Postulancy is a time of transition from the secular into the religious life. The postulant learns to live in community. She begins to learn the customs of our life and the prayers of the Community. She is introduced to our apostolate, the ideals of our foundress, and the theology of the spiritual life. She also learns to grow in her own personal prayer.

At the conclusion of her postulancy, she receives her religious name and the habit, and enters her two-year Canonical Novitiate.

As a novice, she will join in every aspect of Hawthorne Dominican community life. And, she will continue her studies, focusing on the apostolate and the vows of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience, with an emphasis on Dominican spirituality. She will also go deeper in her studies of the spiritual life and the virtues.

Each postulant and novice receives individual attention from the Novice Mistress. Spiritual direction and ongoing dialogue are important as the novice continues to ask, "'Is this life for me?"

During their studies, some will decide that they are not called to be a Hawthorne Dominican. Others, with the consent of the community, will enter the Community as a "Junior Professed " Sister by making public profession of temporary vows. These vows are renewed annually, over the course of five years.

A "Junior Professed" Sister continues to grow in her new life of community, study, prayer and the apostolate. At the end of five years, if she chooses, the Sister will make solemn vows - consecrating herself to God for life as a Dominican Sister of Hawthorne.

The study of spirituality and the virtues is an ongoing part of Dominican life, important to continual renewal.