How do you know?

We invite you to view a few videos featuring women in various stages of discernment and religious life - click here.

How do you know if this is your calling?

There is no easy way to answer this question, since each person's call and journey is unique: God knows and calls each one by name! You may have met a Sister, or an Associate, whose witness to God as a Dominican literally set your heart on fire! You may have come with your own questions and curiosity to search the internet, and discovered on our webpage information about our Dominican family and charism. However it happens, you will want to continue your exploration with a companion, a vocation minister who will walk this journey with you.

Since the heart of any true vocation is a relationship with God, you may wish to reflect on some basic questions:

• Do you enjoy praying?
• Are you eager to deepen your relationship with God, and with others in and through this God-relationship?
• Do you wish to make a difference with your life by being part of something bigger than yourself?
• What gives you energy, and how might this choice tap on that source of energy and vitality?

Of course, you will want to review this process with a spiritual director, or a representative of the Dominican Sisters of Peace.

The process of coming to this kind of decision is called discernment.  These are some steps that are involved in this process:

• Prayerfully weigh the evidence that is leading you in this direction, and attend to your feelings as you list your reasons for or against the choice.
• Imagine yourself as having said "Yes" to this choice:  how would it be, both now, and 10 years from now? Then do the same for an alternative choice.
• Make the decision.
• Offer this choice to God and ask for the peace and inner joy that will give you confirmation that you have made the right decision.

Once you know - then what?

Once you've discerned a desire to join the Dominican Sisters of Peace, then what?

Ministry of Welcome
Sisters from the Ministry of Welcome team will journey with you as you continue to get to know our community by living, praying, and ministering with us. Just as the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) initiates people into the community of the Catholic Church, the Ministry of Welcome process will guide you as you continue to discern God's movement in your life and see if religious life is a good fit for you. While the process is designed to be flexible and responsive to the needs of each woman, there are several phases intended to introduce you to Dominican life.

The Candidacy Period
The Candidacy period (six months to two years) is a time of welcoming you into our way of life and continuing discernment by you and the congregation. During this time, you will experience living with a local community.

The Novitiate
The Novitiate (usually two years) gives you time to focus on your spirituality, the vows, and the mission of the congregation. Generally, the first year is spent at the Dominican Collaborative Novitiate in St. Louis, where you will have the opportunity to live and study with novices from other Dominican communities.

Temporary Profession
At the end of the Novitiate, your discernment with the congregation may lead you to make a temporary profession of vows. This time of Temporary Profession (three to six years) is a time of deepening your Dominican life and integrating all you have learned and experienced.

Perpetual Profession
While Profession of Perpetual Vows concludes the Ministry of Welcome process, becoming Dominican remains a life-long adventure. We hope you'll join us!

Still have questions? See More Info.