Time of Discernment

Sr Felicity Cunningham

welcomes Dominique

Bernon (1993)

If after prayer and reflection you feel God is calling you to be a Dominican sister, we offer you the same invitation Jesus extended to his disciples, 'Come and see'.

You are welcome to visit us at any time of the year. Arrangements can be made through our Vocations Coordinator. These visits will enable you to meet the sisters, join them in prayer, be part of a community, and offer you opportunities to explore questions and receive help in discerning your vocation to religious life.

This period of initial contact, known as Enquiry, normally lasts between one and three years. During that time, we offer to accompany any Catholic woman who is discerning her calling to religious life, offering support through prayer as well as information about religious life and our Congregation of Dominican sisters.

Once you make the decision to join us, the first formal step is to write to the Congregation Prioress asking to be received into Candidacy and stating your reasons for wishing to become a Dominican sister with us. Then you will receive an application form from the Vocations Coordinator who will guide you through the application process and arrange necessary interviews.

During Candidacy, which normally lasts one year, you will come to know the sisters in the Congregation better, and spend more time with us, preparing yourself for entry into the Novitiate. Candidacy provides the time and space for continued discernment and learning more about the Dominican way of life. This period will include three months residency in one of our communities as well as pastoral experience.

What is Discernment in the Dominican tradition?

Vocation Stories

Novitiate

Sr Charity and Sr

Mbalenhle process

into Chapel on the

day they are

received into the

congregation and

below, receiving the

Rosary

Our Novitiate community is located at Rosary Priory, 93 Elstree Road, Bushey Heath, Bushey, Herts. WD23 4EE.

The Novitiate is of two years duration, during which you and the sisters continue to discern whether you are being called to be a Dominican religious with us. It is a time of relative withdrawal and inner quiet, rooted in and sustained by a life of community and personal prayer so that you may come to know and love Christ better. It is also a time of preparation for the commitment that will be undertaken at Temporary Profession.

The Novice Director will draw up a programme of studies to suit your needs, including some study of prayer (liturgical and personal), Scripture, religious life, theology, personal development, and Dominican history and way of life. As Dominican sisters, we endeavour to pass on to others the fruits of our contemplation and, therefore, study and prayer form an essential part of our lifetime commitment.

A day in the life of a Dominican Novice

The Novitiate is a time of relative withdrawal and inner quiet during which the novice comes to know and love Christ better through her study of Scripture and theology. It is also a time of initiation into Dominican religious life, and to facilitate this, the novice begins her study of the history, traditions and spirit of the Order and congregation as well as the Rule and Constitutions.

(Constitutions 44)

Sr Nadia receives the veil

from Sr Ann Cunningham, Congregation Prioress, and signs the reception book (below) during the clothing ceremony.

Temporary Profession

Sr Helen Alford makes

her first profession to Sr

Assunta Kirwan, Prioress

General (October 1996)

Having completed the two-year Novitiate, you may apply to make Temporary Profession, in which you enter into a formal commitment to live the vowed life for a period of three years, in preparation for a life-long commitment. You will be assigned to another community where you will be given opportunities to become involved in pastoral work and further studies. This period of initial formation encourages a sister to grow in her relationship with God deepen her commitment to the Dominican way of life, and to learn to integrate prayer, study, community living, ministry and leisure. During your three years of Temporary Profession, a sister will be chosen to accompany, mentor, and support you as you become further initiated and integrated into the Dominican life of the Congregation.

During the period of temporary profession, a sister deepens her understanding of Dominican religious life, continues her study of Scripture and theology, and is incorporated into the mission of the congregation.

(Constitutions 52)

Final Profession

If at the end of this period of temporary commitment you, and the Congregation, feel you are indeed called to this way of life, a life-long commitment of Perpetual Profession may be entered into, in the sure hope that the Lord who has called you to this way of life will give you all you need to be faithful to it.

Sr Karen Marguerite

d’Artois receives the

ring at her final

profession (September

1999)

If you would like to explore vocations to the religious life, or would like more information about Dominican religious life, please contact the Vocations Coordinator at vocations@dominicansisters-bushey.org.uk

'May the Lord who has begun this work in you bring it to completion.'