"CR" Vocations - The Formation Process

Thank you for coming to “CR” community. The “CR” also stands for The Congregation of the Resurrection, and we think it’s a great community to belong to! You have arrived at the Vocations Page of our website. Below we have some information on joining our community but please explore the other pages listed above to get a better idea of who we are and what we are all about. And if you want to explore other vocations such as consecrated life for women, married life, single life, diocesan priesthood, and being ordained to the deaconate, please visit www.vocationculture.ca.

Typically, those who are looking to explore a vocation to consecrated life for men meet us here online or in the places that we minister. We are brothers and priests who minister as pastors, teachers, life-coaches, social workers, and care-givers who live lives of transformation. You see, we believe that the power of Christ’s Resurrection continues to bring hope and transformation to all areas of the world where there is poverty, oppression, despair, etc., and we get to be a part of it! To better allow Christ to accomplish this kind of transformation through us we enter into a formation process before becoming Resurrectionists (yes, that’s what we call ourselves).

Back to you. If you were interested in becoming a Resurrectionist, or “CR” for short, you would also be excited about being transformed and bringing transformation to others. You would already have a unique and transforming relationship with Christ while finding joy in practicing the Roman Catholic Faith. We would help this relationship you have with Christ to grow and find out if your vocation is to become a CR. Normally the process starts when someone contacts our Vocation Director (see his picture below). He is trained in helping people to discover their vocation and will help you to find out if beginning the formation process seems like a possibility for you. If so, you would then get to know some of the members that live in Canada (and in other parts of the world) and they would get to know you. You would be invited to live community life with us and be encouraged to work in one of our ministries and/or begin studies in an area that is suited to your gifts and interests.

After a year or so, if you and the members of the community get a sense that your vocation as a CR is unfolding you would apply for a year away from formal studies and ministry called a Novitiate. This is a year dedicated to prayer and living community life so that you can become more aware of your vocation. And if at the end of this year you and the community have more clarity that your vocation is to become a CR you would then apply to profess the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience for a period of one year. These vows are often referred to as Temporary Vows. They are professed at a beautiful ceremony and are renewed each year for at least three years. Typically after three years of temporary vows you would go on to profess these vows as a life-long commitment. These vows are called Perpetual Vows or Final Vows. Graduating from studies at this time often leads to full-time ministry as a priest, deacon, or brother. You would then go through the appropriate application process for ordination and/or a particular ministry as these initial stages of formation come to an end.

You should know that this is a process of amazing transformation that can lead to a joy-filled discovery of your vocation. The formation process gives you the opportunity to find a healthy balance of prayer, community life, ministry, studies, recreation, and relationships with family, friends and community members. And most importantly, you get to be an instrument of the hope and joy that Christ’s Resurrection brings to the world with the support of your brothers in the “CR” community.

If you wish to request information about vocations please contact Fr. Toby Collins, by using the contact form on this site.

Fr. Toby has recently been appointed as the full time Vocation Director for the province. He lives at the CR residence at St. Jerome's University in Waterloo, Ontario. He is readily available to speak with you, and perhaps visit you, to discuss your possible call to Religious Life in the Congregation of the Resurrection

 

Resources:

Studies in Rome - by Michal Kruszewski, CR

Letter from Pope Benedict XVI to Seminarians

Summer Experiences of a CR Seminarian

Fr. Gary Hogan, CR and his story as Formation Director

Del Haroldson, CR on his vocation to Consecrated Life and the Priesthood

Bishop Douglas Crosby, OMI and his journey to the Priesthood and Consecrated Life

Morning Prayer at Resurrection Seminary