Becoming a Dominican Sister of Our Lady of the Springs

Stages that lead to perpetual profession of vows are periods of candidacy, novitiate, and temporary profession of vows. Ultimately, a woman seeking membership is afforded ample opportunity to make a truly informed decision about her readiness for consecrated life as a Dominican of Our Lady of the Springs. 

Each step toward full membership has specific goals. Opportunities are provided to assimilate our spirit and way of life in a manner that attempts to harmonize the four pillars of Dominican life on a daily basis. This formation includes a thorough understanding of the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, as well as the knowledge of our Constitutions and the Rule of St. Augustine. 

A candidate lives with a local community of our sisters. The practical interaction of Sisters at the local level is indispensable for potential members to understand and to embrace the possibility of life together in this Dominican congregation. The candidate is guided in the process of learning and growing in the fundamental aspects of community while she is personally responsible for internalizing them in her daily life.

A two-year novitiate allows time for intensive growth in prayer and deeper understanding of the charism of the congregation. During the second year of novitiate, a novice may have some formative apostolic involvement. Intense study of our constitutions and the Rule of St. Augustine continues during this period so the novice can freely and with full understanding make profession of the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience for a period of three years.

A first profession of vows can be requested by a novice upon completion of the two-year novitiate. The Prioress makes the decision regarding her readiness for first profession.

A Perpetual profession of vows brings the sister into full membership within the Congregation of Our Lady of the Springs. As a perpetually professed sister, she becomes a member with all the rights and obligations specified in our Constitutions and in the Canon Law of the Church.

For more information, download our brochure, below.