THE NOVITIATE

Novitiate is the entrance to religious life. Thus this is the most decisive phase of preparation for consecration to the Pauline Mission. The year of Novitiate is a period of intense spiritual and religious formation. It is the definitive step for the initiation to the consecrated Pauline Religious Life and Mission.

The purpose of the Novitiate is to give the novices a greater understanding of their Vocation and to orient their life towards the Pauline religious ideal. During the Novitiate the novices are to experience the true nature of life in the Congregation and form their minds and hearts in its spirit. It is the decisive time for the candidate to orient himself for the consecration to Pauline religious life (cfr RF, 211).

1. Goals:

• To initiate the novices to the essential requirements of religious life. 
• To introduce them to the practice of the evangelical counsels.
• To explain to them the specific Charism of the Congregation.
• To lead them to commit themselves deeply to the apostolic activities of the Congregation. 
• To help them to have a deeper understanding and appreciation of all that refer to the kingdom of God and invite them to a radical discipleship.
• To bring them to the knowledge and practice of the theological virtues, humility, detachment, assiduous prayer and union with God through openness to the Spirit (cfr CD, 104).
• To facilitate the Congregation in discerning the suitability of the novices for its life and mission.

 2. Programme (Ref. SMAAACS - Model)

The year of Novitiate should include the following classes and programmes:

1. Theology of religious life and the Church documents on religious life.
2. The Constitutions and Directory of the Society of St Paul.
3. Documents: Perfectae Caritatis & Vita Consecrata.
4. Theology of the evangelical counsels and the religious vows.
5. Pauline Charism and spirituality.
6. History of Religious Orders.
7. Letters of St Paul.
8. Church documents on social communication.
9. Liturgy.
10. Introduction to Indian Spirituality.
11. Sacred Music.
12. Retreat.

3. Evaluation:

After each semester the master of novices in consultation with the local Council for Formation shall evaluate each novice. Towards the end of the Novitiate the master should present a report on each novice to the Local Council and then to the Provincial Council for admission to the first religious profession.

The master may follow the guidelines for evaluation (See the Appendixes).

Note: For norms and procedures of admission to Vows, see CD nos. 118-124.

Some Practical Hints for Evaluation:

a) Commitment to one’s duties and responsibilities.

b) Conduct that is consistent with one’s choice of vocation.

c) Clear understanding of the evangelical vows and the readiness to live them.

d) Ability to collaborate and live in a community.

e) A real spirit of personal and community prayer.

f) Ability to interiorize and live the Word of God.

g) Spirit of adaptation and sacrifice.

h) Genuineness, openness and initiatives to improve.