A monastic life rooted in . . .

Discernment and Formation

After a candidate’s initial contact, she will be invited to the Monastery for an interview and at that time, she may be encouraged to schedule a discernment retreat. As discernment is a mutual process, both the needs and desires of community and candidate will be prayerfully considered in the unfolding light of the Will of God. We suggest the candidate be guided by a Spiritual Director as an aid in this process.

The novitiate is a period of initiation and formation into our monastic contemplative life according to the Constitutions of our Order. Our formation program nourishes a candidate's ability to “Live Jesus” by integrating her prayer life, spirituality, community living and generous response to service revealed in the Will of God.

This period of discernment is made in the light of the Holy Spirit and within the spirit of our charism, humility before God and gentleness toward our neighbor.

After entering our community the candidate begins her postulancy and then continues her time of formation as a novice and a temporary professed Sister until her final profession of Solemn Vows. This period takes approximately six years. It is a time of spiritual growth as the Sister in formation absorbs the teachings of our Founders, the living of our Constitutions, the vows and community life.

Ongoing formation is part of each Sister’s continued growth, and the Superior arranges for conferences, retreats, workshops and video presentations to enable this spiritual development.

 

Contact information:

Vocation Directress
Visitation Monastery
8902 Ridge Boulevard
Brooklyn, New York 11209-5716
718 745-5151
Vamonastery@aol.com