Discernment

Women who are considering religious life prayerfully discern God’s call. We encourage you to consider religious life over a period of time and to explore the many ways you can answer His call, including as a Sister. If you believe God is calling you to serve others and wish to explore religious vocation, the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady welcomes your inquiry.

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Candidacy

Candidacy is the period of time when a woman has manifested interest in our congregation and is considering her vocational choice.

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Purpose

The purpose of the Candidacy period is to help the woman discern her call to religious life and, in particular, the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady. The candidate is accompanied through this process by the Vocation Directress who initiates the candidate to the charism of the Congregation. The Vocations Directress is an important resource to the candidate, answering  questions while always supporting and encouraging the candidate freedom to make her own choice regarding religious life.

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Responsibilities

Once a woman has been accepted as a Candidate, the Vocation Directress assumes the responsibility for directing this process and determining its time. The Candidate and the Vocation Directress meet at least monthly to meet the goals of the program. The Candidate is further supported by each Sister in the community. Each Franciscan Missionary of Our Lady also shares in this responsibility to offer a lived witness, one of the most inspiring and clarifying elements in a call to religious life.

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Duration

Upon entering the Candidacy Program, the woman’s age and degree of maturity will affect its duration. The Candidacy Program varies, generally lasting one year, and is established uniquely for each Candidate by the Provincial and Vocation Directress.

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Residence

The Candidate lives in her own home.

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Status

The Candidate is not a member of the Congregation and has no official ties with it. Candidacy is not a canonical stage of formation. The Candidate can partially participate in the life of the Sisters but she is not obliged to fulfill its requirement.

During the Candidacy Program, each woman is provided opportunities to spend time with the Sisters in community. The Candidate is encouraged to spend at least one week in a local community. In addition, she may be provided contact with the larger Congregation through invitations to Province-sponsored functions.

To foster the continued development of the Candidate’s spirituality in the context of apostolic religious life, she will meet monthly with the Vocation Directress. The Candidate will follow a reading program to enhance her spiritual growth. She is encouraged to pray with the Scriptures daily as well as have a personal Spiritual Director. She is also encouraged to participate in spirituality programs that might be available in her city, town or place of residence. Of course, she should also actively participate in the life of our parish Church.

Candidacy is a time of personal growth. The candidate should pursue academic and professional preparation for future ministry. She is also encouraged to spend time in volunteer ministry.

The Candidate should be at least seventeen (17) years of age. Widows or divorced women who have received an annulment will be given individualized consideration. Sisters wishing to transfer from another Congregation also require individual consideration.

Upon acceptance as a Candidate and successful completion of this discernment period, the woman then enters the Postulancy. A period of time, six months to two years, follows before the woman enters the Novitiate stage.

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Contact Us

Vocations Directress
Sister Ann Catherine Nguyen, OSF
(225) 936-9129 or ann.nguyen@ololrmc.com