Upon the completion of the application process and acceptance into the formation program, the woman begins a process of initial formation to help her and the congregation discern her vocation to the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael.

This process includes:

Candidacy . During this first year, the candidate lives with the sisters and participates in the daily life of community. The candidate attends classes in religious life, scripture and theology, participates in some ministry, and visits sisters in their local living communities in order to learn the particular way the sisters embody religious life today.

Canonical Novitiate Year . This year of formation normally takes place at the Collaborative Dominican Novitiate in St Louis, and is devoted to personal and spiritual development, study of Dominican life, our constitutions and the vows. The novice shares her experience this year with other novices from 22 Dominican congregations throughout the United States.

Apostolic Novitiate Year . During this third year, the novice returns home to California to live in a local community of sisters. She is involved in full time ministry and/or academic study. The novice continues to learn more about the The Dominican Sisters of San Rafael through her lived experience and interaction within the congregation.

Temporary Profession. After the mutual discernment of both the novice and the congregation, the novice makes profession of the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience for three years, with the possibility of renewal. After the period of temporary profession, the sister makes her profession of vows for the rest of her life.