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Vocations Information
If you have been touched by Hearts of Jesus and Mary, and feel you might have a vocation to the Order, the first thing to do is to pray, entrusting everything to the Two Hearts and asking that whatever would most please Them may be done in your life.
Throughout your discernment of your religious vocation, in addition to prayer, it is very helpful to have a spiritual director with whom you can share exactly what is going on in your heart and how you feel Our Lord is leading you.
You may contact our vocation director, Sister Elizabeth here at the Order at any point, letting us know of your interest, so that we can be praying with you for God’s Holy Will to be accomplished in your life.
Once in contact with our vocation director, the next step would be a series of visits to our community in order to “come and see.” The length of these visits would vary depending upon the circumstances of each individual, but normally the first visit would be from one to three days. For this initial visit, we ask for two letters of recommendation: from your spiritual director, your pastor, teacher, etc. (at least one should be from a priest).
After these initial visits, the next step is the actual application process. This process includes a two week visit with the Community, during which time you would meet with the “Selection Committee” of the Order, and also take some psychological tests. A physical examination will also be required.
At this point, if invited by the Selection Committee, you will be welcome to come back for a 3-month visit (although this time period could be shortened or lengthened at the discretion of the Community). You would, during this phase, be considered a “candidate” for the Order. This is a time of living with the Community as a final stage of discernment before being accepted as a member.
 If after Candidacy you are invited to continue formation, the first step of membership is postulancy. This normally lasts for one year. Postulancy introduces the member into religious life in general, and the ways and customs of our community (specifically how we do things).
Continuing on with formation, the next step is novitiate which lasts for two years. This is a more intense time of spiritual and personal growth, as well as formation in our particular charism. In novitiate, the member goes to the very essence of what we’re about, delving into the spiritual and interior depths (why we do things).
 God (and member) willing, after two years of novitiate the member makes their temporary vows (also called first profession). After three years, the member will make their final vows.
It should be noted that for men who enter feeling called to serve the Lord as a priest, it will not be until after vows that there will be a mutual discernment as to whether or not a brother will continue on towards priesthood. They must be willing to put themselves totally at the service of the Two Hearts, and be open to priestly ordination but not insistent upon it.
Requirements
If interested please contact:
Vocation Director
The Order of the Sacred and Immaculate
Hearts of Jesus and Mary
48765 Annapolis Road
Hopedale, Ohio 43976 U.S.A.
Phone: (740) 946-9000
“All those entering the Order must have the desire to serve their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, with all their hearts, all their minds, and all their souls in humility and love. The Immaculate Heart of Mary will be our inspiration and guide in achieving this goal. We must not enter the Order with the expectation of obtaining notoriety and adulation for ourselves, but only for the Glory of God, and with the desire to serve Him only, in humility and obedience.” -from the Constitution
The hearts who are called here come first to serve the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, then to serve the hearts of the fellow community members, then to go out into the world to serve the starving hearts of these times, to bring them the balm of the Two Hearts.
Those who want to be members must come without agenda, and be willing to be formed entirely by the Hearts of Jesus and Mary as They desire.
• Those desiring to be members must be debt-free.
• The age requirement for membership is between 18 to 40 years of age.
• Those who are divorced or who have children will not be accepted as members.
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