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Sister Rosina Conrotto
Formation Team |
A classical definition of formation as it applies to religious
life in the Roman Catholic Church is the process of exploring
and experiencing the life of the religious congregation, of
becoming acquainted with the members and mission of the
community, of deepening one's relationship with God and with the
community through prayer, education, and experience in ministry. |
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The focus of Formation is to grow in love of God, and impelled
by that love, and with each other to reach beyond ourselves and
our own interests to those persons most in need in our society.
Today, Presentation Sisters of San Francisco and Presentation
Sisters all over the world, are privileged, like our foundress,
Nano Nagle, to minister with those made poor, the sick, the
elderly, the marginalized, the immigrant, and with women seeking
to move out of prostitution. These are the ministries for which
we train our new members.
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Sister Kathleen Sickly
Formation Team |
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Sister Antoinette Martinez
Formation Team |
However, Formation for new members means much more than adopting
a new lifestyle. To become a Sister of the Presentation today
means to become a new person, bringing gifts and talents for
community life and mission, being open to the transforming
presence of the Holy Spirit, growing in love of God and love of
God's people. |
What do the beginning stages of Formation look like?
Stage 1: Candidacy
The first stage is the Candidacy Stage, when new members are
welcomed into the community, live with our Sisters, experience
the prayer and ministry of the Sisters. This period of time
usually lasts from six months to two years.
Stage 2: Novitiate
This part of the process is a two year period in which new
members deepen their relationship. with God, study the life and
mission of the Sisters, study theology, and in general continue
to interiorize and integrate their prayer, life experience,
values, education, and ministry. On a deeper level, new members
continue to discern with their Sisters, if indeed religious life
is the context in which they are most alive and challenged by
the Gospel of Jesus.
Stage 3: Temporary Vows
The third stage occurs after the Novitiate, when the new members
make temporary vows of Poverty, Chastity, and Obedience. During
this third stage, new members are engaged in full-time ministry
and continue to form community with the Sisters.
We acknowledge that in our life as Presentation Sisters
something bigger, more dynamic, more radical than ourselves,
happens! That is the life of God's Spirit, ever drawing us out
to the winding lanes of Cork, of San Francisco, of the world.
For more information regarding the Sisters of the Presentation
Formation Program, contact Sister Rosina Conrotto at
rconrotto@presentationmh.org
or call (415) 752-1601 x 101
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