Vowed Membership

A woman who is interested in vowed membership is invited to journey through a discernment process.

The discernment process consists of four phases:

Inquiry

This phase involves contact with our Vocation Director, getting to know our Sisters, participation when possible in special inquiry weekends, with ongoing reflection and discernment of one's call to vowed religious life. The inquiry phase ends when the interested woman decides either that she is not called to religious life or not called to Holy Family, or when she is accepted as a candidate into our Congregation.

Candidacy

The candidate is invited to move into the Congregation. This is a time for her to continue her discernment through her experience and participation of community living, ministry, and prayer. A Sister-mentor will walk with her to help her reflect on her experience of the Congregation and vowed religious life.

Novitiate

This is a time for the novice to further integrate into the Community with guidance from Community members, contemplation, Community living and ministry. There is limited involvement in ministry so that she may have the time to make a free and responsible commitment. The novitiate marks the formal beginning of religious life in our Congregation.

Temporary Profession

The newly-professed member of the Congregation learns to integrate community life and other responsibilities with full-time ministry. Included in this phase are pastoral supervision and ministry development. Her mentor continues to walk with her, helping her to discern more deeply her call to vowed religious life. This phase culminates with a period of intense preparation for final vows.

Vocation inquiries can be sent to:
Vocation Director
P.O. Box 3248
Fremont, California 94539-0324
vocations@holyfamilysisters.org