THE PROCESS FOR ADMISSION TO THE ST.VINCENT ARCHABBEY COMMUNITY

Candidates are generally admitted to the community once each year, on July 1. Ten days later, at Morning Prayer, they take the Benedictine habit and receive their religious name. At that time they are formally admitted to the Novitiate, which is a year of living, praying and working within the community, in accordance with the requisites of Canon Law.

Prior to admission on July 1 (or any other date), a candidate generally makes three or more visits, living and working within the community for up to a week at a time. The purpose of those visits is to get to know the community and for the community to get to know the individual, as well.  The discernment of a vocation is a two-way street; it is an important responsibility of both the individual and the community, and both must come to the same conclusion: that the individual is joining the right community because he has been called by the Holy Spirit.

The visits before entering, then, are an important time for the individual to familiarize himself with the schedule and the expectations of the life-style, confirming that he is open to full engagement in the religious life, as it is lived at St. Vincent Archabbey. During those visits the candidate is interviewed by at least three senior members of the community and by the Archabbot. Following those interviews, the decision is made, inviting the candidate to take the written psychological tests and then meet face-to-face with the community’s psychologist in Pittsburgh. Following the analysis of the test and the meeting with the candidate, the psychologist writes a report that is reviewed in a subsequent meeting with the candidate and it is also forwarded to the community. The report includes the psychologist’s professional conclusion about whether or not the candidate is likely to be a successful member of the community.

The individual must also complete a physical examination by his own physician, a copy of which is submitted to the community. Some health issues determine that the individual will not be admitted because reasonably good health is a prerequisite. Additionally, the candidate must provide at least five personal references and a number of written recommendations from family, one’s parish priest, and one’s employer(s), among other information that is requested

Once all the information has been collected and the candidate himself has decided to go forward with his request to enter the community, the Vocation Director presents the request to the Council of Seniors -- the group of solemnly professed monks who advise the Archabbot. This is usually done in late April or early May at the latest. If the Council recommends the individual’s candidacy, the entire community must vote on the question of his admission at a Chapter Meeting. That Meeting of all solemnly professed monks of St. Vincent Archabbey is generally conducted in mid-May and following the decision of the Chapter, the individual is informed  that he is to report to the Archabbey on the afternoon of July 1 to begin his monastic adventure.