The novitiate is one year during a seminarian’s training, during which those wanting to live as Marist priests or brothers focus on what it means to live as Marists in today’s world and Church.
The Society of Mary’s International Novitiate is held in the Philippines, where English-speaking novices from around the world come together to focus on what it means to live as Marists in today’s world and Church.
There are three main parts to the novitiate.
Prayer and discernment
The novitiate allows the prospective Marist to experience God by getting closer to him and developing a regular prayer rhythm.
A novice undertakes this process with others, lives in a community, is mentored by the Marist novitiate staff, and meets regularly with a spiritual director of his choice.
Marist Religious Life
At the novitiate, the novice also learns what it means to be a Marist and to consecrate his life to living as a Religious person in today’s world.
During this period, his study focuses on the three vows that he will take at the end of this year: vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. He learns what they mean and how to express them today. The novice also learns about what it means to live these vows in a Marist way.
Other topics considered are Marist history, Marist spirituality, Marists’ mission in the world today, and the founding “mythology” of the Society of Mary.
Community life and mission
Living as a Marist means living as part of an apostolic Marist community. It is very rare for Marists not to enjoy the support and comradeship of living with other Marists.
Community living is not family living. The one thing that brings people together is that they are Marist.
Marists come from many backgrounds, subcultures, and cultures. While Marists are always marked as Marists, they are all different.
The Novitiate experience helps people develop skills to live happily and positively in a Marist community.
Living as a Marist is not just about praying. It also means committing to working as an apostolic religious and serving the particular needs of the Church and society in a Marist way. Novices will also experience limited pastoral opportunities.
