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 Discernment
comes from the Latin word discernere,
which means to distinguish, to sift
out, to separate. In discerning
and growing in a religious vocation
as a Brother, a person often is
challenged not by a choice between
a "good" option and a "bad" option,
but by the decision to explore with
integrity how God's will is active
in his life. The discernment program
for the District of San Francisco
allows the time, experiences, and
support for a young man to clarify
if God might be calling him to journey
in life with the Brothers. Our discernment
program includes various levels
of inquiry, experience and consequent
development in becoming a Brother
of the Christian Schools: Contact,
Aspirant,
Postulant,
Novice, Temporary
Profession, and Continuing
Formation.
 A
Contact is a Catholic man
who is open to exploring for himself
the vocation of a Brother. A Contact
is in college or older. Through
development of his prayer life,
participation in experiences with
the Brothers in community and educational
service, and in regular conversations
with one of the vocation directors,
the Contact develops an understanding
of how God may or may not be calling
him to deepen his commitment with
the Brothers. Return
to Top Contact
Vocation Director
 An
Aspirant sees for himself
the possibility of residency as
a Postulant with the Brothers. Like
a Contact, he participates in activities
designed to help him further develop
his knowledge and experience of
the Brothers' life of Faith, Service
and Community. As a regular participant
in prayer and Eucharist and in visiting
the Brothers' Formation Community,
he comes to recognize whether or
not God is calling him to request
Postulancy.
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Contact
Vocation Director
 A
Postulant
resides in community with the Brothers,
participating in living out and
integrating Faith, Service and Community.
"Together and by association" in
a Formation Community Postulants
learn about the Brothers by doing
and reflecting. In a one-to-two-year
program, they develop an active
personal, communal and liturgical
prayer life, study the Catholic
faith, Scripture, and life and vision
of Saint John Baptist de La Salle,
as well as participate in the Lasallian
ministries of the District. A Postulant
discerns his call to Brotherhood
and whether he will request, and
is ready for, the next stage of
residency-the Novitiate experience.
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Contact
Vocation Director
 A
Novice continues the studies
of the Postulancy but with an in-depth
initiation into religious life of
the Brother. Through a communal
context of the Novitiate year, a
novice grows in his personal relationship
with God. Opportunities for input,
discussion and reflection help the
Novices integrate an understanding
and experience of the Brothers'
vowed life of poverty, chastity,
obedience, stability in community
and service of the poor through
education. A Novice discerns his
call to profess his first annual
vows at the end of the year, thus
publicly acknowledging his readiness
to enter more deeply into relationship
with God as expressed through service
and community in an educational
ministry of the District. Return
to Top Contact
Vocation Director
 A
Brother in temporary profession
lives in a community while serving
in an educational work. During the
one to nine years of temporary profession,
he experiences at least two different
communities and educational works
of the Brothers. He pursues additional
studies, if needed, in evenings
and/or summers. In support to one
another, the Brothers in temporary
profession gather at least once
a semester to share in the successes
and challenges of their life as
new Brothers. After at least three
years in a community doing apostolic
work, being at least 25 years of
age, professing annual vows for
at least 5 years and attending a
pre-professional retreat, a Brother
in temporary profession may request
perpetual vows.
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Contact
Vocation Director
 A
Brother in continuing formation
has professed perpetual vows and
continues his participation in educational
work and community living. Supported
by ongoing professional and religious
studies, responsibilities in community
and ministry, and an annual retreat,
he strives to integrate the elements
of Faith, Service, and Community
in his call as a Brother.
Return to Top Contact
Vocation Director
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