Marian Fountain of Living Faith Novitiate
Daughters of Holy Mary of The Heart of Jesus
700 Lovers Lane
Steubenville, OH 43952
Ph. 740-346-2625 -
novi-usa@hsmcj.org
On September 21, 2011 our beloved Foundress, Mother María de Jesús Velarde, established Marian Fountain of Living Faith Novitiate in Steubenville, Ohio, following the inspiration of the Holy Spirit who led her to bring our Charism to the United States.
We are blessed to have four years of initial formation comprised of two years of Prenovitiate and two years of Novitiate, before making our first profession of temporal vows. Here, each Postulant, Prenovice, and Novice advances joyfully along a path of integral formation. It is a time set apart in which to be formed in the Charism and to acquire the virtues and sentiments of the Heart of Jesus, preparing us to live as Daughters of Holy Mary of the Heart of Jesus in a total consecration to God in union with Our Lady.
Formation
We envision formation as an integral process that fosters the intellectual, human and spiritual growth of each Sister. Before participating in the apostolic mission, the Sisters in formation acquire the knowledge they need to later be able to teach others about the love of God.
Our curriculum is comprised of general studies (Philosophy, Geography, History, Spanish and Latin), Theology (Fundamental and Dogmatic Theology, Sacred Scripture, Moral Theology and Theology of the Religious Life) and classes proper to our Institute (Spirituality of the Sacred Heart, Devotion to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, History and traditions of our Religious Congregation, writings of our Foundress and history of our apostolic works).
PRAYER
In order to live our Consecration to God and dedication to humanity, the young women who are formed in our Novitiate spend the best hours of their day in contemplation of the mystery of salvation.
WORK
We consider it very important to educate the young women in initial formation in the human virtues. As part of their formation they collaborate in the different chores of the house.
STUDIES
The Sisters acquire a solid and consistent knowledge of human nature, the world, and God, in the light of faith, under the guidance of the Magisterium of the Church, recognizing Holy Scripture as the soul of all Theology. Through their classes, they enter deeply into the meaning of Catholic teaching, and it becomes nourishment for their spiritual life.
COMMUNITY LIFE
An essential part of our formation is an intense community life that by which we are mutually enriched as we follow Christ together.
Different stages of formation
The young women who enter into our Novitiates count on the help of a Daughter of Holy Mary of the Heart of Jesus called by obedience to collaborate in their formation as a Mother Mistress who helps them advance in their vocation.
PRENOVITIATE
Our time of formation begins with the first two first years: Postulancy and Prenovitiate. During this period of initial formation, young women have a direct experience of our religious life in an environment that fosters the human skills of decision-making, love and self-sacrifice. They begin to discover the joy and sacrifices of our beautiful vocation and community life through prayer, work, study and spiritual direction.
(cf. Directory 98)
NOVITIATE
After two years of this experience, the Prenovice receives her habit and white veil in a ceremony and is welcomed by our religious family as a Novice. She desires to respond seriously to the love of the Sacred Heart as Our Lady did and she opens herself to the work of the Holy Spirit. The Novices are encouraged to live out the human and Christian virtues in a path of greater perfection, thorough prayer and self-abnegation. They are instructed in contemplation of the mystery of salvation, and reading and meditation of Sacred Scriptures. They are formed to live the holy vows and learn about the spirit, finality, discipline, history and life of the Institute. They are imbued with love for the Church and her holy shepherds.
(cf. Constitutions 137)
After completing their first year of Novitiate in Marian Fountain of Living Faith, the Novices travel to Spain together with the other Novices from our 7 Novitiates, to form part of Piedras Vivas Novitiate for the last year of their initial formation and to prepare for their religious consecration. In the Motherhouse, they make their first profession of vows and formally become members of our Religious Institute as Daughters of Holy Mary of the Heart of Jesus. This begins their time of Juniorate - temporal vows - in preparation for their perpetual profession, which will seal their consecration for all eternity.
