The stage of the Novitiate lasts a complete canonical year, and usually begins in the month of August-September. This is the "official" beginning of his Franciscan life. The novice undergoes a ceremony called investiture and from thence may now wear the religious habit. A retreat of one week precedes the celebration of being received into the novitiate. 

 

The novitiate is a privileged time of profound spiritual experience, sustained accompaniment, and periodical evaluations. This powerful experience is conducted by a Novice Master, who can count on the support of the community. Novitiate is a structured time in an environment of prayer and fraternal life. At the moment, the Novitiate takes place at Saltpond, a quiet region where we have a convent and a valley of prayer in the central region of Ghana. Other times our novices join other English-speaking novices in Zambia,together with others from Kenya, Tanzania and Burkina Faso under the umbrella of AFCOF. It provides an inner-culture experience. The Novitiate stage involves taking a break from professional activity and formal academic studies. It is above all a time to discern your vocation, with an emphasis on prayer and with opportunities to experience other pastoral activities.

 

The Novitiate is designed to furnish the right people, environment and resources to acquire: 1) A solid understanding of the heritage of the Christian faith, the Catholic Church, and the Franciscan charism; 2) A prayerful experience; 3) An understanding of the three religious vows (poverty, chastity, obedience); and 4) Knowledge about the Rule, and Franciscan spirituality and history. 

At the end of the Novitiate year, the Novice requests in writing to his Minister Provincial to profess his first religious vows. Thus begins the time of formation in Temporal vows