Stages of Formation

The LSMIG as the first indigenous Institute for women in Northern Uganda started long Since 1945 when the Institute begun getting professed sisters who have served the Church to date and the number has continued to grow as the demand for the Religious sisters continue to multiplied. These are done in stages.

1. Aspirancy:

The Institution considers this stage the initial stage of formation. It is a period during which suitable girls are assisted to prepare to enter postulancy. The Institute considers as Aspirants girls who are open to God’s call, who have Christian attitude and who are normally physically and emotionally stable. The Aspirancy last for two years. First year are Junior Aspirants and second year being Senior Aspirants.

2. Postulancy:

This period of formation in the Institute is where the girls are officially accepted, and the Postulancy creates an environment of freedom and responsibility that allows the Candidate to reach the point of human and spiritual maturity which enables her to make a responsible decision to enter the Novitiate. The postulancy last for one year.

3. Novitiate:

The Novitiate is the first initiation that helped the candidate entered into a deep personal experience of Christ, the life of the community and the Institute. It aims at leading the candidates to consecration in the Institute. Admission to the Noviciate is granted by the General Council after they have heard the opinion of the Formation Team. The novitiate begins with the ceremony of clothing and the receiving of religious habit. The Novice is introduced into experience of community life and practice in the Institute. The Novitiate last for years. The first year is compulsory by Canon Law and is spent in the house of Novitiate. The second year is for pastoral experiences where the Novice is sent to community for some duration of two months.

Scholasticate Life

The scholasticate of the Institute for the newly professed Sisters with the purpose to intensify, complete and integrate the different aspects of Religious formation learnt in the Novitiate, this include prayer, the vows, community life etc.

It is to make transition from the Novitiate into the life and mission of the Institute and to prepare the young sisters for final vows and deepen a young religious understanding of Evangelical Counsels. To help the young Religious live Community life etc.

The junior sisters after profession on the 8th Dec. are sent home to greet their parents. On their return from home they join the Scholasticate where they live for one year. On the 8th January every year the scholasticatic sisters are Commissioned, awarded certificate and sent out to communities or schools for studies.

The scholasticate programme has been a real inspiration from the Holy spirit for the good of the Institute of LSMIG. The one-year programme has been very beneficial to the young sisters, because the programme helped them to value the Community life, Recreation time, their group, Promote team spirit, Learn more materials, Enlarged their social life by meeting other teachers especially the Rev. Fathers and the Catechists. The Junior sisters while in the scholasticate lived together, share, and work together. They made the life in the mother house lively and most of the activities in the Mother House are done by them. The young sisters are willing to learn and be committed Religious women.

Commissioning of the Junior Sisters after Completing their Scholasticate Training

Following the on-going formation and the mandate given us by the 9th General Chapter 2019 we are congratulating all our young sisters who successfully completed their one-year training in the mentioned courses, we the ILT agreed to award these sisters with the certificate of merits for having excelled in their training, and we feel these has done them well. As they go out, the commissioning is on the 8th January of every year officially to wish them all well in their apostolate.

Final Vows

Yearly, time given for the sisters ready for their final commitment to prepare themselves. For the three years we saw this time had been a moment for candidates to discern to make proper decision and pray more about their call. These candidates report for one month for their training in preparation to final commitment. All the communities were young sisters are given evaluation and sent to the counselor in charge of Formation and spirituality for scrutiny by the ILT.

Period of Temporary Vows

The period of temporary vows is the continuation of the basic formation of a sister the Opportunity to deepen her faithfulness to God and community in a concrete life situation and prepares her for perpetual profession. The formator responsible for the junior sisters is appointed by the Superior General with consent of her Council.

The period of temporary Vows is at least six years without interruption. Temporary Vows are received yearly for the first three years and once for three years. The period of temporary vows may for the grave reasons be prolonged by a period of one year for a candidate, but not for more than three years.

Last Stage

The last stage is the ongoing formation which a sister carries out for life through courses for renewal, retreats, workshops, seminars etc. done from time to time for the rest of her life.

The LSMIG have special curriculum which help in the formation houses where the young girls are prepared and groomed into well mature religious fit for evangelization in the Institute of the LSMIG according to the charism set by the founder.