Becoming and Being a Sister of St. Francis

A Continuous Formation Process

As Sylvania Franciscan Sisters, we commit ourselves to a lifelong formation process, which emphasizes continued growth in wholeness and becoming one with the heart of God. Within our Franciscan tradition, we name this process metanoia (ongoing conversion of mind and heart). The stages for becoming and living as a Sylvania Franciscan Sister are described below.

PRE-CANDIDACY

follows a brief, initial inquiry period, and includes frequent contact with our Vocation Minister, Sr. Julie Myers
>  Ordinarily, a period of 6 to 24 months
>  A mutual getting-acquainted time
>  An appointed discernment guide (a Sylvania Franciscan Sister) meets regularly with the pre-candidate
>  Pre-candidate joins Sylvania Franciscans for prayer, celebration, weekend visits as appropriate
>  Pre-candidate completes intensive application process before acceptance into Candidacy

CANDIDACY

is the first formal stage of initial formation. The stages of initial formation are coordinated by our Formation
Minister, Sr. Brigid O’Shea Merriman
>  Ordinarily, 12 to18 months
>  Woman formally enters the initial formation process
>  Candidate lives and participates in everyday life of an appointed local Sylvania Franciscan community
>  Candidate meets regularly with her discernment guide
>  Candidate usually engages in some ministry or ministry preparation
>  Remains financially independent of the congregation

NOVITIATE

is a highly focused stage of a novice Sister’s formation
>  A two-year formative period
>  Novice spends nine months of the first (canonical) year at the Third Order Regular Franciscan Common Novitiate in St Louis, Missouri
>  Engages in extensive Franciscan study and reflection, prayer, and some volunteer ministry experience
>  Second Year provides further experience of Franciscan life: 
      o At home with the Sylvania Franciscan community 
      o In part-time ministry setting(s) 
      o In further  professional preparation for ministry, if needed

FIRST COMMITMENT

is also known as the period of “Temporary” Profession
>  From 3 to 6 years in duration
>  Designed for deepening the Sister’s vowed commitment 
      o As a Sylvania Franciscan, living within a community setting
      o Through opportunities for further spiritual, ministerial, and theological development 
      o Ordinarily serves in full-time ministry 

PERMANENT COMMITMENT

begins with a Sister’s Final Profession
>  Each Sylvania Franciscan Sister embraces 
      o A commitment to ongoing conversion of mind and heart 
      o Continued maturation as a faithful, loving, deeply committed Franciscan woman religious 
      o A lifelong process of spiritual, psychological, intellectual, and missionary integration

Our Profession of the Vowed Life

Both at the time of temporary and final profession, we express our religious profession of vowed life as follows:
In the presence of Sister _____ (name of the Congregational Minister or her delegate) and the Sisters of this Congregation, I, Sister (your name) vow to the Triune God to live in obedience, poverty, and consecrated chastity according to the Constitutions of the Sisters of St. Francis of the Congregation of Our Lady of Lourdes for (_____ years or the remainder of my life). I desire to live this evangelical life* in the spirit of the Rule and Life of the Brothers and Sisters of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis.

*For us Franciscans, Evangelical Life refers to a way of living the gospel
>  That strives to follow in Christ’s footsteps while on earth, mirroring the love of God incarnate in Jesus
>  That expresses itself through loving relationships within community, in collaboration with others in ministry, and in reverent care for all creation
>  That integrates communal and personal prayer with active service in ministry, thus responding to the needs of our Church and world today

It is distinguished from two other major forms of vowed religious life
>  Apostolic, whose explicit focus is on ministry. (For example, the Jesuits, founded in the 16th century)
>  Monastic, whose explicit focus is on communal life and prayer. (For example, the Benedictines, whose daily life revolves around the Liturgy of the Hours).

Click here to read Frequently Asked Questions.

If you have questions about the formation process of Becoming and Being a Sylvania Franciscan Sister, please contact Sister Brigit.

Sr. Brigid O’Shea Merriman, OSF
Congregational Formation Minister
419-824-3776
bmerrima@sistersosf.org