Formation P rocess in the Congregation of Norbertine S isters From Czech and Slovakia

1. CONGREGATION OF PREMONSTRATENSIAN SISTERS Formation Process in the Congregation of Norbertine Sisters FromCzech and Slovakia „Duc in altum!“ /Lk 5,4/

2. Shorthistory • The Beginning of our Congregation - 1902 During 22 years 1919-1941 – 170 new vocations • Strong persecution during forty years - 1950-1989 In 1950 our superiors had to send home 30 novices. • After 18 years - in 1968 -Three of them came back.

3. Shorthistory • During the period 1968 -1972 of a weaker communist regime - It waspossible to enterthe orders again. In our Congregation during this time 34 young sisters entered. • But in 1973 the regime became strong again, and some sisters had to take off theirhabits. There were 25sisters. Our superior decided to send them to live secretly two or three insmallcommunities.

4. Shorthistory • During period of the “Velvet” Revolution(1973- 1989, 21 sisters secretly entered ourcongregation. • No family memebers knew that they were religious sisters. • Formation during this time was very secret. • Vestitions and professions were made secretly at night • in the province house. No sistersknew, only the priest and the superior... • Then they took off thehabit and went back to the community in the world...

5. Shorthistory • There was a big help in this time and a big impact on our secret formation by the Norbertine priest from Strahov, Father TadeasRehak, O.Praem • He was our assistant for almost 20 years. • Now, we can seethis was also ablessed period with a great • protection from God. • After communism, all sisters, except one, came back, received the habit, and started to live in classic communities.

6. After communism • In 1990, after communism, new vocations came. • We were not preparedfor this. We had10candidates, • 7 novices... • About 40 enteredthe Congregation,and 26 stayed until now. • We had to prepare new formatorsquickly. • In 1991 we sent onesister to study in Roma.First she studied • theology for three years in Regina Mundi.After that shetook a • 3-month course for formators in the SalesianumInstitute in Rome. • In 1994 another sister was sent to study atthe Claretianumin Romefor two years, and she also took the course for formators. • It was good and very enriching. • The Sisters brought some nice knowledge, and their horizons were enlarged. • We had contact with Norbertines from abroad – especially from • St. Michael Abbey, Orange.They were studing in Rome, and • duringtheirholidaystheyvisitedourcommunities.

7. After communism • We were also very blessed with some help from Rome. • The sisters had contact with some good priests.They came and gave our formators of the Congregations in Slovakia some very concrete end useful conferences. (Cardinal ŠpidlikSJ and Father Rupnik SJ with others from the Centro Aleti in Rome. • We start to prepare our formation programfor candidates, • novices and juniorsisters. We learned slowly, and made some • mistakes also. • Ratio institutions – In 2004 we prepared our Ratio Institutionis with the help of a priest fromthe SalesianInstitute inRome, Don Gambino.It was approwed at the General Chapter of 2006. • And thenthe formation program wasmade according to this • document.

8. Goalofformation

9. GOAL OF FORMATION The goal of the entire formation process, as it isexpressed in this Ratio Institutionis, is to be the living image ofJesusChrist. In the spirit of Saint Norbert, the Norbertine sister is a woman with a deep relationship withGod, who is sustained by adoration of Eucharistic Christ, And deep listening to Gospel and liturgical prayer. As a real and steady advocate of values, that areeternal and transcendental, she is an example of the demands and seriousness of religious life. All this is performed in the life of community witha permanent effort to be one heart and soul in God. “According to the teaching of Saint Augustine, there is unityin our communities which overflows into love that embraces allpeople.” “Let Virgin Mary teach us to be completely devoted toGod and the service for people.“ Our religious life finds in her “Fiat” and “Magnificat“ all its devotion to God’sredeeming work and finds joy in them.

10. Stages of formation in our Congregation • Ongoing formation • Pastoral work for vocations • Postulancy –candidates • Novitiate – canonical and secondyear • Juniorate

11. Ongoingformation„Duc in altum!“ Lk.5,4 Formation means growing in God. It is  the Holy Spiritwho forms us. If we cooperate wenever stop growing • We can only give what we have. The new sisters will be onlyas we are. Youngpeple, ourcandidates, novices, juniorscan only learn what they experience and see in the community - prayer, spirituaity, our life-style, ourrelationships and theatmosphere of the house. • Extraordinaryongoingformation Everyyear - regularmeetings • Ordinaryongoingformationisourdailylife. Wehavethisschemeforstages and placeofresponsibility

13. Extraordinaryongoingformation • Responsibility for ongoing formationis assigned to the province superiorsand general superior.Because we have a smallCzech province,we help them; and our ongoing formation meetings are together. • At the Congregation level, there is each year three days of ongoing formation meeting • Program for ongoing formation meetings: Materials about a theme are prepared (human formation, our vows, new directorium, Ratio...) - Work in groups - Commonsharing - Recreation in the evening - Possibility to meet and speakwithsisters - Evaluation and feedback • Feedbackisvery openand critical, but very nice and helpful. It also fosters our communio.

14. Extraordinaryongoingformation

15. Extraordinaryongoingformation

16. Provinceday– eachyear

17. Extraordinaryongoingformation – Conference about Norbertine spirituality – Abbot General Thomas Handgrätinger O.Praem.

18. Ongoingformation of superiors • Ongoing formation of superior from communities : • Everyyeartwomeetings – 2-3 days • Also province superiors and a member of council are present. • Some meetings are also with a priest. • Examples of themes: • our constitution, • documents about authority • some parts from our Directorium • reallife and problems in communities • how to listencarefulytosisters • non-violentcommunication

19. Ongoing formation of superiors

20. Pastoral work for vocations„Come and you will see!“ John 1:39 The main goal of shepherding of vocatiosn is: • to help a young girl to find God’s plan in her life • to rouse in young people the interest in knowing Jesus Christ so that they will be fascinated by his personality • to follow Christ leading to a decision to follow Christ as an apostle, a priest, a religious, a nun,or just like a lay person who is consecrated in the world

21. Situation of young people as we see it • Young people are badly influenced by culture of consumerism and secularism. It came very quickly to our country. This caused disorientation in our system of values. • Families are in crisis. Many young people come from broken families, and the consequence of this is their emotional fragility. They do not have basic elements of their faith from their families. • Problemsof respect for authority • Incapacity to make definitive decisions • Veryweakmotivationoffaith • Internet, mobil, music, and films are big temptations for youth. On the one hand it positively influences young people on the other hand it lowers their ability to communicate . • Wealsoseethat young people are open for spiritual values,but we have to find the right way to introduce them.

22. Place of formation • Each community and all members of the congregation are called to take on themselves the task of contact with young people. Our communities have to have a friendly and hospitable atmosphere. • A sister has the concrete responsibility for vocation promotion. She is the vocation recruiter who is appointed by province superior and approved by the province council.She has the help of pastoral team constituted by the sister responsible for formation in theprovince.

23. Young people want to see our real life • Relations among the sisters, inside and outside • They love to listen and speak to sisters about their own vocation and life decisionsas religious • They feel be attracted by the liturgy and Bible shearing • They need to see real witnesses of happy religious and happy communities

24. Whatwecan do... • The first task of shepherding of vocations - the prayer. Every Thursday there is a mass offered for new vocations in the formation house in our province, and in the other communitiesthere are masses and adorations every first Thursday. Elderly and ill sisters through accepting of their suffering and permanent prayer do an essential service in field of vocation work. • “Come and you will see!” In the effort to reach this goal in shepherding of vocation we regularly invite young people to our communities: Summercamps, Spiritual renewals before Christmas and Easter. We offer them the participation in life of community: in mass, adoration, liturgical prayer, teaching how to work with the Gospel – LectioDivina, personal conversations. Simultaneously they are led in the practice of silence and knowing of our charism. • We also participate in various activities for vocation recruitment along with dioceses and local churches.

25. Pastoralworkforvocations

26. Pastoral work for vocations

27. Initialformation

28. Postulancy or candidates • Our candidates live with us in community • One sister is responsible, but a group of sisters can work together. Regular meetings with talks and listening sessions, spiritual guidance, to help self knowledge, and corrections. • They have a lessons with the mistress of candidtres or other sisters • usually tree,four times for week. • They work in the comunity-kitchen, garden, along with old sisters. • They need more time - this time was extended for one complete year. • Just for example I can show you the structure of formation program for a candidate. It was made according to our RatioInstitutionis.

29. Postulancy for candidates

30. Postulancy for candidates

31. Postulancy - Planofformation „So theywent and sawwherehewasstaying...“ John 1:39

32. Generalguidelines • „The aim of the postulancy is to evaluate the vocation of a candidate for religious life. She is offered a possibility to gradually participate on our life. At this time it is investigated whether the candidate has physical and moral qualities and human maturity that are necessary for performing religious responsibilities. We also need to clarify whether there is hope to reach the expected goal during the time of novitiate and temporary vows. “ Const. 72 • “The candidates are acquainted with the openness of our life and about things that belong only to us. We discuss with them about the Catechism and the introduction to the spiritual life in a way that corresponds with their education. The candidate that already lives in the community can depart from it, but it should be without disturbing the life in the community.”Guidelines 73/2 • “The main goal of candidacy is to recognize God and his personal love to be called as a person, to know herself better and her answer God’s call while experiencing life in community. The called person should also learn the basic religious manners (participation in common activities such as prayer, housework, responsibility, and order).” RI 71

33. Methodology1) Humanformation: Goal: • Education begins with human formation and consists in realization of one’s own dignity. This consciousness and appreciation of dignity is expressed by the acceptance and evaluation of our personality, pluses and limits as well. So that the candidate is able develop in the human sphere, she has to know herself, the main motivations of her life and her emotions. The balance of emotional life means the sexual balance which supposes accepting the other gender with full respect his differences. Very important are also human relations that need to be satisfactory. Thus human formation of candidate must allow her to reach the degree of maturity that the religious vocation requires. RI 76 Means: • Means that help candidate, who is accompanied with the mistress of candidates, to mature in human sphere are: knowledge of one’s own personality, pluses and minuses, one’s own past with emphasize on good human virtues. Leading to mutual respect and acquiring the rules of proper behaviour. The candidate is gradually led to mature in competence and independence to decide freely. She learns to hold a dialogue in which she has her own place also the acceptance of correction of the sisters. Openness and trust are layed before her as a necessary condition for her future human growth. The integration into housework of community helps her to acquire ordinary skills and teaches her to cooperate and to be responsible. The mistress of candidates helps her to discover her own gifts and talents and to develop them for the good of community. She realizes the importance of helping the candidate with the change from secular to religious life. According to needs we can employ a psychologist. RI 77 Evaluation: • A good indicator is the willingness and courage to begin the way of self-knowing and self-accepting, to discover one’s own immaturity and childish attitudes which make the vocations less authentic and free. Self-control and personal commitment of the candidate is a good sign of progress in her human formation. Also the acceptance of her past, the ability to forgive and accept the forgiveness which in the end will lead her to be grateful for her own life story. All this is possible only in a fundamental attitude of being open to formation. RI 78

34. Methodology2) Intellectualformation: Goal: • Education to a new form of life requires at first adequate educational background so that we could help the candidate to gain a true view of herself with respect to her vocation and help her to gain integrity. If this educational foundation is missing, the lack of motivation to live out the vocation can appear later. All can break down in consequence of a lack of foundation. There are three goals that need to be reached: to know the values of religious vocation, to appreciate them, and to change the hierarchy of values in life. • The goal of intellectual formation in candidacy is to saturate the mind and heart, to show wisdom as well as beauty. • Knowing the visible marks of God in our life through intellect and with humility allows us to accept that the • presence of Godexceeds ourrational knowledge. RI 79 Means: • The means which allow candidates to reach intellectual formation are the study of Catechism of Catholic Church and a brief introduction to the history of Congregation and charism. • Through education tocritical selection and difficulties, we implant into her the ability to see daily experiences in • thelight of Gospel. The basic condition of her participation in liturgical prayers is the need to initiate her into the • liturgical year and liturgical books. • It’s important so that she is awareof the sense of religious life and its position in Church. • “Candidates are taught openness of our life style and about what from this life belongs only to us. We go over • Catechism and the introduction to religious life with them in the way that fits their education.” RI 80 Evaluation: • In evaluation we emphasize how we helped the candidate to understand the values of religious life, how she appreciates them and whether the time of her candidacy helped her to change the hierarchy of values in her life in right way. Increasing ability to decide according to Gospel values and the ability to understand and evaluateeveryday events are also the signs of her intellectual maturation. RI 81

35. Methodology3) Spiritual and religiousformation: Goal: • The goal of spiritual formation of a candidate is to continue in knowing Jesus Christ as well as to find God’s plan within her life and to accept it generously and with gratitude. It is important to encourage and support the candidate to live what she believes in, so that it could be concretely reflected in her attitudes, acts, and thinking. To experience the feeling to be loved by God is the privileged way of building up a spiritual human being. RI 82 Means: • Religious life of the candidate is developed by means that are presented to her in appropriate way. It is especially achieved through the study and contemplation of Gospel, and we teach her how to connect it with her everyday life. Through accepting the authority at various stages – the mistress of candidates, superiors, and Church authority - we help her to realize that she needs help on her spiritual path. Searching for and discovering God’s truth and will is possible only in faith and humility. The function of the mistress of candidates is also to help the candidate find the value of sacrifice and the bigness of self-denial out. She helps her to work through to conviction that the Lord our God has the right to have her and that sheis worthy of her entire love for Him. RI 83 Evaluation: • We expect from a candidate in religious life that she will grow up to a more personal relationship with God. This is displayed by love to prayer, adoration and by deepening of faith view. At the end of candidacy a candidate is able, with some clarity and certainty, to realize her vocation. She expresses her life choice by resolute leaving of the world. RI 84

36. Methodology4) Comunitylifeformation: Goal: • The goal of communitarian formation is to acquire the initial knowledge about common life. It has to show the candidate that a community is a gift which requiresan answer, patient effort, and the struggleto overcome everything that stands in the way of unification. When we gradually let her participate in thelife of the community, we help her to set herself free from subjectivism and wrong understanding of self-realization. According to our spirituality, the common life is for us a basic norm, and it is our task to witness that Church is a community of brothers and sisters. The world which is stricken by individualismneeds community, and the community needs the candidate who has come from this world. RI 85 Means: • A privileged place of common life is community. Here a candidate can find the sorrows and joys of life. She learns here to live with those who have placed God beside her, and she has to accept their positive virtues as well as their differences and limits. She learns to share with received gifts for the good of all people. Here she acquires basic religious manners: participation in common activities, prayer, dining, relaxation, housework, responsibility and respecting the daily schedule. She learns how to live under authority of superiors, how to acceptcorrection, commendation, and encouragement. We lead her to be attentive towards needs of other people. Through all this we try to develop good relationships that are characteristic for life in community. RI 86 Evaluation: • The candidate has to have clear knowledge that the self-realization of a consecrated person to God is realized in the way of community. The formation of a candidate has to be oriented to awareness of sacrifice as it requires common life, and to accept it with fixed look at the joyful and real relationship between sisters. We should not forget that solitude and emptiness that have been caused by the rejection to love with human love become now the school of greater love for God and people. The basic criteria are also the growing ability to cooperate, spontaneous participation to community initiatives, and creativity. The candidate gradually knows that every Christian effort builds upon human weakness and that community cannot exist without forgiveness and reconciliation. Just like this we can feel the joy which is the shining witness of that the religious community living according to the Gospel. RI 87

37. Methodology5) Apostolicformation: Goal: • The main goal is to show the candidate that our common life is the first form of apostolate. We want also to show her that the most important expression of mission is not only external works but especially the presence of Christ by personal witness in the world. We participate on Christ’s mission through coexistence in community based on mission. That means – learn how to cooperate from one’s own conviction; to serve other people, to be loyal to community in deciding despite that these decisions don’t alwayscorrespond with my own opinions. RI 88 Means: • The means that help the candidate to understand our apostolate are to acquaint her with the life and mission of our Congregation and actual activities of sisters. It’s also important for candidate to meet sufferings and human poverty. We occasionally let her to participate in smaller tasksof apostolic service. RI 89 Evaluation: • For candidate it is essential to realize the primacy of personal witness and life in community as a privileged place of our apostolate. To be generous with sisters and apostolic duties along with the growing interest in tasks of our Congregation are clear signs of integration of a candidate into our Norbertine community. RI 90

38. Postulancy– Contentoflessons: 1) Humanformation: During the postulancy help to maturity and integrity of the personality, itsdevelopment,self-knowledge, self-acceptance, open communication of attitudes, thoughts and feelings The rules of courteous behavior • Do you know your character? • Knowledge and acceptance of my own limits • Self - control and personal commitment • Dialogue • Common life • Emotional and sexual maturity • Silence • LITERATURE: Pravidlá slušného správania Akú máš povahu (kniha a audiokazeta) Gogola J. Řeholníformace – Ľudská formácia v kandidatúre Forgan V.I. Cesta k pravde – Čnosti Hudák P. Láska (CD) • 2) Spiritualformation: • LITERATURE: • Catechism of the Catholic Church - selected chapters • Holy Bible • Liturgical prayer – Introduction part of the Breviary • Gerčák F. - Vierouka, sviatosti, morálka • 3) Premonstratensianformation: • LITERATURE: • Rule of St. Augustine • History of the Congregation of Norbertine sisters from Holy Hill

39. Postulancy– Practice notes: Entrance into postulancy: • The postulant has to bring: • certifictionabout baptism and confirmation • recommendation from a priest • health card • curriculum vitae with giving reason for entering the community • copy of birth certificate and identity card • copy of school certificate of education completed • Sheneed to arrange: • provision of health insurance • deregistration from her local doctor and dentist • registration to a new local doctor and dentist • temporary address • Entering the postulancy: • conversation about the principles and program of postulancy, about theentrance • ceremony • (superior of province and the mistressoc candidates), let the candidate express her wishes • one day spiritual renewal • entrance ceremony to postulancy within Vespers • candidate obtains the medal of Saint Norbert and Holy Scripture

40. Postulancy– Practice notes: • Duringthepostulancy: • We explain basic priorities in the postulancy. • She gets a month of pocket money of amount 10 euro, we explain the significance and • use of pocket money • She writes a diary of religious reading according to recommended literature • She has the spiritual renewal few times a year – it is prepared by postulancy mistress • She visits home: All Saints, Christmas, before Easter, two weeks before the Novitiate – • beginning of July, in serious cases • Psychological examination • Common final evaluation of postulancy (superior of province, the postulancy mistress • and candidate) – program, content of education, common life, knowledge about our • Congregation, positives, negatives, suggestions (We observe her knowledge and • understanding.) • Atthe end of postulancy: • It is necessary to submit written evaluation that was worked out by the postulancy • mistress so to help: • the candidate in her development • the Congregation in distinguishing of vocation • The candidate writes self-evaluation. • The sisters help in teaching candidates what must be learned by commission of the  Superior of the Province.

41. Mistressofpostulancy Those who accept from the community the immediate responsibility for formation should have skill in the necessary fields, as well as experience so that the responsibility given to them so that it may be faithfully carried out. They should know well the mentality and the values of the social milieu from which the candidates come. The responsibility of forming members is an apostolic responsibility which may be carried out by a group of persons whose qualities, working together, can increase the effectiveness of formation. The mistress should frequently call the novices in, listen to them, inspire them, correct their negligence and lead those to more perfect things by her counsel. (Const. 94) • Mistress of postulancy – hertask: • Her first task is to be with candidates - at prayer, dining, work. • She has regular conversations at least once every two weeks. • She regularly reports on the formation of candidates to the Superior of the Province. • She cooperates with mistress of novices. • At the end of candidacy she assesses the ability of candidate for entrance to the • novitiate and writes an evaluation with a clear viewpoint – yes or no.

42. Novitiate Novitiate- in our Congregation is for two years.The first year is canonical. • They have a novice mistress.They have lessons every day in the morning with the novice • mistress, another sister, and also some with province superior.The afternoon reqquires work in • community. • They have an obligatory conversation with the novice mistress every month, • but if theyneed it could be more often. Also they have some conversation with the province • superior. • They have a trip every month. • Also at the day of the Holy Innocents they became a superior and superiors • have the postionof novices.Thisis very nice, and all community like this. • In the second year they have a mission expereince for one or three months. • They live and work in another of our comunities to see real life. The same structure is for the formation program for the novitiate on an appropriate level.

43. Novitiate

44. Novitiate

45. Novitiate

46. Novitiate – planofformation „...theystayedwithhimthatday“ John 1: 39

47. General guidelines “The life in the Congregation begins with the novitiate. The aim of the novitiate is to acquaint the candidate with the main and basic requirements of the religious life and common life according to the Gospel of Christ to which the candidate will bend herself at an appropriate time. The novice participates on our common life togrow gradually into the life of the Congregation and to show a willingness to integrate into the Congregation. “ Const. 74

48. Methodology • HUMAN FORMATION • INTELLECTUAL FORMATION • SPIRITUAL FORMATION • COMMUNITARIAN FORMATION • APOSTOLIC FORMATION

49. Novitiate– Practice notes: EnteringtheNovitiate: • preliminary conversation before entering the Novitiate – the superior of province, the postulancy • mistress,novice mistress, candidates • spiritual exercises • meeting with parents – goal, function of Novitiate, duty of parents • acceptance ceremony into Novitiate during the Vespers • When there are elder novices in Novitiate, they hand over the Novitiate to the younger novices • social and health security / provision –religious students BeginningofNovitiate: • familiarization with the rules of Novitiate – superior of province, novice mistress, novices • explain the main priorities in Novitiate • Novitiate day for community • Capitulumculparum is on the day of retreat. • For the mssion of novices in the second year of Novitiate the novices participate in novice practice in • one of our communities. It begins in February and lasts about two months. • The superior of community has to write report about novice. • Novices have lessons every day of week. Sisters who help in teaching of novices candidates must be • commissioned by the  superior of the province. • Before the temporary vows, a novice has two-week of preparation and retreat.

50. Ruleofnovitiate: At the beginning of novitiate the novice mistress has to explain to novices how important is use time of novitiate with their own convictions to accept the conditions novitiate (not "I must" but "I want") for their journey with the Lord and a deeper rootedness it. • Visits– younger novices - parents 2x a year,  (before Christmas and before Easter, in agreement with the superior of the community). Mistress of novices notify novices about three periods, from which parents can choose. Novices notify parents of the  dates in a letter. Older novices- parents and siblings 2x a year. Novices do not accept other visits. In exceptional cases they need permission of the novice mistress. Novices enter the rooms of sisters only by request. Also they do not enter rooms of others in the novitiate. • Phone calls – With all telephone calls to novices, the sister from the reception desk has to notify to novice mistress. Calls for younger novices are handled by the novice mistress. If there is something serious, or if is name day, Christmas, or Easter, a novice may responds to the phone, when parents call. It is important to guide novices to make a calls to parents at a reduced a minimum. Novices do not accept other calls. • Writenletters– Younger novices write oncer a month to parents; name day and birthday cards can be written to siblings. Older novicescan write letters to siblings. Other correspondence novices do not maintain. Novices writing group letters to sisters in their religious name, can write to communities, and other novitiates at Christmas and Easter. Official mail is signed by first name not by nickname. In Advent and Lent novices do not write or receive mail. Novices have to save souls through prayer and sacrifice, not through letters. St. Teresa • Cultural events – Novices of the canonical year do not attend cultural events. Older novices according to discretion of novice mistress or superior of province can do so. • Permission – Exception from the daily schedulecan be done for accepting or donating a small gift, for getting rid of clothes and shoes or for buying clothes and shoes. • Silence - It is strictly observed for night prayer, after the morning prayer, and during the day of spiritual renewal. Silence is strictly kept in front of chapel, in the hallways, and in the workplace. Novices are taught to talk more quietly. • Dressing– On Sundays and holidays black skirts with white blouse, pullover or sweaterare worn. On weekdays let be clothing simple and proper, without unnecessary decoration. The styling should be similar. Novices should not wear any jewelry except finger rosaries and necklaces with a cross or medal of Mary. Clothing for work is also simple. They can wear trousers and pants only with permission of the novice misteress. Novices do not go barefoot, and do not wear dresses with bright colors. Walking and behavior are decent in order to see that they want to consecrate thenmselves to God. • Common work – As we learn from St. Augustine in his Rule, we prefer common to personal things. With the love of God and of the sisters there is no hard work. Strive to work carefully, conscientiously, and accurately while not waste time with unnecessary standing around and talking.