Discernment Retreats
We offer “Come and See” Discernment Retreats for young women who are seeking the will of God in their lives, are open to the Religious Life, and would like to discover what it is to be a Daughter of Holy Mary of the Heart of Jesus. These weekend retreats begin Friday at 7 p.m. and conclude on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
The 2026-27 dates are:
OCTOBER 23 - 25, 2026
FEBRUARY 5 - 7, 2027
MARCH 19 - 21, 2027
at Marian Fountain of Living Faith Novitiate
700 Lovers Lane
Steubenville, OH 43952
To register, please call 740-346-2625.
Give the Lord an opportunity to speak to your heart and LISTEN to him through:
- Prayer and Silence
- Vocational Talks
- Eucharistic Adoration
- Testimonies of the Sisters
- Speaking with the Vocations Directress
… The Sacred Heart wants to guide you along the path to TRUE HAPPINESS… that you may catch a glimpse of the beauty of a total consecration to Him.
Vocational Camps for Girls
12-17 years old
We have two opportunities for girls ages 12-17 to get to know religious life and the beauty of the vocation in an environment of joy, prayer, and fun with the Sisters and other girls.
Marian Retreat
Come and enjoy prayer, formation, sports, crafts, vocational testimonies, and draw nearer to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart!
DATE: December 11-13, 2026.
PLACE: Marian Fountain of Living Faith Novitiate
700 Lovers Lane,
Steubenville, OH 43952
To register:
Call 740-346-2625, all permission forms are due before November 28th.
Mount of Joy Convivences
Come and enjoy prayer, formation, outdoor activities, crafts, and vocational testimonies!
DATE: June 29 – July 2, 2027
PLACE: Marian Fountain of Living Faith Novitiate
700 Lovers Lane,
Steubenville, OH 43952
To register:
Call 740-346-2625, all permission forms are due before May 31st.
Aspirants
Aspirancy is an optional period of formation for girls ages 12-17 which seeks to foster the life of piety and cultivate the Christian calling to holiness and the possible call of the Lord to the religious consecration.
In Steubenville, we offer Aspirancy in Family, in which aspirants live with their families, and come on a monthly basis to receive an integral formation in an environment of prayer, study, recreation, work and rest. (cf. Directory 87)
Who can become an Aspirant?
- A middle or high school girl who has already participated in D.O.Y.M.A.R. or in a vocational camp with the Sisters and wants to actively respond to the Love of God.
What does becoming an Aspirant in Family entail?
- Aspirant daily prayers (Morning offering, Rosary and night prayers).
- Love and obedience to your parents.
- Generosity with siblings and home duties.
- Cheerful testimony of your faith.
- Participating in the monthly Aspirant Weekends in Steubenville, Ohio.
- Receiving the Aspirant uniform.
- Marian Retreat, Mount of Joy Convivences, and Aspirants’ Retreat, in Steubenville, Ohio.
What is an Aspirant Weekend like?
- It is a monthly formation weekend offered by the Sisters which includes prayer, spiritual formation, work, Spanish, music and sewing classes, games, Holy Mass and the D.O.Y.M.A.R. Prayer Encounter. It begins at 3:00 p.m. on Friday and concludes at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Candidacy
Candidacy is the time of preparation prior to Postulancy for young women who are seriously considering a vocation as a Daughter of Holy Mary of the Heart of Jesus. They live with the Sisters and have the opportunity to partake in the Sisters' prayer, community and apostolic life.
