NY 526: Novitiate

Boys from age fourteen to sixteen who desire to devote their lives to God in the cause of Christian education, are admitted to the Junior Novitiate, where they are taught the principles of the religious life and where their vocation is tried and fostered. The general program of studies embraces the full curriculum of elementary education. The boys remain in the Junior Novitiate until they are sixteen years of age. If found worthy, they are then promoted to Senior Novitiate, where they receive the holy habit and are more fully instructed in the nature and duties of the religious life.

Young men from age sixteen to twenty-five, who wish to lead a religious life, are admitted to the Senior Novitate. After completing the Senior Novitiate term the members enter the Scholasticate or Normal College to continue their studies and to acquire the methods of teaching.

Time spent in the novitiate is time given to aspirants in the religious life for spiritual study and to train themselves in the virtues and observances of the state they are embracing.