BECOMING A SISTER OF PROVIDENCE
Becoming a Sister of Providence includes 4 stages:
- The candidate begins as a pre-novice. She lives with the Sisters of Providence to become acquainted with their charism, experience community life and continue her Christian formation. She discerns her vocational call and her aptitude for religious life. The stage generally lasts one to two years, depending on the individual.
- Then she enters the novitiate. The novice receives an integral two-year formation. One year emphases apostolic formation where the novice is engaged in active ministry. The other year is dedicated to religious life formation in which she develops her knowledge of theology, history, spirituality, the evangelical counsels, the Constitutions and Rules of the Sisters of Providence, the practice of prayer and discernment, etc. During her novitiate, she studies a second or third language and is initiated into social and political analysis, cultural and economic realities that affect our world and environmental issues. She begins to develop her aptitudes, integrates the Charism and Mission of the Sisters of Providence and learns how to strike a balance between her personal life and the demands of her ministry and consecrated community life.
- The novice becomes a Sister of Providence by pronouncing the temporary vows of chastity, poverty and obedience. Temporary vows are renewed periodically during a maximum nine-year period. A temporary-vow sister continues her discernment by engaging in ministry, ideally in contact with the poor. During this time, she may also continue her studies. She is encouraged to live an experience in a cultural context different from her own.
- Finally, the sister pronounces her perpetual vows which give expression to a commitment for life.
At each stage, the woman discerns her vocational call and her aptitude for religious life. Her journey, guided by the Holy Spirit, leads her closer to God and frees her to respond with generosity and love.
Are you considering a vocation to religious life? Would you like to know more about the road to follow to become a Sister of Providence? We invite you to contact the person responsible for initial formation in your area:
Bernarda Morin Province (Chile and Argentina)
Contact: Sr. Gladys Nuñez
EmilieGamelin Province (Quebec, Eastern United States, Haiti, Cameroon, Egypt)
Contact: Sr. Yolande Gagnon
Holy Angels Province (Western Canada)
Contact: Sr. Toyleen Fook
Mother Joseph Province (Western United States and El Salvador)
Contact person: Sr. Joan Gallagher
Our Lady of Providence Vice-Province (Philippines)
Contact: Sr. Julia G. Macasieb
