A vocation is a gift from God which has the commitment made at baptism as its foundation.
In 1851 Victoire Larmenier, a young Sister from Rennes, France, was sent to England and six years later founded the first Nazareth House in Hammersmith, London. Since then, the Congregation has expanded throughout the world having a presence in eight countries.
The Congregation of the Sisters of Nazareth worldwide is governed by the Superior General together with the General Council who are elected during the General Chapter which is held every six years.
The Sisters of Nazareth model their lives on the Holy Family of Nazareth; Jesus, Mary and Joseph professing vows of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience. They live by the Rule of Saint Augustine which places a high importance on prayer and community living.
The Sisters of Nazareth aspire to live the Congregation’s core Gospel values of Love, Compassion, Patience, Respect, Justice and Hospitality. These values are shared by all who are part of the Nazareth family.
Vocations
To fall in love with God is the greatest of all romances; to seek Him, the greatest adventure; to find Him, the greatest achievement.
– (St Augustine)
Welcome! We are here to give you the information you seek if you feel called to join the Congregation of the Sisters of Nazareth.
Are you:
- Drawn to a life of prayer and service to others?
- Drawn to living the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience while serving others?
- Drawn to living in community with other religious women who desire to deepen their relationship with God?
- Drawn to a life of prayer, community and ministry?
If you answered yes to these questions, think The Nazareth Way.
We are a community of dedicated women who welcome those seeking to live life as a Sister of Nazareth.
God’s call may seem mysterious and distant; it’s normal to feel hesitant and a bit unsure. We are here to walk the journey with you as you discover the path God is inviting you to follow.
The Journey of Discernment
I have called you by name; you are mine
– Isaiah 43: 1
Explore the stages of discernment and find out what is involved.
To find out what is happening within your local area, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Enquiry
The Vocation Director will support and guide you through this initial stage of discernment, inviting you to meet the Sisters when you believe the time is right. After a time as an aspirant if you discern this is the life to which God is calling you then you apply to become a Candidate.
Candidate/Pre-Novice
This is when you enter the Congregation and are gradually introduced to the prayer life of the community, daily community living and the various ministries of the Congregation. This period can be from six months to two years and you will be accompanied by the Candidate Director. If you feel this is the life to which God is calling you to then you apply to become a Novice.
Novice
The Novitiate is a two year period; the first year is known as the Spiritual or Canonical year. During this time you will have the opportunity to deepen your relationship with God through prayer and study. The study program includes study of Scripture, the Church, the vows and the charism of the Congregation. This is a grace filled time; a time when you will get to know your own heart and spirit at a deeper level. During the second year of the Novitiate, there is the opportunity to work in the ministries of the Congregation while continuing to experience community life.
The Novice Director accompanies you through this discerning journey remembering that personal formation always remains your own responsibility. If you continue to feel this is the life to which God is calling you, you request to be accepted for First Profession.
Here are four new Novices at a Reception to welcome them to the Novitiate, as they meet other Sisters, start to experience community life and begin their journey with the Sisters of Nazareth.
Temporary Profession
After First Profession, you will be a Temporary Professed Sister, which is a period of growth where you will assume the rights and responsibilities of a vowed life within the Congregation. Vows are renewed annually for the next two years then biennially for five to nine years while continuing further discernment within the Congregation.
Final Profession
Following the period of Temporary Profession, you will be Finally Professed as a Sister of Nazareth. After the Final Profession, on-going formation is available for all Sisters and continues throughout the Sisters lives, where each Sister deepens her consecration to God in all its fullness in keeping with the Mission, character and charism of the Sisters of Nazareth.
This video shows the blessing of habits and the Sisters being presented with them prior to their First Profession.
First Profession shown here takes place at the end of the two year Novitiate period. Sisters then continue their journey to be a Finally Professed Sister of Nazareth.
Ministry
Serving the needs of the poor and suffering has been the focus of Sisters of Nazareth since the congregations founding in 1857. The focus remains the same as we strive to meet the needs of the 21st century.
Sisters serve in a variety of ministries such as:
- Administration
- Care of the Chapel, Sacred Vessels and Preparations for Liturgies
- Catering
- Hospitality
- Medical Records/Archiving/Documentations
- Education
- Nursing
- Outreach
- Pastoral Care
- Personal Care
- Religious Education
- Teaching/Teacher’s Aid
- Therapies: Podiatry Assistant, Physiotherapy Assistant, Manicurist
- Vocation Promotion
- Volunteer Coordination/Friends of Nazareth
- Well-being and Lifestyle