The future and wholeness of the Grail has its foundation on the formation of the members. The primary objective of the formation process is to prepare new members for the service of the Church and society.

Formation and Commitment for Married and Single Members

They take three years of formation and those who qualify make their commitment in the Grail. The Final Commitment is done after five years of membership during the Holy Eucharist.

The unital Formation and Commitment for the consecrated

Becoming a religious sister of the Grail involves several steps, typically including:

  1. Discernment: This initial phase involves personal reflection and prayer to understand your calling. It  includes spiritual direction and involvement in community activities.

  2. Contact with the Community: Interested individuals often reach out to a local Grail community to learn more about their mission and life. This may involve attending events or meetings.

  3. Application: Once you feel a strong calling, you can submit an application to join the community. This may include personal essays, references, and a meeting with community leaders.

  4. Formation Program: Accepted candidates enter a formation program, which usually includes spiritual formation, theological education, and practical training. This stage can two years.

  5. Novitiate: After initial formation, candidates typically enter the novitiate, a period of deeper spiritual and community life. This phase emphasizes living the Grail values and can last one to two years.

  6. First Profession: Following the novitiate, individuals may make their first profession of committing to the community’s mission and lifestyle.

  7. Ongoing Formation: After taking initial commitments, members continue their spiritual and professional development, often engaging in various ministries.

  8. Perpetual Profession/ Dedication: After several years, sisters may choose to make a lifelong commitment through Dedication /perpetual vows.

Formation for the Nucleus Candidates and Dedication

    A member who seeks to dedicate herself:

        1. Apply for dedication four years after her commitment in the Grail and a period of discernment with the community

        1. Be honest to herself, faithful to God and to the community

        1. Have the capacity and desire for a mature faith, deep prayer and growth in spiritual wisdom; sufficient physical and psychological health to support their growth in personal maturity;

        1. Have awareness of the complexity of the world and its challenges and willingness to act for positive change through their life of fidelity to the Gospel;

        1. Have the ability to live and work responsibly in a Grail community, in other settings or independently;

        1. Have experience of living and working in a variety of Grail settings including, wherever possible, a different culture or other international context.

        1. Growing into Nucleus membership

        1. Growing into Nucleus membership involves both cognitive and experiential processes intended to lead to a candidate’s authentic integration into the Grail – its spirit, culture and purpose.

        1. The person enters into a full program of study, experience and reflection based on an internationally agreed syllabus, together with consistent periods of contemplation, meditation and prayer.  Integral to the process is initial and on-going discernment. It is expected that each candidate will have the personal support of her fellow Grail members and the spiritual and psychological guidance she needs.

        1. The length of time and the specific content of this preparation for the Nucleus will vary with the culture and conditions of each country and the circumstances of the person herself.

        1. When there are no other Nucleus members in her home country, the person and the INRP will plan an appropriate formation process in consultation with experienced Grail members.

        1. Dedication

      Dedication is a consecration to God through evangelical counsels in celibacy that manifest unbreakable bonds of union that exist between Christ and his Church. It is total self- surrender to God and God’s reign in the world, devoting self and personal resources for the promotion of the Grail spirituality.

          • Requirement for Dedication. 

        In particular application of these requirements, the Grail members involved shall consult nationally and internationally as needed, assisted and encouraged by the national leadership with the consent of her council.

            • Preparation for Dedication

            • The National Nucleus shall receive the application two years before the expected date for dedication.

            • Information about this application shall reach the general and regional Leadership 18 months before dedication.

              • Formal Acceptance

            Formally accepting a person into the Nucleus is the responsibility of the International Nucleus Reference Person

                1. Before doing so, she will consult the national Nucleus community to which the person belongs and/or those with whom the person has lived during her time of preparation. The international Nucleus community is also informed and invited to comment.

                1. A person’s formal commitment in the Nucleus (the Act of Dedication) is expressed during a Eucharistic celebration with her local Grail community and all invited to be present and is witnessed by the International Nucleus Reference Person (or her designated representative). It is preceded by a dialogue between the person making her dedication, the International Nucleus Reference Person, and the national leader of her Grail community.

                1. Every Dedication text, as well as the accompanying dialogue contains the same essential elements, but the expression of these may be adapted according to the particular cultural context.

                1. Every member is expected to have a written will regarding personal property.

               

                A member who seeks to dedicate herself:

                  1. Apply for dedication four years after her commitment in the Grail and a period of discernment with the community

                  1. Be honest to herself, faithful to God and to the community

                  1. Have the capacity and desire for a mature faith, deep prayer and growth in spiritual wisdom; sufficient physical and psychological health to support their growth in personal maturity;

                  1. Have awareness of the complexity of the world and its challenges and willingness to act for positive change through their life of fidelity to the Gospel;

                  1. Have the ability to live and work responsibly in a Grail community, in other settings or independently;

                  1. Have experience of living and working in a variety of Grail settings including, wherever possible, a different culture or other international context.

                  1. Growing into Nucleus membership

                  1. Growing into Nucleus membership involves both cognitive and experiential processes intended to lead to a candidate’s authentic integration into the Grail – its spirit, culture and purpose.

                  1. The person enters into a full program of study, experience and reflection based on an internationally agreed syllabus, together with consistent periods of contemplation, meditation and prayer.  Integral to the process is initial and on-going discernment. It is expected that each candidate will have the personal support of her fellow Grail members and the spiritual and psychological guidance she needs.

                  1. The length of time and the specific content of this preparation for the Nucleus will vary with the culture and conditions of each country and the circumstances of the person herself.

                  1. When there are no other Nucleus members in her home country, the person and the INRP will plan an appropriate formation process in consultation with experienced Grail members.

                  1. Dedication

                Dedication is a consecration to God through evangelical counsels in celibacy that manifest unbreakable bonds of union that exist between Christ and his Church. It is total self- surrender to God and God’s reign in the world, devoting self and personal resources for the promotion of the Grail spirituality.

                In particular application of these requirements, the Grail members involved shall consult nationally and internationally as needed, assisted and encouraged by the national leadership with the consent of her council.

                Formally accepting a person into the Nucleus is the responsibility of the International Nucleus Reference Person

                  1. Before doing so, she will consult the national Nucleus community to which the person belongs and/or those with whom the person has lived during her time of preparation. The international Nucleus community is also informed and invited to comment.

                  1. A person’s formal commitment in the Nucleus (the Act of Dedication) is expressed during a Eucharistic celebration with her local Grail community and all invited to be present and is witnessed by the International Nucleus Reference Person (or her designated representative). It is preceded by a dialogue between the person making her dedication, the International Nucleus Reference Person, and the national leader of her Grail community.

                  1. Every Dedication text, as well as the accompanying dialogue contains the same essential elements, but the expression of these may be adapted according to the particular cultural context.

                  1. Every member is expected to have a written will regarding personal property.