Geroepen door God | Over de opleiding tot priester, diaken, religieus | Aflevering #2

In this episode of the video series “Called by God,” Sister Esther Zonjee osc discusses vocation and formation as a religious. Sister Esther is the formation coordinator for the Poor Clares at the St. Josephsberg Convent in Megen. “It actually begins with a divine inspiration, as Saint Clare puts it so beautifully in her Rule. If someone wants to respond to that and seeks a form for it, then we enter into a conversation about it,” says Sister Esther Zonjee. Anyone wishing to explore a vocation to become a religious goes through a number of steps. Sister Esther explains what those steps look like within the convent. For the first period, you live as a guest, she explains. After that, you enter and live as a member of the community, but still in your regular clothes. It is a year to discover what life as a religious within the convent walls in a community entails. If the experience of both the candidate and the community is good, the “novitiate” can follow this “postulate.” “The novitiate is specifically aimed at shaping you in everything this life demands,” the sister explains. “You receive lessons and guidance regarding prayer life, spirituality, theology, and the Bible. Not everyone comes with the same background. So this is carefully assessed on a case-by-case basis.” In total, the journey from the temporary profession to the profession for life takes about six to eight years. “So you have plenty of time to grow into it slowly,” says Sister Esther. That time is necessary, she emphasizes: “Silence and community life are something that really appeals to young people. It is also beautiful. But it is also very demanding, and that is not always so visible.” Are you considering the priesthood, the diaconate, or a life as a religious? Check roepingenzondag.nl for contact details.