our formation program is structured to prepare future priests and brothers as Canons Regular of the Immaculate Conception. Beginning with the ideal of Saint Augustine and the traditions set forth by our founder Dom Adrien Gréa, and in light of the need and importance of an authentic religious and priestly life in today’s world, we provide the environment where men will learn to develop a love of the Sacred Liturgy, be trained for the parish ministry apostolate, and live in community placing everything in common.

 

 

Inquirer

     Those who are interested in our way of life and would like to learn more are invited to contact us that we may discuss your vocation. If we feel that you may be called to our life, work and prayer, and you meet the vocation requirements, then we will arrange an initial visit of 5-10 days in order to follow our life and prayer thereby allowing you to better discern your faith, life, and vocation. It is possible and even recommended to make more than one visit in this period of discernment.

      If the inquirer feels called to our way of life and prayer, and the Community approves, then the application process will begin.

     

 

Aspirant

      Once the application process has been concluded and approved, the inquirer is accepted into the aspirancy. This is a time for the aspirant to observe our way of life but is not bound to the Congregation. Nevertheless, by living unselfishly in the Community, the aspirant will experience a gradual transition from the life of the world to the religious life. It is a time for him to acquire a deeper knowledge of life in Christ, in which he wishes to involve himself more deeply, as it is lived by the Community. It also allows the Community to get to know the different abilities of the aspirant.

     The aspirancy normally lasts from three months to two years (depending upon needed academic preparation for more advanced studies in the seminary). After completion of this period the aspirant is invited into the postulancy.

 

 

Postulancy

    The postulant will learn about the the Congregation: our history, the thought of the Founder, our ideal and spirituality and our apostolic work. Along with the communal and liturgical prayer of the Community the postulant will also be taught the fundamentals of the spiritual life and will be helped to develop the interior life of personal prayer.

     The postulancy normally lasts one year and following the satisfactory completion of this period, the postulant has the opportunity to request admittance to the novitiate.

Novitiate

      The novitiate is the beginning of life in the Institute and a fundamental stage required by the Church for those who sincerely aspire to consecrate themselves in the religious life. The novitiate is an important time for knowing God’s will, for a more personal encounter with the Lord Jesus, and for acquiring a humble and peaceful knowledge of himself as he gives himself fully to God who is calling him.

      The novitiate is a period of spiritual maturation and continued discernment. During this period all academic studies are suspended, instead, building upon the foundation laid during the postulancy, the novice will continue to develop his interior life and personal prayer. He will be instructed on the “Books of Life” of the Congregation including the Rule of Saint Augustine, the Constitutions and General Directory. He will attend conferences on the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience and receives the religious habit.

      The novitiate consists of a period of 12 months and takes place at the Dom Gréa House in Santa Paula, California.

 

 

Temporary Vows

      At the end of the novitiate year the novice takes temporary vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. These temporary vows are made for a period of three years.

  

 

Scholasticate

      The newly professed religious, puts into practice the richness of grace that he received through his first profession by continuing his training during the years of the scholasticate. During this period the newly professed religious continues his studies for the priesthood.

       For seminary training he may attend either the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology in Berkeley, California, or he may be permitted to reside in our Mother House (the Casa Generalizia) in Rome, which is also our International House of Studies, where he may attend one of the Pontifical Universities including the Angelicum (The Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas) and the Urbaniana (Urban Pontifical University).

      Those destined to become religious brothers may receive an education in specific fields or skills according to their abilities and the needs of the community. They may also assist during this period in the administration of the house, the program of studies, pastoral work and as well as other duties.

Solemn Vows

      When a temporarily professed religious is judged to have been trained sufficiently and to have developed a stable religious character, he can profess solemn vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, thus becoming a permanent member of the Congregation.

      For the religious destined for the priesthood, once he has reached the end of formation, his seminary training and has made solemn profession, he can then be ordained to the deaconate. After ordination to the deaconate he begins the special preparation for ordination to the priesthood. Once ordained to the priesthood he is then assigned to share in our apostolic work.