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Bernardine Franciscan Sisters

An Intercultural Congregation of Women Religious

Explore Your Call

     All Are Welcome to Inquire on How to 
Become a Bernardine Sister of the Third Order of St. Francis        

Level One: Make An Inquiry

                                                                                                                         S Carol Ann Nawracaj

 
As a woman exploring religious life, email our Vocation Director,  Sister Carol Ann Nawracaj,  
to inquire about the Bernardine Sisters as a life option at
                                                                          FollowFrancis@bfranciscan.org.

Level  Two: Make Time for Discernment 

This is an experimental period to learn more about our Community through correspondence and visiting with the Bernardines and the Affiliate Candidate Minister, Sister Paula Marie Nowak, at the Motherhouse. Through this method, you will gain understanding of who we are, our charism and most importantly, if this way of life feels comfortable to you and that you are drawn to it in a Spiritual way.

Level Three: Living as a Novice

L EVEL OF FORMATION FOUR: LIVING AS A NOVICE
In our Community, the novitiate is a two-year period of intense initial formation. The twelve-month canonical phase provides the novice with an opportunity to deepen her relationship with Christ and the Church and imbue her with the spirit and charism of the congregation.
The programs include the following: guidance in prayer life; the study of Scripture, Liturgy, Church teachings; instruction in the vowed life; integration of the charisms of St. Francis, St. Clare, St. Bernardine and Mother Veronica and the study of the Rule, Constitutions and Directives of the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters.
During the ministerial year of the novitiate, the novice has the opportunity to live for short time periods in other local fraternities of the congregation and to engage in active ministries. The novice strives to integrate the Gospel and Franciscan values of justice, peace, and the care of creation into her life and service.
At the end of the novitiate, the novice makes a public profession of the evangelical counsels according to the Rite of profession.   
Sister Joanne Mary Kotwicki, Novice Minister.


Level Four: Living as a Temporary Professed Sister



L EVEL OF FORMATION FOUR: LIVING AS A Temporary Professed Sister in our Community.

Temporary Profession  is a  three to five year formation period. This phase provides the sister with an opportunity to deepen her relationship with Christ and the Church and imbue her with the spirit and charism of the congregation while living in fraternity in mission.

The programs include the following: guidance in prayer life; the study of Scripture, Liturgy, Church teachings; continued enrichment in the vowed life; integration of the charisms of St. Francis, St. Clare, St. Bernardine and Mother Veronica and continued study of the Rule, Constitutions and Directives of the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters.

At the end of each year, the Temporary Professed Sister undergoes a period of self-evaluation and evaluation by the Local Fraternity.

Sister  Rosemary Stets is Formation Director for Temporary Profession.

INTERNATIONAL TEMPORARY PROFESSED SISTERS GATHERING
Sacred Heart Convent – Motherhouse
Reading, PA USA
February 1st to February 22, 2019

RESPONSES FROM OUR SISTERS TO THE QUESTION:  
What message do you leave for the Congregation from the experience of the International Gathering of the Temporary Professed Sisters in the United States?
Sister Gracilete de Sousa Cardoso 
Paraíba, Brazil

"That this blessed experience which brought so much learning for me, with life lessons and motivation, may be repeated with other Sisters, so that we may tighten our fraternal bonds and always be open to the needs of the Congregation of the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters, S. Marilisa and the Council, and all the Sisters."

Sister Samanta Karla de Sousa Carneiro 
Ceará, Brazil

“#Gratitude
I am very grateful to the Triune God who wrapped us in his love during these days of meeting. They were days that strengthened me in my vocation and dedication to BE a Bernardine Franciscan Sister. It was a deep and intense experience: formation concerning the charism, retreat, and visits to the offices, St. Joseph Villa, Shenandoah, Mount Carmel, and Chester. In each of these moments, to feel the “burning” of the call to life. I am grateful to each of the Sisters for her fraternal welcome, and also to the Congregational Council, in the person of S. Marilisa, who first talked with me about this meeting, to have provided such a great opportunity. May God bless us and give us the fruit of vocations, as he did with Mother Veronica when she arrived in America. Amen.”

Step Six: Final Vows and Mission

A celebration that marks the completion of discernment, initial formation and the start of a new life commitment to follow Christ in a continuing formation begins with Final Vows, also known as Perpetual Vows. At the time of the profession of final vows, a ring will be placed on the Sister’s left hand which symbolizes your lasting covenant with God and your espousal to Christ. From here onward, you will strive to allow yourself to live, learn and grow each day while spending time both with the Sisters and the people you will meet in your ministry spreading God’s love.

Explore Your Call

Sister Jenniffer Acosta Rosario
Final Profession in Santo Domingo
Dominican Republic
Yosari Mercedes Rosa Adames, Temporary Professed, renewing her vows at the Mother-house in Reading, Pennsylvania
Weekend Exploring Retreats
at the Motherhouse in Reading, PA
​
S. Cara's Final Profession

Vocation Inquiry

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