Becoming a Daughter of Charity
The life of each Daughter of Charity is centred on wanting to give oneself to God, through living in community and serving people who experience poverty. God calls each person in His own way and gradually by the light of the Spirit, the path becomes clear.
What do I learn when training to be a Daughter of Charity?
Getting to know the founders of the Daughters of Charity – St Louise de Marillac and St Vincent de Paul.
The history of the community and its charism as gift to the church.
The beginning of living in a faith community and how to balance of life of prayer, community living and service of other people.
The Formation of Members:
Formation comprises an initial stage and an on-going stage. It considers,
- The international character of the Company of the Daughters of Charity
- The demands of inculturation
- The individual progress of each person
The Stages of Formation:
Discernment
There is a period of discernment, where each person through prayer and the companionship of a trained spiritual director, explores what God is asking of the person.
Postulancy
This stage is when the candidate experiences living a spiritual, community and apostolic life in common. The duration of postulancy is a minimum of twelve months. During this stage she continues
- To discern her vocation
- To deepen her human and Christian formation
- She seeks to discover the Vincentian charism.
Seminary
The candidate is admitted to the Seminary when both she and the company of the Daughters of charity are certain that she
- is called by God
- is ready to take upon herself the life of a Daughter of Charity.
The time spent in the Seminary enables her to
- intensify her spiritual life and to deepen her understanding and knowledge of her Christian calling.
- to integrate the values of service, total gift of self to God and to community living
- to familiarise herself with the practice of the vows of poverty, chastity, obedience and service of the poor
- To experience times of apostolic life in a local community when she is given responsibility for certain tasks and service of those in poverty.
When it is decided by the young sister and her Seminary Directress, she writes to the Sister Provincial for permission to be Sent on Mission and move to the next stage of Formation.
Initial formation continues
Having been sent on mission the sister continues her initial formation. She actively participates in the local community as she integrates, prayer, service and community living. She reflects simultaneously on the vows which prepare her to strengthen her commitment in the company to serve Christ in persons who are poor.
Making vows for the first time
The Sister makes vows for the first time between five- and seven-years vocation.
Each year
Subsequently each year, the Daughters of Charity renew their vows. The annual renewal of the vows
- permits the sisters to strengthen their determination to be faithful to their vocation
- it assures the stability of their service of Christ in the Company
- it implies a free act of will, inspired always by love