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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.
Return to Top 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. Return
to Top 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.
Hear one
Brother's experience of learning about becoming a Brother in ministry
and community. 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.
Return to Top 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.
Hear one
Brother's reflection on balancing the call of obedience and community
in his life. Return to Top Contact
Vocation Director
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