If you believe you might be called to be a Daughter of Charity, you will receive all the help you need, beginning with assistance in discerning what God wants of you. All the steps towards becoming a DC are described here.

Inquiry

A woman makes her inquiry to the community and will be given the opportunity to meet with the Vocations Director if she wishes to explore her interest in the community further. Eligibility to join the community of the Daughters of Charity will be explored at this stage.  Women who are free from other commitments are eligible to join.  The woman will be accompanied by the vocation director who will over a period of time help her to explore through a discernment process what God is calling her to. She will be helped to become familiar with the work and spirituality of the community in order to discern whether she is called to the community of the Daughters of Charity. When both parties are satisfied that it is appropriate to continue the woman then requests to move to the next stage of formation, known as the Pre-Postulancy stage.

Pre-Postulancy

Pre-postulancy is a time to continue to discern this vocational path. It is characterised by Human, Christian and Vincentian formation. A sister will be appointed as mentor. During this stage the woman may continue to live in her own environment or may begin to live with the community. The length of this stage is flexible (6-12 months) but it is necessary to allow time for discernment and voluntary work. This time will give her an opportunity to experience the core values of the Life of a Daughter of Charity. It will allow the community and the woman time to come to a decision about whether or not to proceed to the next stage of formation. This stage is known as Postulancy. A woman wishing to proceed to this stage writes a letter to request admission and encloses the appropriate documentation.

Postulancy

Postulancy is the stage during which the woman experiences living a spiritual, community and apostolic life in common. She continues to discern her vocation through Human, Christian and Vincentian formation. This formation is facilitated by a mentor, her local community and the formation team.  The woman at this stage will have the option of continuing with her own employment while participating in the life and work of a local community of the Daughters of Charity. This stage is of special importance since it is a direct preparation for the admission of the woman into the community. After a period of personal and community evaluation the woman writes her request to proceed to the next stage. At this stage the woman becomes a full member of the community and this stage is known as the Seminary stage.

Seminary

The seminary stage of formation enables a Daughter of Charity to intensify her theological life, to integrate the values of service, total gift of self to God and community living. In a spirit of recollection and prayer as well as through periods of apostolic activity, she becomes imbued with the spirituality of the Founders. The duration of this period is a minimum of twelve months excluding the periods of apostolic experience. The Seminary Directress assisted by other formators has the primary responsibility for formation during this period. At the end of this stage the formation personnel in collaboration with the woman, draw up a comprehensive evaluation of her journey so far. If she is ready to commit herself still further in the life of a daughter of charity the woman makes her request to the Provincial to be sent on mission.

Initial Formation on Mission

After being sent on mission the sister continues her initial formation with the full support of her local community. This period of initial formation on mission provides the sister with an opportunity to integrate a life of service, prayer and community. It is also characterised by ongoing reflection on the vows as a way of preparing her to strengthen her commitment in the community.  A specific educational programme is also considered and professional studies in specialised areas may be pursued. After a period of five to seven years of initial formation, the sister expresses her request in writing to make her vows for the first time.

Ongoing Formation

The sisters are convinced of the need for ongoing formation to understand more fully their vocation but also to keep their professional knowledge up to date, always with a view to better service. Vows are renewed annually.
 
"From all eternity, God has his thoughts and designs on you and for you: And from all eternity you were in the mind of God."
– St. Vincent de Paul

Do you feel called to become a Daughter of Charity?

If you feel called to work in an apostolic society, working in the field as a disciple in the service of those in need, and would like to consider the possibility of becoming a Daughter Of Charity, or if you would just like to further explore what our life entails and what is involved in living in community, then please contact us for a no pressure introduction to our life, where we will help you discover if this is the path you are destined to walk.

Contact:

Claire Mc Kiernan D.C.
6 Belvedere Road
Dublin 1
Tel: (01) 8556719
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