The Inquiry Stage is an informal period of time in which you meet with the Vocation Director and visit the community to see if you are interested in Religious life and might be called to this community. During the Affiliation Stage you meet regularly with the Vocation Director to discern whether you are called to life in this community. During Postulancy you live as part of the community in order to further discern your call. The Novitiate is a year-long period of contemplation, prayer and study. The years following Temporary Profession are a time to enter more deeply into the experience of monastic vowed commitment and to develop a rhythm of prayer, community and ministry. Final Profession begins your life-long commitment to seek God according to the Gospel and the Rule of Benedict with the members of the Benedictine Sisters of Chicago.