Study is done the monastic way. All study is to help the community pray more authentically on behalf of all humankind..
Sisters in initial formation have set studies such as Scriptures, Psalms, Monastic History and Monastic Theology, Church History, 
Community History, the Benedictine Monastic vows, Monastic Spirituality, the Rule of St. Benedict.
These subjects are always supplemented by weekly teaching from the Abbess, who in a a Benedictine community is 'believed to hold the place of Christ'. Life in a Benedictine community is essentially a life of faith.
Formation is a lifelong process, with an initial formation of six years.
When a woman desires to give her life to God in the Jamberoo Abbey community, she first contacts the Abbess. After correspondence and personal meetings, the candidate may be asked to make an aspirancy of three weeks or more inside the Community, to further discern her call and for the Community to listen to God in this call. If it becomes clear that this is a monastic vocation, the person then talks with the Abbess and a date of entry may be discussed.
A woman who has entered the community embarks on what is called a Postulancy for twelve months.
If, after twelve months she still believes that her vocation is to this community, she asks to be clothed in the Benedictine habit and this takes place in a private ceremony inside the Abbey.
The Abbess clothes the Postulant and the Postulant becomes a Novice and formally enters the Novitiate.
The period of Novitiate is two years.
After this time, the Novice may ask to be admitted to Temporary Profession.
If the community and the No
vice are in agreement that this is the right step, the Novice takes the Benedictine vows:
Stability
Conversion of Life and
Obedience.
The vows are taken for a period of three years. The ceremony of Temporary Profession takes place during the Mass, and the Sister invites two family members to be present.
Solemn Monastic Profession and Consecration is the final step in initial formation.
This is a public ceremony in the Abbey Church with family and friends present.During this ceremony the sister takes her solemn vows for life and is given the cowl.
On-going formation beyond Solemn Profession takes place through the teaching of the Abbess, input from retreats, educational videos, the opportunity to study through The Centre at Randwick, or through the Sydney College of Divinity or the Melbourne College of Divinity. All further study is done by correspondence. We have an extensive library and sisters are encouraged to further their knowledge and individual gifts.
If you are feel you might have a calling to live our way of life you could
E-Mail:
vocations@jamberooabbey.org.au
Write:
Mother Abbess,
695 Jamberoo Mountain Road
Jamberoo,
NSW 2533
Australia