THE DC HOUSE

Becoming A Sister

Becoming a DC Sister of the Abbey of Magnificent Intentions requires a lot of different skills, as well as an investment in time, energy and money. When evaluating a potential new member, we look at a number of things, including:

Drive
Passion and commitment
Desire to perform community service
Ability to handle many tasks with grace
Honesty and a genuine character
Good people skills
Ability to interact with others in a meaningful way.

However, having the drive and skills is not enough. The Order is made up of many people who all must be able to work together smoothly and efficiently. We are far from perfect and, like any family, often have our misunderstandings. Despite that, we all work towards our common goals and often can make miracles happen. A new member must be able to mesh with the Order and should add to the group dynamic, not detract from it.

We are more than just another community service organization: we are first and foremost Sisters. As with our more traditional counterparts, nearly all of us felt a genuine calling to do this work. There is room for a lot of fun in the Order, but we take our callings and our vows very seriously.

The majority of Sisters consider this a lifelong vocation; the path may twist and turn, the outer manifestation may change, but the commitment to service never waivers. Being a Sister can be one of the most challenging and demanding things you can ever do but it also offers some rich and enlightening rewards.

If you are interested in joining the Order, we recommend that you attend our events. Observe Sisters in action. Engage us in conversation. Getting a better idea of who we are and what we do will help you to decide if this is the path for you.

There are four steps to becoming a sister and the whole process can take more than a full year

Aspirant

After attending one or two meetings, an interested person declares the intent to join at one of our general membership meetings. This period lasts for at least two months; during this time you should be developing relationships with the Sisters, participating in our events and watching how we work and operate. At this stage you are not a member and have no rights within the Order. If we both decide that you are a good fit, you will need to get the Novice Mistress’ recommendation and select two Fully Professed Members to be your sponsors (we call them your Big Sisters). The Membership then votes on your elevation; if you get a majority vote you are elevated to Postulant.

Postulant

As a Postulant, you are a Member of the Order although you still have no voting rights. In addition to continuing to further your relationships within the Order, you are required to attend all of our meetings, many of our events and you must learn the history of the Order. Your makeup should be simple and you wear a gray veil. Postulancy lasts for at least six months. Near the end of that time, if the Order still agrees that you are a good fit, you will need to find a Fully Professed Member to be your main sponsor (your Big Sister). With the Novice Mistress’ recommendation and the sponsorship of your Big Sister, you will be brought up for elevation. Should you get the two-thirds vote required, you will be elevated to Novice.

Novice

The Novitiate begins to manifest the outward appearance of a Sister. A Novice wears the whiteface and wimple, with a white veil. Despite this, the general public still perceives you to be a Sister and your interactions will radically change. The Novitiate lasts for at least six months. During this time you are a member without rights, you must attend every meeting, nearly all of our events and you and continue to learn about the order and our policies and practices. With your Big Sister’s help, you must develop a Novice Project: plan, organize and throw an event. Once you complete the requirements and have the Novice Mistress’ and your Big Sister’s support, you may ask to be elevated to Fully Professed status. As with the other steps, you will be voted upon by the membership; should you receive the three-fourths vote required, you will be elevated to receive a Black Veil.

Fully Professed

Although this is the last step in the formal process of becoming a Sister, it is the first step towards being a Sister. As a Fully Professed Member of the Order, you have all of the rights and privileges of a Member: you may vote, represent the Order and manifest as you feel called to do so. Fully Professed Members also may hold office and help shape the direction and development of the Order. Our Fully Professed Members serve the Order in many different roles; taken as a whole, they make the Order what it is.Still interested in becoming a Sister? Start by getting in touch with our Mistress of Novices.