2025 Entrances, Vows, and Ordinations

[Lily May Gath]

Does anyone know how many postulants have entered in Ann Arbor with the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist?

They had 2 or 3 receive the habit, make first and final vows.

[Luigi]

From the Alexian Brothers, Immaculate Conception Province, posted on their Facebook page July 18th: 

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What a blessed day on the Feast of St. Alexius! We celebrated Brother Carl Sisolak as he renewed his temporary vows, continuing his journey with us. We also rejoiced with Brother Terence Chintamin as he professed his First Vows, making a deeper commitment to his vocation. Please keep them both in your prayers as they continue to serve!

The Society of Mary (Marianists) don't post much about vocations on their web site. I'm not sure why. It could be that the men in formation don't want their names & faces all over the Internet while they're exploring their vocations. But if you read the stories the Marianists do post, you can glean little bits of information here and there, such as this, taken from a story about retreats held in June and July: "Novice Paul Pruski also served on the coordinating team." So there's at least one in formation with the Marianists at the moment. In related news...

The Marianist sisters had a joy-filled celebration [of the feast of the Assumption] marking the renewal of vows for Srs. Rose Rucoba and Emily Sandoval. It was also a time to bestow blessings and thanks on Sr. Gretchen Trautman as she finishes provincial leadership and the installation of the new unit council, Srs. Laura Leming, Leanne Jablonski, and Grace Walle.

[Lou]

@Lily May Gath Yesterday on Ann Arbor's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sistersofmaryop/

"Today, six young women took the first step in joining our Dominican family! Please join us in welcoming our postulants: Sr. Izzy, Sr. Mary, Sr. Emma, Sr. Erin, Sr. Madelyn, and Sr. Sophia!"

[Luigi]

From the Jesuit USA Central & Southern Province: 

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Jesuits USA Central and Southern

September 2 at 7:01

We are grateful to announce that ten men entered the Society of Jesus on August 16, 2025, at the Novitiate of St. Stanislaus Kostka in Denver. Over the next two years, they will learn about the Society of Jesus and deepen their relationship with Jesus.

A mix of prayer, apostolic service, community life and studies of Jesuit primary documents and the Society of Jesus’ contemporary mission will help each novice discern how the Lord calls him to live his life generously.

For the first two weeks of their novitiate experience (called first probation), the new novices spent time learning about the Society of Jesus and getting to know one another as companions in the Lord. Novices put aside cell phones and social media to focus on how to offer their gifts and talents for the service of the Church and the care for others.

New novices close this time of first probation in a three-day silent retreat led by the second-year novices in order to prepare them to fully enter the work of the novitiate.

They are accompanied in their studies and discernment by Novice Director Fr. Drew Kirschman, SJ, Fr. John Vowells, SJ, and Fr. Daniel Mora, SJ.

Meet the ten incoming novices of the Jesuits USA Central and Southern Province on our website: https://www.jesuitscentralsouthern.org/.../province.../

[Luigi]

From the Jesuit Midwest province, on August 9th (I'm behind - I know...). I don't find any word about the 2025 class of novices, but here's information about the 2024 class making first vows. 

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Midwest Jesuits

August 11 at 9:09 a.m.

Eight Midwest Jesuit novices pronounced First Vows of poverty, obedience, and chastity on August 9. Please keep them in your prayers as they begin their new life as Jesuit Brothers and Scholastics.

https://www.facebook.com/MidwestJesuits/videos/787478410461882/ 

 

[Luigi]

From the Jesuit Eastern province Facebook page of August 8th. Still looking for information about solemn professions and ordinations. 

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Tomorrow morning (August 9) at 10:30, in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Syracuse, three Jesuits of the USA East Province will profess their First Vows in the Society of Jesus - Rajae Clarke, Rev. Garrett Ahlers, and Michael Audet. Click here to watch the livestream of the Mass. AMDG!

 

AND

Jesuits East

September 5, 2025

Prayers of gratitude to God for our five new Jesuit novices who have completed first probation at St. Andrew Hall in Syracuse: Matthew Simms, Jacob Ihnen, Matthew Querfeld, Joseph Musante, and Noah Duclos. Click to learn more about them.

Edited September 6, 2025 by Luigi

[Luigi]

From Conception Abbey (Benedictine monks):

On September 14, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Mass and the simple professions of Novice Trevor Fisher, Novice Logan Kroeze, and Novice Daniel Martin will be livestreamed 10:30 a.m.

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I think they still have two other novices. They have about ten men in formation these days. 

[Luigi]

From the Dominican nuns of Perpetual Adoration in Menlo Park, CA.

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With hymns of jubilant praise and thanksgiving we concluded the month with the Solemn Profession of Sister André Marie on June 29; the Solemnity Sts. Peter and Paul.  We were blessed with the presence of Bishop Steven Maekawa, O.P.  Along with our friars, priests, Deacon, Sisters, family, friends and benefactors we celebrated with grateful hearts this joyous occasion.  As a former Navy chaplain, Bishop Steven made the analogy that in the military, the dangerous person was not the Marine with the rifle, but the Marine with a radio because of his capability of calling for reinforcement.

There is nothing more dangerous that a Catholic with a Rosary, a Catholic who is praying the Divine Office, who is attending Mass or who is Adoring the Holy Eucharist. They bring God– the weight of the entire Body of Christ - into the fight. They hand over all things, including their own will in service to the Lord for the salvation of souls. “So that the Word of God may not return to him empty.”

Thus, the Dominican Contemplative is “dangerous” in her hidden life armed with the cross and Rosary drawing all her strength from the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus.  Read about Sister André Marie's incredible story of finding her true calling.  
Check it out here: https://www.sfarchdiocese.org/from-prescriptions-to-prayer/.

Deo Gratias!

[Luigi]

From Conception Abbey (Benedictine monks) in northwest Missouri, posted on Facebook 9-17-15. This means they must have three novices and about eight monks in first vows. [My highlights in the post below]

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Conception Abbey

"How good and how pleasant it is, when brothers dwell together as one!" (Psalm 133:1)

This beautiful verse takes on a new and special meaning as Ryan Woolgar enters postulancy. His journey, joined with that of his twin brother, Nathan, who is in the novitiate, is a powerful example of unity in faith. We pray that their shared path will strengthen and encourage them both.

[Luigi]

From the Benedictine abbey in Portsmouth, Rhode Island: 

Eagle-eyed followers of our livestreamed Masses and Vespers liturgies, as well as others participating in person, have noticed and commented on the presence in the monastic choir of three new faces in the past few weeks. Dressed for the time being in crisp white shirts and black trousers, they have taken their place as postulants in the monastic community. Mistaken at times for Mormon missionaries when away from the campus on errands, especially when walking in pairs, they are still known by their Christian Baptismal names. We will share more details about their further discernment and formation “inside the walls” as time goes by, but for now, please pray for our three newest postulants and for vocations in general.

From the Trappist abbey of the Holy Cross in Virginia: 

 

Vowed Celebration!

October 5, 2025 by Fr Joseph

After a five-year novitiate—three of which were spent lovingly caring for his ailing father—Br. Paul Francis Smith pronounced his First Vows in a simple ceremony following Lauds this morning. In the presence of his brothers, Br. Paul Francis promised Obedience, Stability, and Fidelity to the Monastic Way of Life for a period of one year. Now follows a period of at least three years of ongoing formation as Br. Paul Francis prepares for his final commitment and the profession of Solemn Vows. Join us in thanking God for the grace of this day and for Br. Paul Francis’ generous response to God’s call to Cistercian Life. May the Lord who has begun this good work in him, bring it to fulfillment on the day of Christ.

[Luigi]

From Conception Abbey (Benedictine monks) in northwestern Missouri: 

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Conception Abbey

7 October, 2025, 4 p.m.

Today, on the Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary, Novice Nathan Woolgar professed simple vows as a monk of Conception Abbey. He takes the name Br. Pio after St."Padre" Pio of Pietrelcina.

Please pray for Br. Pio's discernment, as well as for our entire monastic community.

[lay associate]

Sr. Joy Marie of Divine Mercy:  New novice for the Handmaids of the Precious Blood   check out : nunsforpriests.org 

They usually do not have group "Come and Sees" but welcome young women for individual discernment visits,   

They are devoted to Eucharistic adoration and prayer for priests,. Even their habit symbolizes the Eucharist: wine-red habit and white veil

[Luigi]

On July 29th, St. Gregory's Abbey (Benedictine monks) in Oklahoma posted: 

" ... Work is currently being completed by the three abbey postulants and Abbey staff member Manny Sauviller."

On August 7th, I posted: "If you know any prayers, say 'em now for these guys - this monastery is holding on, and they've had a few vocations in the last ten years, but they could really use an infusion of monks."

ON October 19th, I am happy to report that all three postulants have entered Saint Gregory's Abbey in Shawnee, Oklahoma. 
Three Benedictine Novices in Oklahoma

Edited October 20, 2025 by Luigi

[GraceUk]

Glencairn Abbey in Ireland has a new postulant. Cistercians of the strict observance. 

[GraceUk]

Oh sorry I didnt see the above post!

[Luigi]

From the Conception Abbey (Benedictine monks in northwest Missouri) Facebook page, posted 11-19-25 about 5 p.m.:

"Today at Conception Abbey, we celebrated Ryan and his Entrance to the Novitiate. We are grateful to God for His many blessings. Please join us in praying for the young men of Conception Abbey as they discern religious life." Novice Ryan has a twin brother (Nathan, aka Br. Pio) who just made first vows, also at Conception Abbey. Let's see if I can insert a picture here... (if you know any prayers, say 'em now...)  That's Ryan on the left and Nathan/Br. Pio on the right. 

 

 

[Luigi]

From Our Lady of Dallas Cistercian Abbey    News from September 2, 2025

On August 17th, 1 monk in first vows renewed his vows, and 6 novice monks professed first vows. Two have long ties to the monastery; three are converts. 

On August 19th, 3 men were received as novices. Two have long ties to the monastery; one is a convert. 

 

[Luigi]

Mount Michael Abbey in Nebraska announced, in an article posted 12-3-25, that they have a young man considering a vocation living at the monastery. While that is excellent news, the more hopeful note is in the penultimate paragraph, "There are others who are knocking on our doors." This is a community of twelve Benedictine monks, and they haven't received a new guy in the last ten or twelve years. So please keep these men in  your prayers. 

https://mountmichael.org/a-guest-at-the-abbey/

[Luigi]

I know it's 2026, and I should start a new thread for the new year, but this is news from 2025, taken from the web site of the Dominican monastery of Our Lady of Grace in North Guilford, Connecticut. 

"This year—the year of Our Lord 2025—we celebrated two simple professions and a vestition. We have also welcomed (and continue to welcome) several aspirants."