Our candidates undergo training at our formation house to develop pleasant personalities imbued with character, preparing them to become dedicated religious workers in God's vineyard. Drawing inspiration from the spirit of our Foundress, Servant of God Mother Thatipathri Gnanamma, the spirituality of our Congregation, the nurturing leadership, the structured curriculum, and the systematic training process collectively foster a profound transformation in their lives. As a result, they are poised to blossom into beautiful and integrated individuals within our Mother Congregation.

Vision

The vision of the pre-novitiate is to make the pre-novices fully aware of what God’s call means in one’s life.

Way of formation

Recognizing that pre-novitiate formation encompasses the entirety of the individual, we design a comprehensive program focusing on holistic development. This includes nurturing aspects such as human development, spiritual growth, community engagement, intellectual enrichment, and socio-apostolic involvement.

The Novitiate holds a crucial position within the formation process and the entirety of religious life, serving as an authentic initiation marked by the encounter between the love of the Lord, who calls, and the love of the disciple, who responds with the gift of herself, encompassing all dimensions of her life. Novices dedicate two years of their lives to the novitiate program. Throughout this period, they immerse themselves in the lifestyle of our Congregation, shaping their minds and hearts in its spirit.

The aim of the novitiate

The primary objective of the novitiate is to facilitate a deeper understanding of the divine vocation among novices, as outlined by the Charism, Constitutions, and Statutes of our Congregation. The aims of the novitiate are delineated by Canon Law and our Constitutions. It is geared towards forming candidates capable of wholeheartedly committing themselves to following Jesus in the service of His Kingdom. This involves internalizing the choice made for Jesus and progressively grasping the demands of the Gospel, assessing their aptitude for commitment and dedicated service, particularly towards the marginalized, and learning to live in communion with God through prayer, integrating contemplation and action. Furthermore, the novitiate entails uncovering the deeper significance of the Evangelical Counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience, and being trained in a consecrated way of life devoted to God and humanity. Novices also delve into the study of the Society’s Constitution to prepare them to embody its Charism and Mission. Additionally, the novitiate aims to foster an understanding of the genuineness of their motivation, emotional maturity, and personal integrity, equipping them to fulfill the responsibilities of the committed life within the St.Anne’s Society.

The goals of the novitiate

During this period, the four fundamental goals are to verify one’s vocation, cultivate a more intimate relationship with the Lord, foster authentic self-knowledge, and nurture a growing love for our Congregation.

The significant two years

It is a time of spiritual rest. The novitiate stage is a two-year program. The first, or canonical, year is a period of relative seclusion characterized by greater enclosure and focus, involving limited external interactions. Although more experiential than academic, the novitiate marks the beginning of the assimilation process for the Novice, providing a foundational understanding of religious life and our specific way of life. The objectives of the first-year program revolve around fostering a personal spiritual journey, cultivating an appreciation for liturgical prayer, comprehending the traditions of our Congregation, experiencing ministry through simple acts of service, and continuing human and psycho-sexual growth and development.

In our novitiate, we gradually introduce first-year novices to the essential aspects and primary requirements of religious life through prayer, reflection, and instruction. During the first year, novices primarily focus on deepening their spiritual life.

(i). Formation to apostolic mission model of religious life

Only through a radical commitment to the poor and the oppressed can one truly claim to follow the Lord as depicted in the Gospel. This concept has evolved in recent years, taking on a new dimension. Radical commitment to the poor and the oppressed is perceived not only as liberating them from economic bondage but also as establishing a genuine relationship with them. It goes beyond performing acts for others; it entails becoming a sister to those in need. Achieving this requires a fundamental shift in attitude, particularly towards the poor. Such a transformation can only occur when the individual is immersed in the lives of the poor, sharing in their struggles and hopes, and developing empathy towards them. This is achievable only when one’s heart is centered on God. Formees must be guided to understand that they are not merely agents of social change but rather transformers of society, grounded in Gospel values. Their primary focus should be on people, not merely on accomplishments.

(ii). Experience - reflection mode

Experience, not theory, shapes individuals during formation. Our entire formation method operates in an experience-reflection mode. Therefore, we organize different levels of experience, followed by reflection and assimilation. We prioritize experiential learning over theoretical knowledge.

(iii). Clarity about Charism living

The formation is driven by experience rather than theory. Our approach revolves around the experience-reflection model, where we organize various levels of experience followed by reflection and assimilation. We prioritize experiential learning over theoretical understanding.

(iv). Learning to be contemplative with apostolic love

During the second year of the novitiate stage, novices further their preparation to integrate contemplation with apostolic love in a formation that encompasses spiritual, communal, intellectual, and apostolic aspects. They engage in more intensive study of the evangelical counsels of chastity, poverty, and obedience, in anticipation of their first profession.