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| Anyone who enters a religious community is responding to a call from God. We enter religious life not for our sake but for God, not because we wish to live this way but because God's call compells us to desire consecration for His sake. Such a call is often difficult to discern; it is the gift of the Holy Spirit whose communion with us is rarely as clear and precise as we could wish. Because one's background, experience, and call are deeply personal, formation in our community places the individual at the center. While some formation is common to all postulants and novices, we carefully consider the needs of each woman who enters. All formation experiences are planned to foster the spiritual life, to encourage each postulant or novice toward an ever deepening relationship with God within the Dominican monastic tradition. |
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Aspirancy An optional two- to six-weeks stay in the monastery. At the end of her aspirancy, the candidate returns home to reflect on her experience and her call. She may ask to enter the community, or she may decide to continue her secular life. |
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| Postulancy A Postulant enters the community and spends six months experiencing and trying our contemplative Dominican life. She prays and works in community, and attends classes with the Novice Director. |
To say "Yes" to the Lord's call
by taking personal responsibility
for maturing in one's vocation
is the inescapable duty
of all who have been called.
One's whole life must be open
to the action of the Holy Spirit,
traveling the road of formation with generosity,
and accepting in faith the means of grace
offered by the Lord and the Church.
John Paul II, Vita Consecrata
| Novitiate The canonical novitiate lasts one year. The Novice prays, studies, and works, under the guidance of the Novice Director, intensively preparing for the time she will profess temporary vows. The Novitiate may be extended for six months. |
Formation is a dynamic process by means of which
individuals are converted to the Word of God
in the depth of their being and, at the same time, learn
how to discover the signs of God in earthly realities.
John Paul II, Vita Consecrata
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Temporary Profession of Vows A Perpetual Rosary Sister receives the Dominican habit the evening before her Profession. The next day, during the Eucharistic Liturgy, she professes to God vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience in our community for three years. During that time she lives and works with the professed Sisters. Under the guidance of the Prioress, she prays and studies, preparing for Perpetual Profession. |
There is only one thing that is real, one thing
that is true: to hand oneself over to God.
Cardinal Yves Congar, OP
| Perpetual Profession After three years in temporary vows the Sister may profess final or perpetual vows, giving herself to God until death. The ceremony is both joyful and solemn, reflecting the profound significance of her gift to God and his Church. For most Sisters there is the mysterious lingering sense that in reality God has given us the great gift and privilege of serving him in this community for the rest of our life. |
Sister Mary Margaret of Jesus, OP. with Reverend Eugene Jarosch, SAC, Chaplain of the Dominican Sisters of the Perpetual Rosary, as he blesses her veil during the ceremony of Perpetual Profession. . |
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We welcome the interest of Catholic women who have a sincere desire to consecrate their life to God through vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. If you would like to receive further information about our way of life or find out about membership in our community, you are welcome to call, write, or send an e-mail message to: 217 North 68th Street Milwaukee, WI 53213-3928 414-258-0579  E-mail the Vocation Director. |
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