Joining the Order

What begins in friendship may deepen through discernment into a vowed life of stability, communion, and service.

Our Discernment Pathway

“Always have God before your eyes.”
— St. Anthony the Great, Sayings of the Desert Fathers, Antony 3

The pathway toward becoming an Oblate of St. Anthony is a season of prayer, formation, spiritual friendship, and mutual discernment. It is an invitation to begin inhabiting the Rule slowly and faithfully, discovering whether this ordered life of prayer, sacrament, spiritual friendship, and service is a way of life God is calling you to embrace.

  • Approximately 6 months

    This first step in our pathway is an open-ended invitation into friendship with the Order—its spirituality, Rule, common life, and members.

    Primary Practices

    • Pray and read the Rule

    • Pray the Daily Office

    • Take our two introductory courses on the Life of St. Anthony and the Spirituality of the Ordered Life

    • Join the Online Abbey for Morning Prayer and Compline as able

    • Participate as able by attending convocation, retreats, or colloquium

    Discernment Outcome

    Discern whether to enter a season of intentional discernment.

  • Approximately 3 to 6 months

    Intentional space for the individual and the Order to listen together for the invitation of Christ.

    Primary Practices

    • Continue the Daily Office

    • Attend an Open Abbey gathering

    • Complete a Spiritual Autobiography and Questionnaire

    • Meet with the Abbess, a Priest, or a Deacon

    • Begin or continue Spiritual Direction

    Discernment Outcome

    Discern whether to remain a Friend, enter the Novitiate, or pursue another vocation of service in the Church.

  • Approximately 12 months

    The first formal season of formation: learning to live intentionally under the Rule through spiritual friendship, prayer, study, and shared life.

    Primary Practices

    • Monthly Novice Cohort

    • Daily Office and regular Eucharist

    • Spiritual Direction and confession

    • Active participation in the Order

    • Attend Convocation

    • Continued study of the Rule

    Discernment Outcome

    Discern readiness to make the first annual profession of vows as an Oblate.

  • First annual vows • 1 year

    The beginning of vowed life, offering a first year to encounter the grace, challenge, and stability of faithful life under the Rule. Oblates have the letter ObSA after their names on documents.

    Primary Practices

    • First annual profession at Convocation

    • Faithful observance of the Rule

    • Daily Office and Eucharist

    • Spiritual Direction

    • Ember Letters and Annual Dues

    • Active participation in common life

    Discernment Outcome

    Discern with the Order’s leadership whether to renew annual vows.

  • 1–2 additional years • minimum 3 years under annual vows

    A season of deepening stability and perseverance as the Rule becomes an increasingly settled way of life.

    Primary Practices

    • Annual renewal of vows at Convocation

    • Continued life under the Rule

    • Daily Office and Eucharist

    • Spiritual Direction and confession

    • Ember Letters

    • Faithful participation in the Order

    Discernment Outcome

    After at least three years under annual vows, mutual discernment may lead to Life Profession.

  • Lifelong/Solemn Vows

    The joyful embrace of a lifelong vocation within the Order, with formation continuing to the end of one’s earthly pilgrimage.

    Primary Practices

    • Life Profession at Convocation

    • Lifelong fidelity to the Rule

    • Daily Office and Eucharist

    • Spiritual Direction and confession

    • Ember Letters and Convocation

    • Encourage and form newer members

    Vocational Outcome

    A lifelong vocation of stability, communion, continual conversion, and service in Christ.

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