That, however, is a simple summary of a very difficult and many-faceted program. And the real beginning of the process takes place before one ever contacts the Dominicans. It begins with the candidate’s own struggle to discern if he has a call to the religious life or not. This can take place over a number of years, and usually involves some help from others, especially a confessor or spiritual director. The dynamic here should be noted: it is a personal call from God to the individual, but the recognition and understanding of that call normally requires the help of others. This dynamic continues throughout the following, more formal stages of formation: the candidate continues to struggle to understand and give shape to his call under the guidance and direction of others. Nor should it be surprising to us that this is the case. God always enlightens us, teaches us, sanctifies us through the Body of Christ, his Church. His grace for us, in other words, is always ministered to us through others. The grace of a vocation is made incarnate in the service, education, and training that others give in order to bring that vocation to life.

THE PLAN FOR VOCATION DISCERNMENT & FORMATION

The following is a broad outline of how a man moves forward from initial inquiry towards application to the Province and finally onto the path of formation.

I. ASPIRANCY

After you have gathered sufficient information about the Dominican Order and the Province of St. Joseph (such as attending a Vocation Weekend or visiting another house or priory), that is, enough to begin thinking seriously about applying to enter the novitiate, you must indicate to the Director of Vocations that you wish to become an “aspirant”—one who “aspires” to join the Order. Any young man eager to join the Order and get on with his life’s vocation quite naturally desires to make the process unfold as quickly as possible. A sufficient period of aspirancy helps to ensure that haste does not make waste. A hasty entrance into a religious order could lead to a hasty exit.

We generally ask that a man wishing to become an aspirant indicate his interest by October 15 of the year prior to the summer he hopes to enter the novitiate.  Since the deadline for giving out applications is April 15, this gives the man roughly 6 months in the aspirancy phase before applying.  Exceptions to the September date can always be made depending on extenuating circumstances. In fact, when possible, we prefer a man to be an aspirant for at least one year before asking to apply.  The decision to become an aspirant is one’s initial commitment to focus discernment upon the Dominicans of the Province of St. Joseph before actually applying.  As long as a man has intentions of investigating other religious communities, provinces of Dominicans or dioceses, he isn’t ready to become an aspirant in the Province of St. Joseph.

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II. APPLICATION

When an aspirant believes he is ready to apply, he informs the Director of Vocations that he would like to apply to the novitiate. At this time (if it hasn’t happened earlier in the aspirancy), the aspirant is given an assessment interview by the Director of Vocations. If there are no impediments, and it seems prudent to do so, the Director of Vocations may supply the application.

Applications for the next novitiate class are not given out after April 15 each year.

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III. THE NOVITIATE 

The experience of living Dominican life begins in the novitiate, located St. Gertrude Priory in Cincinnati, Ohio. After a period of orientation and a week long retreat, the postulant is clothed in the full habit of our Holy Father Dominic on the Founder’s feast day, August 8, and thus begins his canonical year of novitiate. During this intense year of prayer and discernment, the novice is instructed in elements of religious life by the Novice Master and learns how to live as a Dominican friar among brothers. At the same time, the solemnly professed members of the novitiate community are discerning whether the novice truly has a call to the Dominican religious life. To read up more on the novitiate go to the novitiate website. The novitiate year concludes with the profession of simple (temporary) vows, usually made for a period of three years. Only one vow, obedience, is verbally professed. The other two, poverty and chastity, are included under the vow of obedience according to the Constitutions of the Order of Friars Preachers.

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IV. THE STUDIUM

After the novice completes his year of novitiate, the simply professed brother moves to the Dominican House of Studies (DHS) in Washington, D.C.. If he is a “clerical” brother, he begins philosophical and theological studies toward priesthood. If he is a “cooperator” brother he receives ministerial formation specific to his identity as a cooperator brother which may include various courses offered at the House of Studies or elsewhere.

Formation at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C. focuses primarily on three different aspects: academic, ministerial and spiritual. Upon simple profession the novice becomes a student brother (clerical or cooperator). He continues his spiritual growth and discernment at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C.. If he is a clerical student brother, he begins his studies for priesthood and prepares for active ministry. The cooperator student brother also prepares for active ministry but with a plan of formation suited to his particular skills and interests and the needs of the Province.

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