Nashville Dominicans Has Largest Postulant Class in USA

On 8 August I looked at the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia (Nashville Dominicans). In that post I talked about how they were growing. Well, I just found out that the numbers are already out of date.

As the title says, their newest postulant class is the largest this year of any order in the USA. They have 23 women who are in their 1st year of the novitiate. They have a total of 54 candidates in all the various stages of the novitiate.

The new sisters are a diverse group It includes those right out of high school & from across the globe. According to The Tennessean: "Sister Maria, from Pennsylvania, is 17 and straight out of high school. One, a nurse of Vietnamese descent, came from Sydney, Australia. Another sister is from the Ivory Coast. Others are from Ohio, Michigan and other Midwestern states. One is from Knoxville. Three were engineers before coming to the convent.."

Their formation process takes a total of 7 years. But it doesn't end there. As they explain on their website: "The first seven years of her religious life are a preparation for her profession of perpetual vows. The formation process is that of becoming more and more like Christ, growing in union with Him, taking on His mind, and sharing in His sacrificial gift. It is a process of conversion leading to the perfection of charity. Formation in the religious life is a lifelong journey. Thus, we participate in a formal program of formation before and after profession of perpetual vows, seeking to cultivate perseverance and fidelity."

The process actually begins before the 7 year novitiate. 1st there is the initial Inquiry. The young woman makes initial contact with the community, either in person or by phone, letter, e-mail, or the website. She speaks with the Vocation Director. This part of the process includes a visit to the community or a retreat at the Motherhouse. While there, she may have an interview with the Director of Novices & the Prioress General. Then she 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.

Next is the Pre-Postulancy. During this time period, the pre-postulant has contact with the Vocation Director and uses the time before entrance for spiritual and material preparations.

Next is the Postulancy . 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.

Next is the Canonical Novitiate. 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. This period is called the Years of Initial 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. At that point she makes her Perpetual Profession. 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 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. (Info on postulancy/novitiate taken from website.)

As you can see, the path is not easy. It is truly that narrow path Jesus called all of us to. & these sisters are called to it in a very special way. These women are in love with Jesus & are happy to be brides of Christ.

"God showed me that everything I longed for in my heart was here," Sister Angela said. "My vocation was a romance with the Creator."

Sister Mary Emily: "We love our life, and we want to share it with others."

It is that love of Jesus that is drawing women to their order. It is a love that is sadly lacking in the world. These women are responding to that love & then sharing it with others in a way that I see all too lacking in those orders that are dying out. These women don't want to be seen as conforming to the world. They want to be a visible sign that runs counter to the world instead.

Source: Nashville nuns attracting most US postulants