Once candidates are accepted, they begin as postulants in the monastery in Brighton. This is a nine-month program focusing on adjustment to community living, introduction to Carmelite spirituality and prayer. This usually runs from September until June.

The novitiate begins at Holy Hill in mid-July with the reception of the habit. The novitiate is a year in length with greater concentration on learning the doctrine of the Carmelite doctors and saints. It ends with first profession of vows, usually on the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, July 16.

The year after first profession is dedicated to a deeper study of Carmelite spirituality and a grounding in community life combined with some supervised ministerial experience. After this, students go the the Edith Stein House of Studies in Chicago to prepare for ministry by taking the appropriate course of studies for priesthood or other needed preparation for brothers.

Solemn profession comes three to five years after first profession. Students preparing for ordination must make solemn vows before being ordained deacons. The deacon spends about a year serving in one of our parishes or at the Shrine. Then he is ordained to priesthood.

Brothers complete their initial formation with solemn vows, although they my complete their studies earlier and be assigned to a ministry within the province. Today a wide variety of possibilities are open for brothers, from editing the magazine or serving as a formation director to the traditional and important community services of cook and sacristan.