Even today, young people are volunteering for an authentic quest for the Dominican vocation, to join some 5,500 friars and 23,000 sisters and nuns working in 83 countries.
The postulate
Candidates who aspire to become Dominicans are invited to stay in a host convent for at least three months before beginning their novitiate.
During the postulancy period, the candidate may keep his job or continue his studies.
However, this stage is designed to enable them to integrate gradually into the life of the community: prayer, meals, community meetings, times of renewal and formation.
Candidates are encouraged to take part in activities that involve them in the community, both socially and pastorally.
As soon as the candidate is recognized as a postulant for entry to the novitiate in the same year, the novice master begins to assemble the documents that will make up the novitiate admission file.
The novitiate
The novitiate lasts twelve (12) months.
The novitiate begins in August of each year and ends the following year.
This time of retreat is designed to give future brothers (cooperators or priests) a more intimate knowledge of Dominican life.
The novice gradually discovers the major features of Dominican identity.
This twelve-month period includes a variety of activities: study of the life of Saint Dominic and the great Dominican figures; study of the Constitutions and the history of the Order; introduction to the Bible, to personal and community prayer life, to the liturgy; elaboration of apostolic projects, visits to different Dominican communities and meetings with brothers and sisters with varied apostolates.
The end of the novitiate is marked by simple profession, lasting a minimum of three years.
Academic studies
After the novitiate, new brothers join a community of brothers in formation, either in Canada, the USA or Europe.
While integrated into the life of the convent of formation itself, the brothers form a smaller community, also called a studentat, where they find a place to consolidate the values they have already acquired.
This new stage corresponds to that of institutional studies with the objective of obtaining, after two or three years of philosophy, the Bachelor's degree and then the Master's degree in theology.
The mission
During the formative years, initiation into various ministries is provided in the form of service to the conventual community, neighboring Christian communities and local social organizations.
Cooperator brothers living at the studentate have the opportunity to acquire or perfect technical or professional training.
Others can receive the same theological training as the brothers who will be ordained priests.
At the end of this stage, the duration of which can vary according to the situation of each individual, the brother will be led to continue his studies or to engage in an extended internship of a year or more.
Usually solemn profession, which is the definitive commitment to the Order, comes after a minimum of three to four years of simple vows.