"Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.”
- Luke 5:4
A HEART AND MIND OPEN TO DOING GOD'S WILL
All vocations start with an invitation by God to grow in holiness in a particular way of life and to live the mission of the Church – that is, to proclaim the Good News of Jesus to others. Your vocation is a gift from God; when fully embraced, it enables you to become perfect in charity, which is union with Him. That is the life God wants us to have for all eternity. As you begin the discernment process, consider asking yourself:
- What gifts has God given to me?
- Which religious order's charism best complements these gifts?
the formation process
Formation is a lifelong process for the Christian. Through the formation process people seek to grow closer to Christ and the Church so that they may witness to the world as disciples of Jesus. Formation within the Lay Fraternities of Saint Dominic aims to help both the individual members and the community to discern, nurture, and grow in their unique identity as sons and daughters of St. Dominic. We do this through the continual building and strengthening of the Four Pillars: prayer, study, community, and apostolate.
Lay Dominican life is truly a vocation, and so the process of formation is undertaken over a number of years, in the context of a community, and with the specific guidance of a formation director. A member’s formator, council, and brothers and sisters in the Order will all help that person discern whether God is calling them to this particular way of living their baptismal promises. As part of that discernment, Dominicans also undergo a formal study program. Here is how the process of formation usually progresses:
Inquiry: Come and see! You are welcome to come to meetings at any time without a commitment.
Postulancy: You will meet with a formation director and go through study modules in preparation for entering the Order. This period is usually 6 months.
Novitiate: You will be received into the Order as a member of the fraternity. Your studies with a formation director will bring you further into the Dominican Way of life as you discern whether to make promises in the Order. This period lasts about one year.
Temporary Profession: This stage is designed to help you discern a life vocation, through ongoing formation in your fraternity life and the practice of each of the Four Pillars. You promise to live the Dominican Rule for three years, after which time you can choose to leave, to make life promises, or to ask for a one-year extension of your temporary promises.
Life Profession: You are fully received into the Order of Preachers for life. You promise to live the rule as an extension of your baptismal mission, and you assume the privileges and responsibilities that this entails within the Order; this includes sharing fully in the communal life of your fraternity through leadership and service.
…But what if I move? We get it. School, work, family duties and other life changes may mean that you have to move away once you have begun formation. But never fear: your Dominican status goes with you! No matter where you are in the process, we can help connect you with another Lay Dominican fraternity, either within or outside of the province. If you are still in formation, we will help transfer your preparation as well.
Lay Dominican life is truly a vocation, and so the process of formation is undertaken over a number of years, in the context of a community, and with the specific guidance of a formation director. A member’s formator, council, and brothers and sisters in the Order will all help that person discern whether God is calling them to this particular way of living their baptismal promises. As part of that discernment, Dominicans also undergo a formal study program. Here is how the process of formation usually progresses:
Inquiry: Come and see! You are welcome to come to meetings at any time without a commitment.
Postulancy: You will meet with a formation director and go through study modules in preparation for entering the Order. This period is usually 6 months.
Novitiate: You will be received into the Order as a member of the fraternity. Your studies with a formation director will bring you further into the Dominican Way of life as you discern whether to make promises in the Order. This period lasts about one year.
Temporary Profession: This stage is designed to help you discern a life vocation, through ongoing formation in your fraternity life and the practice of each of the Four Pillars. You promise to live the Dominican Rule for three years, after which time you can choose to leave, to make life promises, or to ask for a one-year extension of your temporary promises.
Life Profession: You are fully received into the Order of Preachers for life. You promise to live the rule as an extension of your baptismal mission, and you assume the privileges and responsibilities that this entails within the Order; this includes sharing fully in the communal life of your fraternity through leadership and service.
…But what if I move? We get it. School, work, family duties and other life changes may mean that you have to move away once you have begun formation. But never fear: your Dominican status goes with you! No matter where you are in the process, we can help connect you with another Lay Dominican fraternity, either within or outside of the province. If you are still in formation, we will help transfer your preparation as well.
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ignite your torchORDER OF PREACHERS
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