Novitiate year an important step
After SVD candidates finish their undergraduate studies, they embark on the next step in their discernment journey. In the United States, those men move to Chicago where they spend a year in the novitiate. During that time, they’re known as “novices.” That’s because they’re still fairly new to the whole formation program.
During novitiate, the men have a chance to focus on their call from God. Their attention isn’t being pulled away by school assignments or social commitments. This year is meant for quiet reflection and small group learning.
On July 26, five men were received into the SVD novitiate in Chicago. Just a few days later on July 29, two other men who recently completed their own novitiate year professed temporary or “First Vows” as members of the Society of the Divine Word.
Fr. Sonny DeClass, SVD serves as the formator and chaplain at Divine Word College in Epworth, Iowa where each of the five novices and two newly vowed members studied prior to entering the novitiate. Fr. Sonny worked closely with the SVD candidates, guiding them and preparing them for their next step of formation. At the college, the men lived in community and learned from one another. They prayed together, shared meals and did recreational activities to build a sense of community bond. All of these efforts helped prepare them for their year as novices and their futures as missionaries.
According to the SVD Constitution, "The novitiate serves to mature and clarify a vocation. It provides a basic introduction to the following of Christ as outlined in the life and spirituality of the Society and in our constitutions; thus, it leads one to follow him in an ever deeper way. Through a living union with the Divine Word and through life in community, a novice should come to understand himself more clearly and know our Society better so that he may make a mature and responsible decision about his vocation."
“Throughout the novitiate year, a novice learns closely about the charisma and spirituality of the SVD so he can build personal relationships with the Incarnate Word, and at the end, he comes to know himself and makes a mature decision to be a religious missionary of the Divine Word,” Fr. Sonny said.
Fr. Adam MacDonald, SVD worked with some of the men while he was serving as a vocation director. As he continues to accompany them on their formational journeys, he was happy to witness their reception into the novitiate.
“Whenever I witness a new group of men being received into the novitiate, it's a wonderful affirmation of my own vocational call as a Divine Word Missionary,” he said. “Seeing young men who could do so many other things with their lives say ‘yes’ to this path makes me feel that this is a life worth living and one that can lead to lasting joy and fulfillment. Having served as Vocation Director for some of these men, it likewise makes me a unique combination of both pride and humility – pride to see them taking the next step in a long journey of discernment and humility in knowing that God used me to play a small part in helping them get to where they are today!”
Each day in the novitiate year, the men spend a period of time in solitude and silence to reflect and listen to God. The first half of the year is focused on prayer, discernment and personal reflection. The second half of the year is more about preparing to profess vows.
The novices also take part in three retreats throughout the year. These are designed to get them ready to enter religious life. The first is a weeklong silent retreat at the beginning of the year where the men will be cut off from technology, phone conversations and general socialization. They’ll only interact with others during group conferences, Mass and prayer. Then in January, the group will attend a 30-day retreat. Aside from daily meetings with their director and Mass, the experience is silent.
The third and final retreat takes place just a few weeks before the vows ceremony. It’s a chance for novices to reflect on their experiences and decide whether they are prepared to officially enter religious life.
“My hope for our new Novices is that they will come to understand more and more just how much God loves them and then let that love motivate and sustain the desire to offer their lives in service to God's people,” Fr. Adam said. “I likewise hope they learn and experience how privileged they are to be called to the religious missionary life and seek to recognize and reverence the presence of Christ in the diversity of those they meet and serve!”
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