WHO? ME?

Jesus Calls…
As we know from the Scriptures, when the Lord Jesus walked the earth, he called some individuals to be his special followers. We’ve heard about Peter and Andrew, James and John, about Mary Magdalene, about Martha, and many others. Throughout the centuries he continued to call men and women to himself, people like Antony of Egypt, Augustine of Hippo, Catherine of Siena, and Teresa of the Andes. He continues today – this very day – to call. He summons chosen individuals to a special vocation to follow him in a unique relationship with the Trinity in religious life. Is it you he calls today?

…Whomever He Wills
Christ doesn’t invite people to the religious life because of their own merits and virtues, because they’re the most qualified, the most gifted, or because they’re super holy. They’re called to religious life simply because God has chosen them. Individuals are called through his grace and according to his design. Sometimes that’s hard to image.

God sees within those he calls to religious life in our Order the seed of a special gift. He has for each a particular place in the life of the Church which can contribute to its saving mission according to the charism and purpose of the Servants of the Trinity. Life within the Order, from beginning to end, is meant to nurture that little seed so that it may grow, blossom, and bear fruit in charity.

Vocational Discernment
At some point we come face-to-face with a very important choice in life. “Who am I? Who is God calling me to be?” Aspirants to religious life ask questions about their path and sincerely seek God’s will. “What is God’s will?” Which road will lead me to authentic happiness and joy? Could my joy and peace actually be found in following the footsteps of the Lord?!” Is this applicable to someone you know? Or perhaps…to you? Are you seeking something more and deeper from life, trying to decide which road to follow?

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

Basic Qualifications for Admission to the Order
Where to even begin to find the answer? Of course, taking time for discernment is absolutely necessary - a topic considered separately - but when there is a stirring in the heart toward religious life, a good place to begin is to weigh the basic qualifications needed for admission to a religious community. Some qualifications are the same for all communities; others are specific to a particular religious community. If you’ve asked yourself whether God might be calling you to religious life, considering the basic qualifications that are needed to even be admitted can help bring some focus to the discernment process and point you in the right direction from the outset.

So, what are the necessary qualifications for someone interested in entering the Servant of the Trinity?

Any Catholic may apply for admission to the Servants of the Trinity if the individual…

• is between the ages of 18 and 40, inclusively (In certain individual cases an older candidate may be considered if there is evidence of adaptability and docility, which generally become more difficult as we grow older.)
• is free from canonical impediments
• is free of debt (If this is an issue, a plan to overcome this can be developed.)
• has at least a high school education, though some post-secondary education is definitely preferred, and possesses a satisfactory academic aptitude
• is motivated by the right intention
• possesses necessary qualities and maturity
• seems capable of fulfilling the duties of religious life and the mission of this Order
• Work experience is also helpful, but not absolutely necessary.

If you feel drawn to religious life and appear to possess the needed qualifying factors above, the next essential step is to devote time to the process of discerning God’s will for you. Once you reach a sufficient level of certainty about a call to religious life, the question after that will be “where?”

JUST SOME THINGS TO KNOW

Get to Know About Religious Life; Get to Know the Servants of the Trinity
If you’re contemplating religious life or are considering the Servants of the Trinity in particular, whether the thought of a religious vocation is new or has been on your mind for a while, we encourage you to get to know some religious. Spend time with them. Get to know the community. Get to know the Servants of the Trinity. The Servants of the Trinity will gladly extend an invitation to you to get to know us in various ways, through such things as occasionally coming to the priory to pray the Liturgy of the Hours, participating in priory work days, helping with Christmas Cookie Day (baking cookies for benefactors), joining the members for an evening recreation once in a while, participating in retreat days or weekends, and other events and activities. These things are a fun, relaxed way to learn more. Making good use of such occasions provides opportunities to learn about religious life in general, and about who the Servants of the Trinity are. Over time you may feel moved to deeper, more serious conversations as you progress on your journey. After we get to know each other, we may invite a serious aspirant to live with the community at Our Lady of the Trinity Priory for up to a month to further help discern the presence of God’s call.

If Someone Decides to Request Admission
It might be helpful for you to know that, after you’ve gotten to know the community and spent time in serious discernment, if you eventually decide to apply, regardless of which community you’re considering, some information will be requested. When an aspirant makes formal application to the Servants of the Trinity this is the information we require:

• proof of Baptism and Confirmation
• proof of free status
• a photo and brief autobiography
• physical and psychological evaluations
• letters of recommendation
• other information, as needed

This is a fairly typical list.

Two Say “Yes”
Religious life is about relationship, first of all with God, but also with the religious community and its members. It’s not just about the individuals who are seeking their path; there are always at least two parties involved. As is true of all communities, the request for admission is not a guarantee of immediate acceptance. Someone may decide that they want to pursue religious life and have a particular community in mind that they’d like to enter, but the community must also say “yes.” You discern whether to apply for entrance, but a religious community also makes a discernment. The two discernments go hand in hand. It’s two sides to the same coin. The response may be yes, or no, or not yet. Regardless of the response, it can bring greater clarity to discernment.

Candidacy and Pre-Entrance Formation
When the request for admission is accepted by the Order, a candidate enters a period of pre-entrance preparation which is tailored to the individual’s needs. The length of this period is governed by the individual’s level of readiness as determined by the community. Frequently the candidate will spend one to three months of the pre-entrance period living within the community, but at least one month is spent away from the canonry before entering the postulancy. This provides time to confirm one’s resolve, to take care of necessary business, to prepare whatever is needed for entrance into the priory, and to spend time with family and friends.

You’re Not Alone on the Journey
At times discernment and the journey may seem overwhelming. But always remember: You don’t have to go through it alone. Rely on God, first and most of all. He is always with you, assisting you, even when the path seems to get lost in the fog. Having a spiritual director is also a huge help. If you’re serious about discerning your vocation, another important guide on your journey is the Vocation Director in a religious community. The Vocation Director can be with you each step of the way. The Vocation Director can answer questions and will offer suggestions and special guidance for personal growth based to your progress in discernment, and if you decide, help you prepare for admittance into the Servants of the Trinity. All things, those on your part and on the part of the community, are meant to work together to uncover the quiet flame that burns in your heart, and to stir up that flame, until your heart is on fire for God and the things of God! A heart on fire will enable you to embrace the gift of your vocation to religious life within the Servants of the Trinity. A heart on fire for God can change the world!

CALLING EXCEPTIONAL INDIVIDUALS FOR A UNIQUE TIME IN THE HISTORY OF THE SERVANTS OF THE TRINITY

If you’ve read the brief history on the ABOUT page, you’ll know that the Servants of the Trinity is a new initiative in religious life. Having received the bishop’s approval for this new community, I, Sister John Patrick, consider myself the first seed planted in the earth. Because the community is at the very beginning, it’s vitality and growth will depend on brave and courageous individuals who love God, who want to give all they are to him, and who, by their lives and their gifts of nature and grace, are willing to work together to build this new initiative into a growing authentic and vibrant institute of consecrated life within the Church. It requires individuals with a trail-blazing heart. It requires individuals who want to actively collaborate in being “architects” in this new community, to give flesh and life to the words on the pages of the Constitutions, the community’s Rule of Life.

Because this is a new initiative, circumstances are different from those of other longer-established communities. We live in a regular home in a residential neighborhood. The schedule can fluctuate from day to day because of the small membership and the demands of the priory and the apostolate. Everyone will need to actively contribute to the unfolding life of the community. In other words, someone considering the Servants of the Trinity should not entertain their own romantic ideas of what religious life might be life, but be prepared and flexible of view of the reality newness brings. It is a unique point in the history of the Order, a rare opportunity to see it unfold from the ground up, but it calls for individuals of boldness with a pioneering spirit. Needed are individuals who will become the living stones (1 Pt 2:5) in the foundation of the Servants of the Trinity, the rocks on which future vocations for years to come will be built. Needed are bold souls on fire with God’s love, souls ready to “sing to the Lord” by their manner of life and to live in the fire of the Trinity. If you think you could be someone like that, come and see!

In a different tone, you should also know that there are two little priory “guard” dogs. So, if you get along with little dogs, you are welcome!