Sons of Our Mother of Peace
Contact
Rev. John Hansen, S.M.P.
Vocation Director
6150 Antire Road
High Ridge, MO 63049
smpvocations@gmail.com
marythefont.org
Dioceses
Springfield-Cape Girardeau, MO St. Louis, MO
Mission
We are a Eremitical Monastic Community dedicated to seeking union with God through the faithful living of our charism, and also seeking to bring the truths of the Gospel to God’s people. As “… the Holy Spirit urged Jesus into the desert …” (Mk. 1:12), we are led by the Holy Spirit into our Solitude to respond to God’s call; so that through prayer, penance and total self-gift, God’s Presence about us, within us, within others and in all the circumstances which God’s Holiness places in our lives might become an ever deepening conscious reality and the cause for wondrous joy. Following the spiritual teachings of St. John of the Cross, and with the help of God’s grace, we establish a setting in which the contemplative life, with a strong focus on solitude and solitary prayer, will be available in the context of austere simplicity, through which we seek deeper communion with God. Within the context of our strong focus on prayer and solitude, we engage in the two fold apostolates of: a) helping persons deepen in prayer and self-discipline, through our retreat program, conferences on the spiritual life and spiritual direction; b) making the Catholic Faith available to both non-practicing Catholics and non-Catholics by door to door evangelization.
Qualifications
We consider these qualifications in dealing with each candidate: a.) one who has Practiced the Catholic Faith for at least two years, values the Sacraments, accepts and strives to be faithful to the teachings of the Catholic Church as expressed by the Church’s Magisterium. b.) One who experiences the call or the attraction to TOTAL CONSECRATION in a religious community setting, and desiring deeper union with God, along with a definite MISSION in His Church. c.) One who has at least average intelligence (to meet the demands of seminary studies for one also seeking the priesthood). d.) One who has a wholesome prayer life and relationship with God, and the openness to spiritual growth and direction. e.) One who has sufficient physical, psychological and emotional health. f.) One who is free from serious family and financial obligations.
Formation
Our formation program calls for a well concentrated focus on enabling the member to develop a greater love for God, and a deeper knowledge and appreciation of our particular way of life. We dedicate a period of two to three years to initiate formation which begins with Aspiracy (one month). This is followed by one year of Postulancy. Another year is dedicated to an uninterrupted (canonical) year of Novitiate which focuses more on our particular charism and way of life. A second year of Novitiate is possible, if needed. After Novitiate the member will take vows for a year which are renewed every year until one takes perpetual vows. Within the period of temporary (simple) vows, the member who experiences the call to priesthood will be enrolled in the Seminary for his philosophical and theological studies.
International
Nigeria, Philippines
Belated Vocations
Depends
