The Postulancy


A few indications to help clarify your vocation First Step The Steps in Formation: The Postulancy The Noviciate Temporary Vows		THE POSTULANCY At the end of six or twelve months of experiencing as an aspirant, the candidate to the Franciscan life becomes a postulant for one or two years. The same approach undertaken previously continues and is made known. While keeping the same residence and doing one's studies or work, the postulant takes part on week-ends (in a group) in order to prepare to make the decisive step. There are ten study- week-ends during the year. In the mean-time, he meets with his spiritual-director every month and decides with him about a stay for approximately one or two months in a Franciscan fraternity. After certain objectives determined at the end of the year, the postulant may be better able to discover his aptitude to the Franciscan life: also his capacity to live in a group, to pray and collaborate, to share and to take responsibilities. The fraternity welcomes him with joy and helps him to integrate in the group. It is during this year that is completed a file, with the help of the responsible of the first step. This file will contain certificates of baptism and confirmation, medical exam and formalities such as photograph, place of birth, name of parents etc... At the end of this step, towards the month of April, the postulant writes a letter to the Provincial Minister of the Franciscans in which he makes his request to be admitted as a novice.