Novice

At the end of postulancy, members of the Community vote on whether or not to receive a postulant as a novice. During the rite of reception, the novice receives the Benedictine cassock and scapular, and may, in consultation with the abbot, assume a religious name. The length of novitiate is one year and one day.

Novices continue to take classes and engage in work. They continue to live in the novitiate under the care and supervision of the formation director. Although they make no vows, novices promise to live according to the Rule of St. Benedict. If they wish to leave the monastery, they have the freedom to do so at any time.