A woman who desires to become a Franciscan Sister of the Poor prepares for permanent membership by completing guided stages of development in terms of pre-novitiate, novitiate and temporary profession, and perpetual profession.

Pre-Novitiate Phase

• During the pre-novitiate phase a candidate establishes a relationship with the congregation through guided experiences of prayer, community and service.

• The pre-novitiate phase is no less than six months and no more than two years in length.

• The pre-novitiate phase provides a gradual preparation for religious life and provides experience of the life and work of the Congregation.

Novitiate

• During the novitiate phase the congregation provides the novice with an opportunity for initial study and experience of religious life and reflection on it.

• The novices receive an adequately planned and flexible program on the teachings of Jesus in the gospels and on the charism of the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor.

• The novitiate experience provides for a reflective study of the Christian mystery and the essentials of consecrated life as a way of Christian living. It also provides for a reflective study of the doctrinal and spiritual foundations of Christian faith, Franciscan Spirituality and the vows.

• The novitiate provides a realistic balance of times set aside for solitude with God as well as times for various activities and the development of relationships.

Temporary Profession

• Through profession of public vows of consecrated life as a Franciscan Sister of the Poor, a Sister binds herself to the congregation and accepts the obligation of observing the Constitutions of the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor.

• The period of temporary profession is usually three to four years, but can be longer.

Perpetual Profession

• The Sisters with perpetual vows share full responsibility for the life and mission of the congregation.

• For full membership in the congregation a Sister pronounces perpetual vows of consecrated celibacy, poverty and obedience, according to the congregational vow formula.

• After perpetual profession, each Franciscan Sister of the Poor continues to attend to an ever-closer application of the gospel to her life, to her orientation and to her search for God in solitude and in the midst of activity.