Here
are some opportunities for observing religious life from within for young women:
Launceston Carmel:
Carmelite
Monastery in Launceston has no accommodation at the Monastery itself for
visitors. Young women, coming from outside Tasmania, who are interested in our
life, usually come for a few days' visit initally, staying with one of our
friends close by, if possible. They spend time at the monastery, attend our
Mass and part of the Office, and meet the Prioress and Novice Mistress in the
parlour. If the vocation develops, they would, at later visits, meet the whole
community and share some recreation time with them. Arrangements for this sort
of visit are adapted to meet individual circumstances, and the visits do not
usually take place until there has been some contact through letters and
telephone.
Goonellabah (Lismore) Carmel:
Young women, aged
between 18 and 35 years of age, who are seriously considering an enclosed
vocation are invited to contact Rev. Mother Prioress.
We
have small cottage available for a few days' stay, with visits to the Prioress
and some of the sisters. If all is satisfactory on such a visit, and the young
woman desires to pursue the idea of a Carmelite vocation, she may, if it is
acceptable to the community, live inside the Cloister for a period of time - the
duration to be decided by the community - to see for herself and to enable the
community to assess her vocation.
The Conventual Sisters of St. Dominic:
Invitations to observe and experience our life are usually offered only to
those whom we have come to know over a period time, through visits or letters.
We also require a reference either oral or written from a priest whose
judgement we trust.
We
have two guest-rooms, outside the cloister, available for young women between
the ages of 18 and 35 who may wish to make a stay of up to a week in order to
pray, discern and make inquiry about our Dominican way of life. At this point
we ask them to attend Mass, Divine Office, meals and some recreation with the
community. Time is set aside, if desired, for discussion with the Prioress
and/or with a priest appointed by the community.
There
is no commitment to the community. It is purely a time for information-seeking
and prayerful discernment.
If
the candidate is interested in further experience, and we, as community, are
satisfied as to the sincerity of her motives and her apparent suitability for
our life, we may admit her to a longer "live-in" experience of up to
six weeks. This period is known as "Aspirancy" and involves living in
the cloister and participating in the prayer, penance and community life of the
Convent, as well as attending tutorials and discussions on basic themes related
to spirituality, religious life and the Dominican charism. There is still no
commitment to the community, but the aspirant is asked to follow, for the
duration of her stay, the schedule and provisions mapped out for her by the
community.
We
are able arrange occasional "Study Weekends" on the Consecrated Life,
or small-group Retreats for young women seeking time for prayer and more
general spiritual discernment.
These
follow a programme devised by the community according to the number and needs
of participants.
Tyburn
Priory:
"Where
do you live?" the disciples asked the Lord. "Come and see!" said
the Lord, and they and went and 'lived-in'.
Those
who are seriously seeking to discern God's Will with regard to their lives, are
always welcome to 'live-in' at Tyburn Priory. 'Living-in' can be arranged by
phoning or writing to our Novice Mistress, Rev. Mother Cyril. An interested
person can 'live-in' for a period of from a week-end up to three weeks,
according to her work-situation in the world.
The
Community lovingly welcomes the 'live-in' into their midst. While living in she
experiences our live as fully as possible, taking her place in choir for Holy
Mass and for the Divinen Office, joining the Community for Adoration of the
Blessed Sacrament, sharing the Community meals and recreation, and joining the
Novitiate Sisters for Lessons and Conferences. She also spends some time
helping with the community work, and has quiet time for spiritual reading,
personal prayer and reflection.
During
this time, she may talk to the Novice Mistress regarding her vocation, and
after this experience of our life, she is free to make a decision either for or
against it.