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Vocation/Formation: FAQs

Q. DO YOU HAVE TO BE CATHOLIC TO BE A SISTER?

A. Yes, you must be a baptized Catholic in order to be a vowed member of a religious community.

Q. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO BECOME A SISTER?

A.   There are different stages of the formation process:
           1) The Pre-entrance/Candidacy stage is six to eighteen months
           2) The Novitiate is two years
           3) Temporary Profession is three to six years – vows renewed each year
           4) After six years the woman should be ready for final profession

Q. WHAT IS THE HARDEST THING ABOUT BECOMING A SISTER?

A. Probably the hardest thing about becoming a Sister is the drastic change in lifestyle. It’s not an easy decision to leave your home and possibly your place of employment to begin something new. However, it’s necessary if you feel called to religious life.

Q. DO YOU HAVE TO GO TO SCHOOL TO BE A SISTER?

A. During the Candidacy phase, you attend workshops which help you to get to know others in formation. The Sisters of St. Joseph have a common Novitiate program where all the novices from around the country live together for a year to learn our charism, spirituality, prayer, history and other topics necessary for formation and growth. During Temporary Profession, you may continue to attend workshops related to community life, vows, and other topics of religious life.

Q. WHY DON’T YOU WEAR A HABIT?

A. Our first Sisters of St. Joseph began in France before the French Revolution. At that time, all religious communities were cloistered (secluded). Also, women could not function in public without being accompanied by their husbands, brothers, or sons. In order not to be cloistered and work with the dear neighbor, Sisters wore widow’s clothing – allowing her to be unescorted in public. Clothing customs changed throughout the years but the clothing worn by our Sisters did not -- it became our habit. After Vatican II mandated that religious communities research their beginnings, the research team for the Sisters of St. Joseph discovered that we were to dress in the manner of the people we serve. During the 1970s, our congregation made the decision to dress in the clothing of the people of our day.

Q. DO YOU ONLY ACCEPT VIRGINS TO BECOME A SISTER?

A. A woman’s virginity is not an issue. What is important is whether a woman can dedicate herself to prayer, living in community, and sharing in the mission and ministry of Jesus, all with the sincere willingness to living a chaste, celibate life.

If your question was not answered here or if you would like more information, please contact
Linda Fusco, SSJ
formation@ssjerie.org