BECOMING A COSJ PRIEST, BROTHER, OR SISTER

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24).


Those who are discerning a call to the consecrated life with the COSJ can contact us about a come-and-see visit. They will speak with the prior or with the guestmaster over the phone before setting up a visit. We usually recommend a visit of at least one week as this allows one to fully experience the prayer and community life of the COSJ. After this, if both the inquirer and the prior agree that there are signs of a call here, the inquirer may schedule a second, perhaps longer, visit.


If, after this visit and after much prayer, the inquirer wishes to apply, and if the prior and the rest of the community agree to let him/her do so, the inquirer will begin the application process. There are several parts to this.


  1. Questionnaire packet
  2. Autobiography (10 pages maximum)
  3. Six letters of recommendation, three of which must be from a priest/deacon/religious
  4. A physical
  5. A background check
  6. A psychological test


The inquirer will assume responsibility for all expenses relating to the application process. Regarding the psychological test, inquirers who recently (within the last year or so) took one as part of their discernment with a diocese or with another religious community could use those same results. They could thus be dispensed from taking a second psychological test.


Contact information: (415) 317-7829

FORMATION PROCESS

ASPIRANCY

Upon acceptance to the COSJ, you will get to choose the date of your entrance. On that day, after Mass in our chapel, you will receive a blessing from the prior and officially become an aspirant with the COSJ. The aspirancy lasts six months to one year. During this time, you will be given plenty of time to pray and discern your call. Whatever work duties are assigned to you will be light.


You will be participating in the formation classes of the COSJ. These classes involve the reading of Sacred Scripture, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and spiritual writings spanning from the Desert Fathers and the Western and Eastern Fathers to more modern spiritual authors.

CANDIDACY

If you choose to remain with the COSJ and the COSJ community finds no cause for concern, you will enter the next stage of discernment, called the candidacy. It is six months to one year long as well. At this point, you will start to wear a half habit. You will take on more work duties as you become more ingrained in the community life and start to discern what gifts and talents of yours will benefit the COSJ and the Archdiocese it serves. Formation classes continue.

POSTULANCY

After this comes a one-year postulancy. You will receive a full habit, though not a scapular, and the COSJ medallion. You will be expected to delve ever more deeply into the life of prayer, silence, and solitude. If you are a man, then you will likely have a clearer idea of whether you are called to priesthood, the lay brotherhood, or the permanent diaconate.

NOVITIATE

The novitiate lasts two years. Novices receive the scapular and, in place of the medallion, a crucifix. If you have not entered St. Patrick’s Seminary and University at this point, you will be given your own room there to deepen your involvement in our seminary ministry. The novitiate is a more intense period of discernment as it is leading to the profession of your first vows.

SIMPLE VOWS

Simple vows are for one year, after which you may choose to renew them or to leave the COSJ community. Simple vows can be renewed for a total of four times, after which you must either take solemn vows or leave the community.

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