THE ORDER OF SAINT ATHANASIUS

Membership

THE RULE

The Order of Saint Athanasius is dedicated to serving the Church and uses the ministries of both married and single persons to attain this goal. This Community is comprised of three "orders" within the Order.
 


THE LIFE OF MEMBERS

It is the work of the Order to spread the Good News of the Lord Jesus Christ, which has been freely bestowed upon us, and to witness to the love of God. This witness is nurtured daily by prayer and meditation while serving in the secular world. Also, a member will fully develop those talents given her by God such as in music, art, education, etc. She shall use these talents to the best of her ability in the diocese, parish or mission to which she is assigned. She will work directly with her local parish priest, as her spiritual director, and carry out her ministry in the parish under his guidance.
 


FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT

POSTULANCY

A candidate will give the first six months to one year to the Postulancy period prior to entering the Novitiate. This is a time to reflect, pray, and discern if the Religious Life might be her calling, before taking any Vows.

THE NOVITIATE

After completing the Postulancy, the candidate, with the approval of the Mother Superior, enters the Novitiate. The Novice vows to a testing period of not less than one year or longer than two years. These Vows are taken in the presence of the Mother Superior and/or Chaplain of the Order.

During the Novitiate period, the candidate shall follow the prayer schedule of the Order and begin her apostolic activities under the direction of the Mother Superior in consultation with the parish priest.

The purpose of the Novitiate is two-fold:

1. For the Superior, in consultation with the Community, to determine if the candidate has a true vocation;
  2. For the candidate to discern if God is calling her to the Religious Life.

At the conclusion of the Novitiate, the Mother Superior will either:

1. Propose that the candidate become a Professed Member;
  2. Advise the candidate that she feels she has no call to the Religious Life within this Community. She may be advised that her call might be more appropriate for the Third Order.
  JUNIOR PROFESSION

The Novice becomes a Professed Member. She makes temporary Vows, in the presence of the Chaplain and/or the Mother Superior, making her a Junior Professed member of the Order. She promises to live according to those Vows to the best of her ability. A Junior Professed Member will renew these Vows annually in succession for a period of not less than five years. Junior Professed must renew Vows five times.

LIFE PROFESSION

Following renewal of the temporary Vows a minimum of five consecutive times, the member then makes Life Profession. She makes final Vows, in the presence of the Episcopal Visitor or Chaplain. These Vows can be rescinded only by the council.
 
 

BECOMING A MEMBER

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 duty 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 the decision to seek membership in the Community is made of the candidate's own free will.
    • B. A candidate for membership in the Order of Saint Athanasius may be admitted as an aspirant and live in community for a period of time as determined and approved by the Mother Superior. This is a time for the candidate to live in community, living the life of a Religious. This 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. A candidate desiring to be a member of the Second Order must have the permission of her parish priest. Her parish priest shall be her day by day spiritual director and assign her the ministries for which she is best suited according to the needs of the parish. She shall be in obedience to her priest as well as the Mother Superior.

    D. The right to admit candidates to the Postulancy or Novitiate belongs to the Mother Superior.

    E. 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.

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

    SEPARATION FROM THE COMMUNITY

    Departure, Temporary Dispensation or Dismissal:

    Cause or reason for dismissal may include, but are not limited to:

    1. Request by member.

    2. Disobedience, or refusal to accept the direction of the Mother Superior.

    3. The public profession of apostasy, and/or heresy.

    4.  Being the cause of scandal to the Community.