• Initial contact is made and information is exchanged.
• The candidate speaks with a vocation director.
• In order to see the life, she visits the community/attends a retreat at the Motherhouse.
• While at the Motherhouse, she has interviews with the Director of Novices and the Mother General.
• An application may be requested:
  This consists of an information form, school transcripts, medical forms, Baptismal & Confirmation certificates, letter of recommendation from a priest and a statement of the applicant’s motive for entering religious life. The applicant may be asked to have a psychological evaluation.
• Status regarding acceptance is communicated.

Click the thumbnails for up close photos of the "Transformation in Christ"

• During this time period the pre-postulant has contact with the vocation director and uses the time before entrance for spiritual and material preparations.
• The pre-postulant is encouraged to strengthen her resolve and to have an awareness of the spousal dimension of religious life. In this context, she is making a choice beyond life and career. It is a response made in love.
• She is encouraged to frequent the sacraments, to have a program for her spiritual life and to read works about Dominican spirituality.

• After a simple entrance ceremony, the postulant begins a year of immersion into the life of her new religious family. She attends all prayers and lives the monastic customs that are a part of our life.

• The postulant receives the guidance of the Director of Novices, who helps her to grow in virtue and self-knowledge.

• She learns of the joys and demands of community life.

• During this year she becomes acquainted with the basics of Dominican spirituality and history, along with the charism of our Congregation.

• The postulant attends classes at Aquinas College where she studies philosophy and secular subjects. Her afternoons also include a period of physical exercise, an assigned area to clean, and spiritual reading.

• Her classes at the Motherhouse include the study of Sacred Scripture, basic Catholic Doctrine, Church History, and the spiritual life.

• At the end of the postulant year, she receives the habit, along with a new name. As a novice, she enters into a period of theological, philosophical, ascetical and spiritual formation.
• She is guided to see the essential link between study, prayer and ‘preaching’.
• The novice has an additional meditation before the Blessed Sacrament exposed each day, has time in silence and for instruction, thereby seeking to deepen her prayer life. Her appreciation for our devotion to the Eucharist is fostered in many ways, including her daily participation in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours, as well as time for personal prayer.
• She studies spiritual theology, Patristics, Scripture and the theology of the vows.
• Devotion to Mary is fostered, as well as a strong fidelity to the teachings of the Church. The Catechism of the Catholic Church and Papal Documents are studied.
• The goal of the canonical novitiate is observable growth in love of God and neighbor, self-knowledge, and understanding of the commitment which the novice will choose to take. (from In Truth and Love—Ratio Institutionis of the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia) At the end of this year vows are taken for three years, at the end of which they are renewed for two more.

V. Temporary Vows

• After making her First Profession the young sister exchanges her white veil for a black one, symbolic of the death to self her vows require.
• She finishes her college coursework and obtains certification as a teacher. If she enters with certification, she may begin her work in the apostolate.
• The two years after her Canonical Novitiate are spent within the novitiate community with continued direction and formation.
• After this time period, she enters the larger community and seeks to solidify the foundation she has gained.
• After the three years following her novitiate experience (seven years since her entry) the young sister makes her final vows. The year prior to this step is one of preparation and more intensive prayer.
• During the summer months, the sisters in the Novitiate (first four years) take classes in theology and philosophy on a four-year cycle. The coursework is systematic and foundational, with an emphasis on the works of St. Thomas Aquinas.

• The whole of the religious life is to be a striving for the perfection of charity. The sister is called to daily conversion and continual growth. All Christians are called to holiness in virtue of our baptism. The religious sister is called to witness to the priority of that life for which we have been made, eternal union with God.