Mercy is here to be with you along your exploration of life as a woman religious.  The first step is to contact us.  We are here to journey with you, to listen and to answer any questions you have!  And remember, asking questions does not mean you are making a commitment.  We are ready to help you discover the next steps in your journey, wherever it may take you. Your privacy and anonymity will always be respected. 

Inquiry Phase
Application Phase
Pre-candidacy Phase
Welcoming Ceremony
Candidacy
Novitiate
Temporary Profession
Perpetual Profession

Inquiry Phase

This initial period is to help a woman discern her call. Regular contact with a vocation minister will help you discover how and where the Spirit of God is leading you.

Opportunities during this time include "Come and See" days, retreat/discernment weekends, "Mercy Challenge " service week, meetings, praying and/or socializing with the vocation minister and community members. For more information, see our calendar.

Application Phase

When you and a vocation minister agree that the call to a Mercy way of life is deepening and appropriate, you may decide to enter the application phase. You meet regularly with a spiritual director and continue to experience the life of the Sisters of Mercy through retreat/discernment weekends, extended live-in experiences, sister meetings in the Community, and ministry experiences. For more information, see our calendar.

Pre-candidacy Phase

Once you have completed all the application work and received affirmation from the President of the Community to continue in the process, you are considered a pre-candidate.  During this time you will meet with the geographic Community with whom you will live and share life.

Welcoming Ceremony

This simple ritual of prayer marks the beginning of a woman's journey as a candidate with the Sisters of Mercy.

Candidacy

After the formal application process and acceptance, you will enter into the two-year candidate phase.  Year one focuses on the transition to community life. Year two focuses on engagement in ministry and preparation for the novitiate. During this time you participate in the community, have regular meetings with the incorporation minister, pray and engage in ministry.

Novitiate

Following successful candidacy, you are received into the novitiate. This is a more intense period of discernment while you engage in prayer, study vows, minister with other novices, and continue to live in community. The two-year novitiate includes a canonical year and an apostolic year with more ministerial involvement.

Temporary Profession

Upon completion of the novitiate, you become a member of the community by making your first profession of the vows of chastity, poverty, obedience and service to the poor, sick and ignorant. Temporary profession - the incorporation process - lasts for a period of three to six years. During this time you are in full-time ministry or studies while continuing your discernment.

Perpetual Profession

After completion of the incorporation process, you make a perpetual profession, or final vows, as a Sister of Mercy.