and work. After this stage is complete a formal application is made to the Congregation for admission as a postulant. This involves filling in an application form and doing an interview.

• Postulancy

  After your acceptance as a candidate, you work with the Formation Director to design your goals and to create multi-faceted ways of integrating your life with the life of the Congregation. This period of reflection normally lasts 1 year.

• Novitiate

  The novitiate normally lasts two years. The first year in the Novitiate House, is spent learning about religious life and the ways of the community. The second year is used to explore the mission of the community.

• First Vows

  At the end of the novitiate the novice makes her first vows, which is also known as being admitted to temporary profession. These vows are initially for a period of three years, and may be renewed for one, two or three years.

• Final Vows

  After the period of temporary profession, it is usual to proceed to full incorporation into the Congregation. The sister commits herself for life by taking perpetual vows of chastity, poverty, obedience and service of the poor.

• Continuing Formation

  Religious Sisters of Charity are engaged in lifelong learning with regular renewal and updating of skills for their work, prayer life and community.