Pope John Paul II taught in his Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Pastores dabo vobis (PDV) that 4 aspects of a young man must be developed simultaneously in any program of priestly formation. The four areas needing development are: the human, the spiritual, the intellectual and the pastoral. PDV no, 43 states: “The whole work of priestly formation would be deprived of its necessary foundation if it lacked a suitable human formation.” In other words, the lack of a suitable human formation will hinder spiritual, intellectual and pastoral development. The document goes on to expound what a suitable human formation is.

Even though PDV is addressing the formation of future priests, these four areas of development can be applied fruitfully to formation in a religious order. During aspirancy the aspirant works with the Director of Vocations and his Dominican mentor to explore where he stands in relation to his own human, spiritual, intellectual and pastoral development. If an aspirant is to apply to the Order, there will need to be signs that these four areas of development are initially underway-even though it belongs to the Province’s program of formation to bring them to mature development.

Put simply, aspirancy assists you and us to determine if you have, more or less, the “right stuff” to become a Dominican preacher. Aspirancy is a new step of commitment which invites you to consider even more seriously just what the shift from your current way of life into the life of a consecrated religious will entail and whether this is truly a realistic option for you. Typically, if he hasn’t done so already, during aspirancy a man begins to share his desire to enter the Order of Preachers with those closest to him (family, relatives, friends, etc.).

The length of aspirancy depends on where an aspirant is in his discernment. Its duration is up to the discretion of the Director of Vocations in consultation with the aspirant, his Dominican mentor and anyone else the Director wishes to consult. A typical period of aspirancy is a year. Some men need more time than that and some need less. For instance, a freshman in college who hopes to enter the Order upon graduation would need to be an aspirant for at least four years.

The Bottom Line

The final goal of aspirancy is that you and the Director of Vocations observe sufficient evidence to show that application is a realistic option for which you are well-suited and truly ready.

Some Further Details of Aspirancy

If distance is no problem, an aspirant is assigned a Dominican friar who will act as a mentor for him in his discernment of a Dominican vocation. Where possible, this mentor is chosen from the Dominican community which is closest to where the aspirant lives. The aspirant stays in touch with this Dominican friar on a regular basis (i.e. every 5 to 6 weeks by telephone, Email or in person). If it seems appropriate to the aspirant and the Director of Vocations, this Dominican mentor might also act as a spiritual director and/or confessor for the aspirant. From time to time, the mentor will invite the candidate to join the rest of the Dominican community for prayer and a meal or perhaps even an overnight stay. Overnight stays are always coordinated through the Director of Vocations. Throughout the entire period of aspirancy, the aspirant is responsible for maintaining contact with the Director of Vocations.

(If you think you might ask to apply to the Province’s novitiate for the Summer of 2008 you will need to become an aspirant by September 15, 2007 and preferably earlier. While exceptions to this date can be made, the point of declaring aspirancy is to give you time to clarify and solidify your desire to enter the Dominican Order. The decision to become an aspirant is your initial commitment to focus your discernment entirely upon the Dominicans of the Province of St. Joseph before actually applying. As long as you are still investigating other religious communities, provinces of Domincans or dioceses, you are not ready to become an aspirant to the Province of St. Joseph.)