Vocation Inquirer

• Meets with the Vocation Director.
• Begins a mentor relationship with the vocation director.
• May begin Spiritual Direction.
• Begins to learn about the Redemptorist Charism and the ministries of the Redemptorists
• Attends a Come and See Weekend
• Works towards preparing to make application to the Formation Program.

Before acceptance into the Redemptorist Formation Program, an Inquirer:

• Has comprehensive interviews with the Vocation Director
• Completes application forms.
• Participates in a psychological assessment.
• Consents to a criminal background check. Applies to St. John University, Queens, New York.

The Postulant/Pre-Novitiate

• Lives in a Redemptorist Community, where he continues to learn, assess and mutually discern with the Formation Directors
• He tests out whether he feels at home with this life, and discovering where God is calling him.
• Continues Spiritual Direction
• Gets to know the larger Redemptorist Community
• May begin to learn Spanish
• Upon completion of studies, makes Application to Novitiate

The Postulency is currently at the Redemptorist Formation Residence in Bronx, NY

Novitiate (1 year)

• A year of Retreat!
• An opportunity to discern more deeply the call to Redemptorist Life; education in Redemptorist History; and learning about the Vows
• A time to grow in prayer and life in community
• Receives the Redemptorist Habit
• A time of preparation for 1st Vows / Temporary Profession

Currently, the Novitiate for North America is in Glenview, IL., north of Chicago.

Theology Student (Seminarian- at least 4 years)

• Priest Candidates begins or continues studies in Theology, working towards a Master of Divinity (M.Div)
• Brother Candidates may take Theology or continue their areas of study for ministry as they prepare for Final Vows
• Both Candidates live in a Formation Community
• Continues for the next few years as a student, living in Community, working part time in ministry, developing prayer, affinity to community and seeking Spiritual Direction
• Spends summers working in a Redemptorist community
• Clinical Pastoral Education (C.P.E.)
• May learn Spanish
• Prepares for Final Vows

Final Vows & Transition to Ministry (normally 1 year)

At an appropriate time, usually after three years in temporary vows, both Brothers and Clerical Candidates make Permanent Profession of Vows.

Following Permanent Profession:

• Brothers live in a local community, and serve in the ministry of that community or in the area of their expertise
• Priest Candidates are ordained Deacons and serve for a year, usually in parish ministry, while being mentored by a more experienced Redemptorist. A newly ordained Redemptorist priest is appointed to pastoral ministry in a Redemptorist Community. Both Brothers and Priests, for the first 5 years of their ministry, participate in a Transition to Ministry program.