Vocations

In this first state, Vocation Directors help a candidate discern his vocation to religious life. Together, the candidate and the Vocation Directors discern whether the candidate is being called to the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. 

The formation directors help a candidate come to a fuller knowledge of himself. As they dialogue together, the candidate grows in his human, spiritual, community, pastoral, and academic understanding of himself and through that lens he is better able to see if the Redemptorist vocation is for him.  This is a two-year program that takes place in the Bronx, NY. Candidates live with the Redemptorist community of Immaculate Conception Church and do their studies at St. John University. The program, under the direction of formation directors, provides an environment for students to discern their call to religious life, with an emphasis placed on the charism and mission of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. They begin the necessary adjustment from life in the world to life as a Redemptorist student.

The novice directors help the novice grow in deepening his relationship with Christ the Redeemer. He is introduced more fully into Alphonsian spirituality as he grows in his own spiritual development. The novitiate is for one year and takes place in Mexico City, Mexico. Overall, the life of a novice is relatively quiet. Free from the rigors of academic studies and from many of the distractions of the outside world, the novice can focus more fully on his inner spiritual life.

The newly professed student takes his first vows and continues to grow in his knowledge and love of himself and his vocation as he deepens his relationship with Jesus by identifying himself with the mission of the Redeemer. His formation directors help the professed student to a deeper commitment of Jesus’ mission in his love for his neighbor, especially the poor and abandoned. The professed Redemptorist will attend the Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio, Texas. As he continues his academic studies, he will experience pastoral ministry on a yearly basis and undertake an apostolic experience outside his home country and in a Redemptorist setting. With the grace of God and his free commitment he will then profess Perpetual Vows after completing three years of temporary vows and so enter full membership into the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer.

Those members pursuing priesthood will complete their Master of Divinity degree and prepare themselves under the direction of their formators for Ordination to the Diaconate and Priesthood.  

Completion of these initial stages does not mark the end of formation. Indeed, continuing education and formation remains ever important and vital. It is always necessary for Redemptorists to grow deeper in their spiritual life and so bear greater witness to the people of God by their preaching and the example of their life.