You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you. (St. Augustine)

• The young woman makes initial contact with the community, either in person or by phone, letter, e-mail, or the website.
• The candidate speaks with the Vocation Director.
• In order to see the life, she visits the community or attends a retreat at the Motherhouse.
• While at the Motherhouse, she may have an interview with the Director of Novices and the Prioress General.
• The candidate may request an application. This application process entails completing an information form; sending school transcripts, medical forms, Baptismal & Confirmation certificates; acquiring a letter of recommendation from a priest; writing a personal statement of one’s motive for entering religious life; and completing a psychological evaluation.
• Status regarding acceptance is communicated.

As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”… Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, “You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” (Mark 10:17, 21)

• During this time period, the pre-postulant has contact with the Vocation Director and uses the time before entrance for spiritual and material preparations.
• The pre-postulant is encouraged to strengthen her resolve and to have an awareness of the spousal dimension of religious life. In this context, she is making a choice beyond life and career. It is a response made in love.
• She is encouraged to frequent the sacraments, to read Scripture daily, to have a program for her spiritual life and to read works about Dominican spirituality.

Those who let themselves be seized by this love cannot help abandoning everything to follow Him. (Vita Consecrata 18)

• After a simple entrance ceremony, the postulant begins a year of immersion into the life of her new religious family. She attends all community prayers and practices the monastic customs that are a part of our life.
• The postulant receives the guidance of the Director of Novices and her assistant, who guide her to grow in virtue and self-knowledge.
• She learns of the joys and demands of community life.
• During this year she becomes acquainted with the basics of Dominican spirituality and history, along with the charism of our Congregation.
• The postulant attends classes at Aquinas College where she studies philosophy and secular subjects. Her afternoons also include a period of physical exercise, a house duty, and spiritual reading.
• Her classes at the Motherhouse include the study of Sacred Scripture, the spiritual life, basic Catholic doctrine, and Church history.

Fill your minds with everything that is true, everything that is noble, everything that is good and pure, everything that we love and honor, and everything that can be thought virtuous or worthy of praise...Then the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:8-9)

• At the end of the postulant year, the sister receives the Dominican habit with a white veil and a new religious name. As a novice, she enters into a period of theological, philosophical, ascetical and spiritual formation.
• She is guided to see the essential link between study, prayer and preaching.
• The novice has an additional meditation period before the Blessed Sacrament each day. She also has additional time for silence, instruction, and study, thereby seeking to deepen her prayer life. Her appreciation for devotion to the Eucharist is fostered in many ways, including her daily participation in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours, and time for personal prayer.
• She studies spiritual theology, patristics, Scripture and the theology of the vows.
• Devotion to Mary is fostered, as well as a strong fidelity to the teachings of the Church. She studies the Catechism of the Catholic Church and Church documents, especially those related to religious life.
• The goal of the canonical novitiate is observable growth in love of God and neighbor, self-knowledge, and understanding of the commitment which the novice will choose to make.
• At the end of this year, the sister makes the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience for three years.

He has pledged His troth with His ring and adorned me with His priceless love. He has placed His sign on my brow, that I may admit no other lover. (Mass of Religious Profession)

• After making her First Profession the sister exchanges her white veil for a black one, symbolic of conversion, penance, and consecration to God.
• The two years after her canonical novitiate are spent within the novitiate community, with where she receives continued formation on the actual living out of the vows.
• The sisters continue their formation in the theology of consecration, of mission, and of the ecclesial dimension of religious life.
• Continued growth in personal conversion and prayer, charity, love of God and neighbor, and devotion to St. Cecilia and the Dominican saints is emphasized during this time.
• The sister finishes her college coursework and obtains certification as a teacher. If she enters with certification, she may begin her work in the apostolate.
• During the summer months, the sisters in the novitiate take classes in theology and philosophy on a four-year cycle. The coursework is systematic and foundational, with an emphasis on the works of St. Thomas Aquinas.
• After her four years in the novitiate, she enters the larger community and seeks to solidify the foundation she has gained.
• She may experience mission life with seasoned sisters of the Congregation during this time.
• At the end of her first three years in vows, the sister renews her vows for two additional years.

One thing I ask of the Lord, this I seek, to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. (Psalm 27)

• After five years in vows, the sister makes her profession of perpetual vows. The year prior to this step is one of more intensive preparation.
• The words “for all my life” in the profession formula take on a profound significance as the sister promises to live in poverty, chastity and obedience, according to the Rule of St. Augustine and the Constitutions of the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia, until death.
• “The gift of faithful perseverance in religious consecration is a grace given by God which each sister must seek to cultivate. Religious formation then does not end with the sister’s perpetual profession of vows. It is a pursuit that never ends.” (Constitutions of the Congregation)
• The sister participates in a program of ongoing formation which supports her formation after profession of perpetual vows.  She begins ongoing formation studies upon leaving the novitiate and continues through her tenth year of final vows. 
• Being joined to the Church in an intimate way, the sister makes its teachings the frequent subject of her reading, study, and meditation.
• During this time period, the sisters seek, as a community and as individuals, to deepen their faithful and obedient love for the Church.
• Through her work in the apostolate and her continued professional and personal studies, the sister contributes to the building up of the Church and the mission and charism of the community.