The First Stage of Formation

Students begin their preparation for Redemptorist life and ministry in Marianella (Rathgar, Dublin).

The programme is designed for those who are interested in the Redemptorist religious life, and who are trying to come to a reasonable decision as to whether this is their vocation in life.

The presence of a student in the first stage of Redemptorist formation implies therefore that he is interested in the Redemptorist way of life and that he is prepared to involve himself in a programme, which will help him to deepen his vocational awareness, and so lead him gradually to a realistic decision about entering the Novitiate.

At this stage, a student is not a professed religious, although he lives and associates with professed religious.

Therefore the commitment of a student is not to religious life and vows but rather to a programme that will help him mature to a point where he can decide whether the Redemptorist way of life is the particular vocation in life to which God is calling him. The programme normally lasts for two years to allow for sufficient time for discernment in regards to this important decision for the student and the Redemptorist Congregation.

The basic experience of students in this stage of formation is that many of them will grow into the Redemptorist way of life, while others will grow out of it. Consequently, during the first stage of formation there is great emphasis on searching.

• Searching for freedom.
  
• Searching for self-management.
  
• Searching for responsibility within a group.
  
• Searching for vocation.
  
• Searching for God.
  

STAGE 1

DETAILS / STUDY / PRAYER / COMMUNITY/ MINISTRY

STAGE 2

STAGE 3

SKILLS

TRAVEL

WORK

SUMMARY

By the end of the first stage of formation, the student should be able to say, "I am happy with the Redemptorists and I would like to join them." On the other hand, the Redemptorists should be able to say to the student, "We have seen you long enough to realise that you have the basic human and Christian qualities necessary for an effective Redemptorist."

The overall purpose of this stage of formation is to create an environment and atmosphere:

• Where students can grow humanly in an atmosphere of love, freedom, trust, responsibility and accountability.
  
• Where students can learn the discipline of study which is essential for anyone who wishes to involve himself in future ministry.
  
• Where students can become aware of and develop a reflective attitude towards God's action in the world, in others and in their own personal lives.