The Pastoral Mission Experience (PME) is a vital component of the Spiritan formation process. Following the novitiate experience, candidates spend one year as a missionary working in a variety of cultural settings. This shift in geography, culture, and language allows each participant to cultivate a deeper appreciation of God’s unique call in his life.

Overseas with Fr. Jeff Duaime, C.S.Sp.

Overseas with Fr. Bill Christy, C.S.Sp.

The way to find out if you have a religious vocation with the Spiritans begins with conversation, opportunities to meet our community, and periods of reflection. If then we both feel that becoming a Spiritan is the life you may be called to live, we invite you into a three-phase formation process.

Phase 1: Pre-Novitiate – Moving into the community

After taking a few months to take care of your personal business (leaving your job, moving out of your home, handling personal affairs), you are invited to move into our community at Laval House located on the campus of Duquesne University and begin to live with other students like yourself interested in joining the Spiritans. You spend this time working towards your undergraduate degree as well as deepening your ministerial experience by volunteering in prisons and hospitals, tutoring and working in parishes, and helping in other places where there is a need. During this period, you will enter into spiritual direction that will help your discernment process through prayer and dialogue.

Phase 2: The Novitiate – Living as a Spiritan

During this year, you will grow in your understanding of the Spiritan vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, and discover if you are ready to commit your life to the Spiritan Congregation as a professed member. The Novitiate year could take place in a community outside of the U.S., for example, in Canada, Ireland, or Vietnam. You will be with other men who are discovering more about the Spiritan life and will have the chance to meet Spiritan missionaries from all over the world. This is a year for spiritual reflection and a time to learn more about the mission and history of the Spiritans. At the end of the Novitiate experience, you will have reached a decision about whether or not to take temporary vows and commit to live in a Spiritan community for three years.

Phase 3: Post-Novitiate – Theological Study and Overseas Training

This period can vary in length. At this point, you will be working toward your master’s degree in theology/divinity. During this period, you will also spend two years overseas doing hands-on ministry experience in another culture. The first part of your time will be spent learning the language. During the second year, you will take part in the missionary work of the local Spiritan community. Where you spend your overseas experience is decided jointly by you and your Spiritan advisor. When you are overseas, you will have a mentor, a Spiritan living and working with that community, who will help you adjust and reflect on your experience. When your overseas missionary work and studies are completed, you will move toward your final vows and ordination for those called to the priesthood. In your final year of study, after you have taken final vows, you will engage in dialogue with the Spiritan leadership in Rome and local leadership of your province regarding your mission appointment. During this exciting time, you will have the opportunity to learn about the many needs of the Congregation and opportunities to serve as part of our international Congregation.