Process of Formation

The Inquirer

An Inquirer is a woman who desires to understand what it means to be called to religious life and who is interested in learning about the Sisters of the Holy Redeemer.

As an Inquirer, you will be invited to share prayer, meals, feast days and other community celebrations with the Sisters of the Holy Redeemer, and to volunteer along side of us in our various ministries. You will also be encouraged to meet regularly with one of our Vocation Directors who assists women who are discerning the call to religious life.

The Affiliate                   

An Affiliate would be invited to more deeply explore feelings of being called to religious life and to engage more formally with the Sisters of the Holy Redeemer.

This experiential program provides opportunities to grow in self-knowledge, to deepen your relationship with God and to begin understanding the charism, spirituality and mission of the Sisters of the Holy Redeemer. As you and your Vocation Director reach a point of mutual discernment of religious life as a Sister of the Holy Redeemer, and there is a desire to continue in the process, preparation begins for the next phase — the Candidacy.

The Candidate

A candidate is a woman who has made formal application to the Sisters of the Holy Redeemer and who is preparing for entrance into the community as a Postulant.

The Director and the Sisters continue to be a supportive presence to you during the process of completing all the necessary requirements and awaiting official acceptance into the Sisters of the Holy Redeemer as a Postulant.

The Postulant

A postulant lives with the Sisters, sharing prayer and community life while continuing to explore more deeply a vocation as a Sister of the Holy Redeemer.

As a Postulant you will be presented with a simple cross to wear as a symbol of your commitment to God through the Sisters of the Holy Redeemer. During the postulancy, you would begin your orientation to formation as a Sister of the Holy Redeemer and possibly work in one of the ministries of the Sisters of the Holy Redeemer. Postulancy generally lasts one year, but the time is determined according to your individual needs and readiness to move to the next phase by becoming a Novice.

The Affiliate

The Novice

The Novitiate is a time to deepen your response to God’s call to become a Sister of the Holy Redeemer. The Novitiate is a special time of grace, a gift from God to be used chiefly for reflection, prayer and study, with a limited experience of ministry.

The first year of novitiate, called the canonical year, is a time away from the normal routines of daily life and is an opportunity to fully focus on your relationship with God through prayer, community, a limited ministry and studies with novices from other religious communities. The second year of novitiate allows for a fuller experience of ministry, and continuing religious education and formation classes. There is a continued emphasis on building your prayer relationship with God, familiarity with religious life in general and the Sisters of the Holy Redeemer in particular.

Temporary Profession

Temporary Profession

As a vowed member of the Sisters of the Holy Redeemer, a woman would be fully engaged in community life, prayer and in apostolic work.

As a temporary professed sister you would continue your education and formation into the life of the Sisters of the Holy Redeemer and confirm your willingness to live the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. Vows are renewed at designated intervals for a total of six years.

Perpetual Profession

Perpetual Profession

A perpetually professed sister proclaims her vows daily through the example of her life, prayer and ministry in service to God and God’s people as a Sister of the Holy Redeemer.

Sisters of the Holy Redeemer renew their vows annually on Redeemer Day, a Congregational Feast that is celebrated on the fourth Saturday after Easter. On-going formation becomes the responsibility of each sister and involves participation in a monthly day of prayer, a yearly retreat, workshops and other opportunities that strengthen the sister’s call to the consecrated life.

If you would like to speak with someone concerning your call to religious life please .

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