| Vowed Members are women who live in community, are consecrated by the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience and are formally incorporated into the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph. Their ministry is based on the mission and priorities of the Congregation. |
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The path of a vowed member leads toward a life commitment as a woman religious within the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph. There are definite stages as one enters into discerning this journey with the community.
The Inquiry Period is a time to familiarize oneself with the Congregation while determining a readiness to take the initial steps toward formation.
Candidacy is a period during which a woman lives with the community in order to have the experience of communal life, while maintaining her personal work and financial responsibilities.
The Novitiate is a period of at least two years, during which one has concentrated time to immerse herself in the identity and mission of the Sisters of St. Joseph. During this time, the candidate thinks about the ways she could respond creatively to the present and future realities of religious life. During this time she prepares for initial profession of vows.
The Initially Professed period allows one to intrinsically experience the vowed life for a number of years before making a life commitment as a vowed member.
For more information about becoming a Sister of St. Joseph of Springfield, please contact:
Natalie Cain, SSJ, Coordinator of Membership and Agrégées
Email: ncain@ssjspringfield.com
(413) 536-0853 ext. 249