The Consecrated Life

The call to religious life is always marked by a desire to serve God and God’s people, to care for others and to bring people to experience God’s love.  But since ministry is a part of every vocation, service is not the distinguishing characteristic of a call to consecrated life as a member of religious congregation. 

The uniqueness of the call to religious life is in living the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience in community.

The essential service of religious is to witness to everyone that each of us is called to treat things, persons, and our own self with respect and as ultimately belonging to God.

Signs of a Call to Religious (Consecrated) Life

• Love of God that manifests itself in a desire to give one’s life as a witness to the immensity of God’s love for all people.
• Ability to relate with a variety of people, to be happy alone or in a group.
• Joy in serving others in any outreach or parish involvement.
• Generosity
• Ability to listen to others and accept direction when needed./
• Desire to love expansively rather than needing an intimate relationship with one person.
• Desire to grow in union with God through prayer and service of the needy.

Sisters Of St Joseph In Tasmania

Initial Formation

A woman who is attracted to the consecrated life as a Sister of St Joseph makes an initial contact with any member of the Congregation in Tasmania.  Following this contact, she may decide to take the first step towards a more serious consideration of living her life as a Religious.  She would begin by ‘getting to know” the community and the way of life of Sisters of St Joseph.

Stage 1: Towards New Membership

During the stage of Towards New Membership a woman has the opportunity to come to an understanding of the spirit, purpose and way of life of the Sisters of St Joseph.  This may involve visiting some communities and/or sharing in the prayer, community and ministry activities of the sisters.

Prior to living in community, an individual sister and/or community is the contact or point of reference for the woman making formal enquiries about becoming a Sister of St Joseph.  Both the sisters and the enquirer have the opportunity to assess the suitability of a decision to proceed to a more formal application to live in community. 

Once a woman begins to live in a community she will continue the work or study in which she is already engaged while also participating in a suitable program which includes guided reading and spiritual direction.  This is designed to assist in her discernment about a decision to join the Congregation.

When she feels ready, the woman considering religious life may seek formal admission to Stage 2, New Membership.

Stage 2: New Membership

This stage, formerly called the Novitiate, is a time of continued discernment for the new member and for the Congregation.  It consists of two parts: a Canonical Year of at least twelve months and an Apostolic Period.

During the Canonical Year the novice, in an atmosphere of recollection and prayer, continues to deepen her relationship with God and to grow in awareness of God’s presence and action in all of life.  She becomes familiar with the spirituality and mission of Fr Julian and Mary MacKillop and with the spirit and traditions of the Congregation.

In the Apostolic period, the woman has the opportunity to experience some ministry while living in a community where she learns to understand and integrate the theoretical dimensions of Josephite Religious Life with her personal experiences. 

When she feels ready, the woman, in consultation with the designated representatives of the Congregation, will make her Temporary Profession. She takes her first vows to live in Poverty, Chastity and Obedience. 

Stage 3: Temporary Profession.

These first vows are made for three years.  This time is a period of transition during which the newly professed sister continues to discern her call to religious life and Josephite mission.  It is a time which enables a sister to deepen her commitment to the community life of the Congregation and to participate in its mission and to make a mature decision regarding her definitive commitment to Christ in final profession. 

Final Profession

When she feels ready to do so, and after all canonical and congregational requirements have been met, a temporarily professed sister will make her Final Profession.  This public act consecrates her to live as a Religious in the Congregation of the Sisters of St Joseph for life.