Three Major Goals of Formation

1. There are three main goals to our formation process: human development and authenticity; holiness of life; and loving interpersonal relationships in community.
   
   
2. The first two goals go hand-in-hand because growth in holiness of life presumes an integrated, authentic human personality. The outcome is persons capable of interacting lovingly with others in community.
   
   

A. Human Development and Authenticity

1. Because grace builds on human nature, we believe that a major goal of formation must be the development of an authentic human person who possesses inner freedom, affective maturity and psychological balance, an integrated personal identity and a healthy personal autonomy that is in conformity with being a follower of Jesus Christ.
   
   
2. As a major goal of formation, this is emphasized in every phase of formation and becomes an important criterion for discerning the suitability of the Candidate for vows and community life.
   
   

B. Holiness of Life

1. Because there is only one Christian vocation, the call of Jesus Christ to come, follow him, the goal of all formation in the Christian life is holiness of life which is summed up in the great and first commandment.
   
   
   1. Jesus tells us in Matthew, chapter 22, verses 37-40 that:

      "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets" (CE Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18).
      
      

   2. And then Jesus goes onto say in Luke, chapter 10, verse 28:

      "...do this, and you will live."

      
      
2. This call to holiness of life is found in several places throughout the Scriptures.

   "Now therefore, if you will obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my own possession among all peoples; for all the earth is mine, and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel" (Exodus 19:5-6).
   
   "But as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct; since it is written, You shall be holy, for I am holy'" (1 Peter 1:15-16).
   
   "But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust ... You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Matthew 5:44-48; cf. Luke 6:35-36).
   
   

   As Sisters of the New Covenant, we take this Christian command seriously as the single hearted pursuit of our entire life and the emphasis of every phase of formation and life.
   
   
3. Holiness of life is the result of grace at work in the believer who responds in self giving love to the Father's love, revealed in Jesus Christ, under the power of the Holy Spirit. In other words, it is the result of the Christian's cooperation with the gift of the Holy Spirit in putting on the image and likeness of Jesus, especially in his sacrificial love. As St. Paul says:
   
   

   "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God - not because of works, lest any man/woman should boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9).
   
   "Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in our hope of sharing the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and en-durance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us" (Romans 5:1-5).
   
   

4. Holiness of life calls a Sister of the New Covenant to "seek first the kingdom of God" (Matthew 6:33) in her own personal life through a deep commitment to prayer (personal, communal, and liturgical), to exemplify in her life the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), and to exercise the virtues of faith, hope, love, prudence, fortitude, knowledge and piety to the glory of God and the service of his people. Holiness of life is further realized as a call to live in the present moment where God is found (Matthew 6:34).
   
   

C. Loving Interpersonal Relationships in Community

1. Fostering authentic interpersonal relationships within the community is a priority that is emphasized throughout every phase of our formation and is seen as the foundation of community -- a foundation that is continually built by each Sister through authenticity, mutual respect, sisterly love, trust, faith, genuine sharing, fidelity to one's words, responsibility and accountability.
   
   
2. The relationship of those responsible for the formation of Candidates is that of master/disciple -- a role model for the Candidates -- one who strives to be a real spiritual mother to the Candidates, knowing them and serving them with a mother's heart through guidance, counseling, and intercession.
   
   
3. Our final goal of formation is geared toward preparing our Candidates:
   
   
1. To become full members of our community through the profession of private vows of simplicity of lifestyle, celibate chastity, obedience, and compassion.
   
   
2. For their future professional ministry as vowed sisters of the community given to the mission of direct evangelization.
   
   
This goal embraces:


1. Knowledge and appreciation of the nature and essence of our way of life and our consecration and surrender of life to the Lordship of Jesus Christ through the vows.
   
   
2. Knowledge and appreciation of our consecration to Jesus Christ through the Immaculate Heart of Mary who has been given to the Church as our mother and model for living the Christian life.
   
   
3. Specialized training in our charism and mission of direct evangelization as well as education and training in a specialized profession.