A man wishing to test his vocation to the Oratory should contact the Provincial brother responsible for formation. Their contact details can be found here.
Members of the Oratory regard each other as brothers and find within the Oratory friendship, trust and love. A commitment to the Oratory way of life is a commitment to God and to each other so that we might serve Jesus the Good Shepherd both as individuals and as a community.
The Process of Discernment
If you are interested in testing your vocation with us, you will be invited to join the brethren and companions at a College or Provincial Chapter as an enquirer. If you wish to proceed, there is a period of postulancy, during which you can study the Notes, Manual and Rule of the Oratory. The brother responsible for formation will guide you through this journey. If you continue to feel called to the life of the Oratory, and with the assent of your college, you can be admitted as a novice for around two years, during which the novice lives the Oratory life under the guidance of a senior brother.
After you have served as a novice, you can be elected to full membership and make profession for one year and this may be renewed annually until such time as you are eligible, and feel called, to make profession for longer periods or for life.
You may also find these reflections from Dominic Austin OGS one of our younger brethren, helpful.
‘Obedience to a Calling’ was written by Dominic Walker OGS and John Thorold OGS in 1994 and gives an insight into Oratory Life. You can read it here.
A Prayer of Eric Milner White
You may find this prayer of Eric Milner White, a founding brother of the Oratory, useful as you discern God’s will in your life:
Enter our hearts, O Holy Spirit.
Come in blessed mercy and set us free.
Throw open, O Lord, the locked doors of our minds.
Cleanse the chambers of our thoughts for thy dwelling;
light there the fires of thine own holy brightness
in new understanding of truth.
O Holy Spirit, very God,
whose presence is liberty
grant us the perfect freedom
to be thy servants today, tomorrow, evermore.
Amen.
Anglican Religious Communities
For more helpful information on discerning a vocation to the Religious Life, please do visit the Anglican Religious Communities website by clicking here. On the site, you will find some information on discerning a vocation to a religious community, which may help you in your discernment.
OGS | The Oratory of the Good Shepherd 