One Step Leads to Another
Following Jesus and the example of Saint John Baptist de La Salle, our formation process allows you to deeply and freely discern your call to consecrated life as a religious brother. The stages of formation lead you to be intellectually and spiritually prepared to live your vocation with faith and zeal. Formation takes place both domestically and internationally.
If you’re interested in a year of active live-in discernment before applying to Postulancy, check out our Rue Neuve Live-in Discernment Program.
Stages of Formation
Postulants explore the Brother’s vocation through community living, educational service in a Brother’s school, academic studies and spiritual formation. This two-year program takes place in Providence, Rhode Island. A prominent feature is studying for a Master of Theological Studies with a concentration in Catholic Education at Providence College.
The novitiate begins with the reception of the religious habit of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. It is the unique experience of initiation into the religious life of the Brother. Novices progressively adopt the fundamental spiritual attitude of a disciple of Saint John Baptist de La Salle. As witnesses to Jesus Christ, they grow in their understanding of the Catholic faith and Lasallian charism. At the conclusion of the novitiate year, a Brother makes a request to profess temporary vows.
A Brother professes annual vows while deepening his fraternal identity as a disciple of Jesus Christ. The Brother discerns God’s ongoing call as he acquires the skills he needs on a professional and apostolic level while engaged full time in educational ministry. At the conclusion of each year, he decides whether or not to request permission to renew his vows for another year. During this period, he will have a year-long experience in a Lasallian community outside of the United States. By Rule, this stage of formation lasts between 5 and 8 years, and culminates in profession of perpetual (final) vows.
