As a consecration of the whole person, religious life manifests in the Church a wonderful marriage brought about by God, a sign of the future age. Thus the religious brings to perfection a total self-giving as a sacrifice offered to God, through which his whole existence becomes a continuous worship of God in charity.

The steps involved in formation are:

Candidacy: There is an initial period of discernment when those interested in the monastic life can begin to explore a monastic vocation.  There is no standard period of time as each discernment period is different for all individuals.  During this time you will spend time visiting our community and sharing in our prayer and work, you will have the assistance of our vocation director, and you will be remembered in our daily prayers. This is a special time of listening: to God in prayer, to others in the advice they offer you, and to your heart as you reflect on your experiences and your future.   

Postulancy: Men enter as postulants for a period of four to six months. During this time, they live in the monastery and obtain more experience of our way of life before becoming a novice. They begin following the schedule on a daily basis and attending spiritual formation classes within the monastery to continue discernment and understand God’s call and conversion. 

Novitiate: Canonical year: consisting of training in monastic spirituality and the Rule. A novice is an individual who is a member of the community and is in the process of formation in becoming a monk. At the end of that year, the novices will have a chance to petition the community to take simple vows.

Simple Vows: Three year dedication to the monastic way of life. Although a person may extend the time of temporary vows, junior monks often make solemn vows at the end of three years and so become committed to the monastery for life.  During this time one may begin classes for ordination or other theology/spiritual formation programs as determined by the Abbot and monk.

Solemn Vows: Lifelong consecration to God as a monk.