THE FIRST ORDER




ELIGIBILITY AND MEMBERSHIP

A. The candidate must:

1. Be at least eighteen years of age to enter, nineteen years of age or older at time of Junior Profession.

2. Be unencumbered by debt or other financial responsibilities, or otherwise have made suitable arrangements before entering into community living.

3. Be a confirmed communicant in good standing with the See of Canterbury.

4. Obtain character endorsements or other recommendations from a duly ordained priest of the Church who will normally be the candidate's own parish priest.

5. Submit a written declaration stating that the documents of the Order have been read, that the candidate agrees to abide by the provisions therein, and that the decision to seek membership in the Community is made of the candidate's own free will.

6. Remain single.
 
 

 B. A candidate for membership in the Order of Saint Athanasius may be admitted as an aspirant and live with the Community for a period of time determined as suitable by the Mother Superior. This is a time for the candidate to live in community and live the life of a Religious. It is also a time for the Mother Superior and the candidate to discern the candidate's call to the Religious Life. The aspirant shall then return home for a time of prayer and meditation before contacting the Mother Superior for formal admission into the Order of Saint Athanasius.

C. The right to admit candidates to the postulancy or novitiate belongs to the Mother Superior.

D. A person shall have been invalidly accepted, and will be subject to immediate dismissal, if any information given by her on her application is proven to be false or misleading.

E. A Postulant or Novice may be released at her own request or be dismissed at any time for just cause by the Mother Superior.

VOWS




The Vows of the First Order are POVERTY, CHASTITY AND OBEDIENCE. These vows are as follows:
 
 

Poverty

As members living in community we own no temporal goods individually. Wages earned by the members from services or labors are contributed to the Community for its welfare. All members must strive to live simply, realizing that what they have is from God and recognizing the common possession of all things, so that no one presumes to call anything her own.
 
 

Chastity

Members MUST live completely celibate lives. All must keep themselves pure in body and mind, as well as being modest, self-disciplined, and free from all excess in order to be free to love others as commanded by our Lord Jesus Christ.
 
 

Obedience

Members owe obedience to:

1. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, acknowledging Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour.

2. The articles of faith contained in Scripture, Creeds, Catechism and Canons of the Church.

3. Bishops and other clergy appointed over them, as well as the direction of the Mother Superior of the Order and Ministers Provincial when such are elected or appointed.
 
 
PRIVATE DEVOTIONS OF THE MEMBERS

Sisters are encouraged to use their own personal form of prayer, prayer books, spiritual readings, rosary, etc. The Order will also provide a list of required reading material. Sisters should also set aside thirty minutes each day for meditation and the study of Holy Scripture. Retreats are encouraged, whenever possible. All Sisters shall place prayer as their number one priority.
 
 


SUPPORTING THE ORDER

Those living in community shall contribute the wages from their labors and services to the Community and tithes will be given by the Community to the parish.
 
 

OF THE HABIT OF THE FIRST ORDER

The habit of the Postulant shall be a white blouse, black skirt, a short white veil, and a cross.

The habit of the Novice Sister shall be a black alb extending to the ankles, girded with a white cincture, rosary, white veil and the cross of the Order.

The habit of a Professed Sister shall be a black alb, extending to the ankles, girded with a white cincture with the three-fold Vows represented by three knots worn on the right side, rosary, black scapular, black veil, and the cross selected by the order.

Sisters are to be found in habit at all Masses and when performing any liturgical function, or carrying out their assigned ministry. The habit should be worn at all times unless secular occupation prohibits.
 
 

TITLE OF SISTERS

The Postulant shall continue to use her given name.

Upon entering the Novitiate one should already have a Religious name in mind. If she is unable to select one the Mother Superior will designate one for the candidate.

Upon reception into the Novitiate, a novice shall be entitled to use the title "Sister" and to sign her name using, n/OSA.

A Professed member may sign their name using, OSA.