The Path

“As clay in the hands of the potter so are you in Mine!”
(Jeremiah 18:6b)

Initial Formation in the congregation of the Sisters of the Most Precious Blood is a relationship in which the woman and the members of the community come to know each other in order to discern whether our life stories can become one. Rooted in the faithfulness of God and in the Gospel message of Jesus, Initial Formation is designed to assist the candidate in her ever-deepening relationship with Jesus, herself and our CPPS Community.

Aspirancy marks the formal acceptance into our Initial Formation relationship which is characterized by:

• A non-residency experience
• Regular meetings with a member of our CPPS Formation Team
• An opportunity for mutual sharing and mentoring with a small community of CPPS Sisters
• A three- to 12-month relationship not to exceed one year

Postulancy is distinguished by activities geared to a more formal environment and interaction with the Formation Team. This relationship is characterized by:

• Living in a small community of CPPS Sisters
• Sharing with the postulant how we interpret and embrace our call to consecrated celibacy, poverty and obedience
• Beginning with a spiritual director, if she has none
• Receiving a postulant pin as a symbol of entering more actively into community life
• A six-month to two-year relationship, ordinarily one year

Novitiate is a more intense relationship which consists of three phases: the canonical year, the apostolic experience and integration. It is characterized by:

• Centering on the God-quest
• Receiving a copy of our CPPS Constitutions as a symbol of her deepening relationship with the community
• Living the essentials of the life of a woman religious: prayer, solitude and reflection, community life, the vows, charism and ministry
• Receiving the title “Sister”
• Receiving a pin which designates her as “Novice”
• Continuing with a spiritual director
• A two-year relationship

Temporary Profession is a designated period of time in which, as a professed member of our CPPS congregation, the woman lives vows of consecrated celibacy, poverty and obedience. It is characterized by:

• Professing first vows during the Sunday Eucharist on or near the Feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord, August 6
• Living according to our CPPS Constitutions
• Receiving our symbol of religious profession, our community cross
• Enjoying active and passive vote in community decision making, except in those areas restricted by our CPPS Constitutions
• Participating in an immersion experience
• Professing vows for three to five years, but not to exceed nine years

Perpetual Profession expresses the desire to pursue the God-quest by being rooted in Scripture, prayer and the Eucharist, and living out the Gospel counsels of consecrated celibacy, poverty and obedience as a perpetual member of our CPPS congregation. It is characterized by:

• Living our CPPS Constitutions
• Receiving our symbol of perpetual profession, our community ring
• Enjoying active and passive vote in all community decision making
• Professing vows which are public and permanent