Novitiate
The duration, location and placement of novitiate within the overall formation program has changed throughout the history of the SVD in North America, but today novices participate in a one-year program located in Techny, Illinois. After seminarians complete their undergraduate studies, they enter novitiate to spend time in prayer, reflection and study of consecrated life and the charism of the Society of the Divine Word with a special focus on discernment.
The novitiate year is unlike any other part of the formation process, partly because it’s not considered an academic year. There’s plenty of reading and learning to be done, but the focus is more on personal growth than scholarly achievements. The primary goal is to prepare the novices for vows by helping them to better know themselves, the SVD community and God.
Each day in the novitiate year, novices spend a period of time in solitude and silence to reflect and listen to God. For the first half of the year, the emphasis is primarily on prayer, discernment and personal reflection. The second half of the year focuses more on their preparation to profess vows.
Novices participate in three retreats designed to get them ready to enter religious life. The first is a weeklong silent retreat at the beginning of the year where the men are cut off from technology, phone conversations and general socialization. They only interact with others during group conferences, Mass and prayer. In the winter, the group typically attends a 30-day retreat. Aside from daily meetings with their director and Mass, the experience is silent. The third and final retreat takes place just a few weeks before the vows ceremony. It’s a chance for novices to reflect on their experiences and decide whether they are prepared to officially enter religious life.
Clerical Novitiate
- Novice Director for priest candidates at Techny
- 1914–1922 Father Herman Richardz
- Novice Director for priest candidates at East Troy
- 1923–1928 Father Herman Richardz
- 1929–1937 Father Felix Glorius
- Novice Director for priest candidates at Techny
- 1938–1958 Father Felix Glorius
- Novice Director for priest candidates at Conesus
- 1950–1961 Father Wilbert Wagener
- 1962–1965 Father John Musinsky
- Novice Director for priest candidates at Epworth
- 1966 Father John Musinsky
- Novice Director for priest candidates at Bay St. Louis
- 1968–1969 Father Charles Leisring
Brothers Novitiate
- Novice Director for brother candidates at Techny
- 1914–1922 Father Herman Richardz
- 1923–1933 Father Gerhard Esser
- 1934–1940 Father Carl Hirmer
- 1941 Father Lawrence Walsh
- 1947–1949 Father John Graf
- 1950–1952 Father Joseph Jansen
- 1953–1955 Father Alexander Hoefler
- 1956–1961 Father Walter Joyce
- 1962–1964 Father James Mullaly
- Novice Director for brother candidates at Conesus
- 1949–1961 Father Edmund Morman
- 1962–1968 Father Hubert Posjena
- 1969 Father Donald Strike
Common Novitiate
- Novice Directors for both priest and brother candidates at Techny
- 1991–1992 Father Walt Miller
- 1993–1999 Father Ed Peklo
- 2000–2008 Father Jim Bergin
- 2008–2017 Brother Rodney Bowers
- 2018–Present Father Timothy Lenchak
- Novice Directors for both priest and brother candidates at Chicago
- 1990 Father Walt Miller
- Novice Directors for both priest and brother candidates at Bay St. Louis
- 1970–1971 Father Charles Leisring
- 1972 Father Wilfred Reller
- 1973 Father Edward Dudink
- 1974–1982 Father John Stoessel
- 1983–1986 Father Bede Smith
- 1987–1989 Father Walt Miller
