After postulancy, the young women enter the novitiate, Comunidade Santa Maria in Jacundá, the city of Aquiraz. The novice directoress guides them in their experience. The novices take many courses in an intercongregational program which prepares the future religious for a life of service in the Church. In the PHJC novitiate house, they experience our way of life, participate in ministry and grow in the spirit of prayer and the charism of the congregation. The novitiate is a time to further clarify their call to religious life leading to a commitment of temporary vows.