The Postulancy Program lasts from six to eighteen months. The postulants are under the guidance of the Formation Director. This is a time for the Postulant to assess her vocation and commitment, and also for our Community to determine if the person has the necessary elements to undertake the obligations of religious life. It is a time for completion of certain religious studies that are the foundation for the Novitiate; and it provides a gradual transition from the person's present living circumstances to living in a community of religious.
During the postulancy, the young woman receives regular support and direction from the Formation Director and also attends classes in:
The Foundations of our Faith
Prayer, Liturgy, and Psalms
The Life of Saint Francis
The History of our Community
The Basic Principles of Religious Life
The postulants spend some time in various activities in the House of Formation: service duties, programs, and recreational activities. They also spend some time in serving in our healthcare apostolate, according to their capabilities. Along with all these activities, their primary focus remains on their prayer life with our Sisters.
The period of the postulancy concludes with a seven-
Time is provided for monthly family visits. (Directory, #110)
The postulant enjoys a two week vacation during the program. Traveling expenses for this vacation are the responsibility of the postulant or her immediate family. (Directory, #111)
Before her reception into the Novitiate the postulant may choose to retain her baptismal name or may choose another name, in which case she submits three choices to the Major Superior.
Life as a Postulant
I had only been here a few days and I already felt that I had been here forever. Not to say that the time dragged. It was just so familiar. In spite of this feeling, it still took time to get used to things, like praying the Office and the daily routine. There were lessons in humility, because suddenly you’re the only one who doesn’t know what they are supposed to be doing. Then there was also getting used to spending time in mental prayer every day.
As a postulant you usually get the chance to experience work in the apostolate. So, what does a girl who majored on Physics do in a hospital? Well, they had me go around to several departments in St. Francis Medical Center. I would go in with some Sisters a couple days a week and someone at the hospital would show me around their department. So I spent a little time in radiology, nuclear medicine, radiation oncology, the lab... Just to get a feel for the different things I could do later.
During the postulancy, the focus of my prayer life began to move a bit away from vocal prayers and to more mental prayer. I developed a greater love for the Eucharist and for the Sacred Heart.
I didn’t miss many of the things I thought I would. It was an adjustment being so far away from family. That was one of the hardest things. All in all though the postulancy was over very quickly.
Don’t enter religious life expecting to have a lot of spare time. You’ll have plenty to do.
May 27, 2008
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