Some signs that God might be calling you to become a Sister of the
Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament are the possession of the following requirements:
- a single Catholic woman, between the ages of 18 and 50,with-
- sound judgment,
- reasonable health and emotional maturity,
- moral integrity and strength of character,
- a true religious spirit that indicates the desire to grow through a life of prayer,
- faithfulness to one's life commitment and apostolic generosity,
- a family spirit which promises growth in love and esteem of our Institute and dedication to its apostolate;
- a high school diploma or higher education.
You are invited to our"Come and See" Weekends |
at Incarnate Word Convent in Victoria, Texas, for women 18 to 50 years of age. |
February 27-28, 2010
April 17-18, 2010
Other visits can be scheduled. Let us know when you want to come.
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| | The next “Come and See” Days will be held on February 27-28, 2010, -days in which young Catholic women can learn about the Consecrated Life of Women Religious (Sisters/Nuns) in general, meet some of our Sisters, and explore God’s call in their own lives. You are invited to come to this weekend event.
The visit begins with the noon meal on Saturday and ends after after the noon meal of Sunday.
Casual modest clothes are fine; however, on Sundays you may want to wear your Sunday outfit for Mass. Please bring your personal items and your devotional prayer books. If you have a favorite pillow, you may bring it, although bedding and towels are provided.
We are hoping that you can come and spend some time with us. Please let us know when you are coming so that we are ready for you. |
Entrance and Formationand How Sister Louise Marie (Left Picture) Discerned Her Call
For young women who feel called to join us in our way of life, the first step is making contact with us.
Through visits, weekend retreats, and occasionally joining the Sisters for prayers, meals, and activities, the young woman learns about our story and whether her story can become part of our story. If she feels called to discern further she may apply to become an affiliate. During this pre-entry period the candidate lives at home. She has a Sister director (sponsor) and a sponsoring community to journey with her in the role of guide and companion.
During the Postulancy or Pre-Novitiate the woman lives with a local community and has a sister sponsor. She meets regularly with the postulant directress for instructions, which are combined with an experience of living community life and ministry. The length of this phase is flexible, from a minimum of six months to a maximum of two years.
 Novitiate is the time of initiation into religious life. The length of the novitiate phase is two years, including a
canonical year of intense study of the religious life and a year which includes some ministry experience. At the end of the novitiate, the sister professes her unconditional personal commitment to God by vowing poverty, chastity, and obedience for one year.
During the Juniorate or Annually Vowed time of initial formation, the sister continues the
dynamic movement of growth begun in the novitiate. This phase normally extends from three to five years of annual vows and is culminated with the sister proclaiming a profession of perpetual vows .
Through Continuing Formation the perpetually professed sisters continues to grow in her love of the Incarnate Word throughout her earthly pilgrimage. She carries out the charism of the Order, which is to be in the Church and for the Church "an extension of the Incarnation".
How Sister Louise Marie Discerned Her Call
Sister Louise Marie Jones was born in Victoria, Texas to Ivan and Fredaline Najvar;she was the youngest of three children. She believes that most Catholics at one time or another will admit that they questioned themselves as to whether God was calling them to be a priest or sister. She herself experienced those thoughts many times growing up. She attended public school in Palacios, Texas, and became involved in band, drama, basketball, and volleyball and soon put the thought of a religious vocation behind her. After she graduated and attended college, she met her future husband; God blessed them with two children, and life couldn't have been better.
In 1994 tragedy struck; her husband was accidentally electrocuted on their shrimp boat. She found herself raising two teenagers alone and couldn't understand why this had to happen. In 1998 she was invited to attend a Cursillo weekend. Something happened that weekend that is really hard to explain.It was as if God healed a part of her and she began to live again. She wanted to do something in return,
so she went to talk with a Sister friend. She even spoke to her about her early desire to enter religious life. Sister suggested that she
might be interested in joining the Associates of the Incarnate Word, and she made her consecration in 2000. At this time she also had a
change of jobs and began working at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Victoria, as secretary, and had the privilege of working with Father
Celestino Say with whom she had many conversations about religious life.
In 2001 she attended an ACTS retreat and it was at this retreat that she announced she was going to join the Sisters of the Incarnate Word
and Blessed Sacrament. So she began the process- first as an affiliate, then as a postulant and in September of 2005, she said good-by to
her job, her car, her home, her time with family and friends as she was used to, and entered the canonical year of the novitiate; she received the habit of the Sisters and her new name, Sister Louise Marie. This was a time of prayer, study, and working among the Sisters. She enjoyed once a month visits with her family which had now grown to include a daughter-in-law, and three grandchildren. It was a very challenging year but also a great blessing.
Sister has made temporary vows with the Sisters of the Incarnate Word in Victoria and is now attending college classes. She us learning what it is to balance ministry, prayer, and community living. Please pray for her as she continues her discernment.
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