[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]If the person feels she wishes to further explore life as a Dominican Sister, she can ask to begin the Pre-Novitiate.

The Pre-Novitiate is a time for the person to get to know our Congregation a little more and to experience our prayer and our life in community and in ministry. It offers possibilities to meet and spend time with sisters, to visit our communities, to learn of our various ministries, to attend gatherings, and to stay in some of our communities for short periods.

During this time, a sister is asked to accompany the person discerning, to journey with her and to explore with her where she feels God may be drawing her. Primarily, this sister’s role is to be available; to support the person through face-to-face conversations and meetings and by email and phone. This sister also acts as a link with the Congregation, looking for and arranging opportunities for the person to get to know us better.

Again, this is a time of no commitment, either on the part of the individual or the Congregation.

If after some time, she feels drawn to a deeper exploration of life as a Dominican Sister, with the agreement of the sister accompanying her, she can seek to begin a more formal discernment as a novice. She writes a letter to our Congregation Prioress, asking that she might be to be considered for entry into our Congregation’s novitiate.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]