How do I become an Oblate of
Mary Immaculate?
A. Basic Requirements
If you sense a call from the
Lord to become an Oblate of Mary Immaculate, it is a good idea
to check if you meet the basic requirements for all candidates
to religious or priestly life, bearing in mind that you will
no doubt feel the desire to grow in some of the following
areas:
a
lot of faith, love, and hope
good
physical health
good
psychological health
aptitude
for celibate life
twenty years of age or more
the desire
to radically follow Jesus
the
ability to live in community
a sense of
the church and
a love for
the poor
B.
Steps to follow
1.
a period of discernment
Any serious commitment
presupposes a period of discernment to truly discover the
desire of God. This discernment is made in prayer, but above
all by getting in touch with an Oblate in your area who can
respond to your questions and who can help you to see your
life-project more clearly. You will also be asked to choose a
spiritual director and to have regular contact with an Oblate
or a community of Oblates. This step varies from candidate to
candidate and may be long or short in duration. It could
include living in an Oblate community.
2.
a period of initiation: the pre-novitiate
After the discernment period
regarding your call and Oblate vocation, if your decision is
leading you towards joining the community you will be accepted
into the pre-novitiate. As the word indicates, this is a time
of preparation for the novitiate. In the pre-novitiate, all
candidates live with some Oblates for between six months to
two years, according to the journey of each one. During this
step, discernment continues. This time of life in community
allows you to come to know the Oblates better and allows the
Oblates to get to know you better. You can continue your
studies or work full or part-time. It is during the
pre-novitiate that you can share your request to enter the
novitiate.
3.
a period of deepening: the novitiate
The novitiate lasts for one
year and is at the centre of Oblate formation. Every novice
pursues a triple objective: to intensify his life of faith and
prayer; to know more deeply the history, spirituality, and
spirit of the Oblate charism; to experience religious life by
living the vows in
community.
4.
pre-requisites for the novitiate
You must have completed your college studies if you
intend to be a priest.
You must have completed your secondary studies if you intend
to become a brother.
You are required to have lived the pre-novitiate experience.
You must not have any debts or obligations.
5.
a period of commitment: the Vows
At the end of the novitiate,
the Oblate commits himself, through the vows of poverty,
chastity, obedience, and perseverance for one year at a time.
This commitment is renewed every year for a period of three to
nine years before a definitive commitment is made.
The Oblate brother may be
assigned work in an Oblate community as soon as the novitiate
is ended. He may continue his religious formation through
courses, sessions, or meetings. He completes his professional
formation as needed through further studies or practicums.
The Oblate who is preparing to
become a priest must follow undergraduate (or graduate) theological studies
for three years. He thereafter does pastoral ministry in a
parish for one or two years prior to his definitive commitment
and ordination to priesthood. He may send to further studies
in other fields, such as Spirituality, Missiology, Canon Law
etc...
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