A character in GK Chesterton's The Man who was Thursday remarks "I cant think of any life, for which willingness is the only qualification!" "I can," the man to whom he is speaking replies, "Martyrdom!"

    Following the Lord is not a part time employment, it is the whole of life.  This is the rationale behind the principals of formation at Ty Mam Duw.  At the heart of our life stand the Gospel counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience lived out by us in enclosure, in the spirituality of communion characterised by openness, affection, understanding and forgiveness.

1. The aim of the Novitiate is to invite those called to our life to follow Christ and to live the Paschal Mystery.  There are two reminders which express this aim most succinctly.  During the reception of the Holy Habit the Novice to be is handed her religious garb with the words 'put on the new person' and furthermore during the same ceremony she in turn makes a petition asking the community to teach her our life. These are the two expressed statements which clearly state the aim and purpose of the Novitiate.

2. What is required of the postulant received to enter?  
The desire for God, good will and teachability.

The postulancy is the time of initiation which gives the candidate the opportunity to get to know the life and for the community to gain experience in living with the applicant. For the time being she is a guest learning to familiarise herself with her new life. A period of two months is set aside before she is given her postulant' dress. She is free to write and receive any letters but apart from this she is asked to live the life of enclosure.  After a period of a year the postulant receives the holy habit,  (this can be extended six months).

3. Having received the holy habit she becomes part of the choir assuming the duties of reader and versicularian.

4. After two years she is admitted to first profession, (this can be extended but for no longer than six months by law)  and although she remains in the Novitiate she has more involvement with the life of the community.

5. After another period of three years she becomes a full member of the community,  (this may be extended but not for more than three years by law). This period can be extended if it is felt necessary by the community.

6.  The Novitiate sisters are instructed in the Divine Office, the Holy Rule, the Constitutions, the Holy Vows, Franciscan sources and in Scripture and the Catechism. They are guided as regarded reading matter, and books are readily available.

7. It may be needful to consider to instruct each Novitiate sister individually and gear the instruction to their needs.  

8.  They can ask advice on any given matter of the Novice Mistress and the Abbess.  

9.  The Novitiate sisters need to acquire not only a knowledge of themselves but far more so a profound knowledge of God.  Particularly in the area of chastity a development of creativity is an invaluable aid towards human growth and maturity. Having been made in the image and likeness of God we too create even if it is only mischief!  

10.  Each sister in the community is encouraged to share her gifts as far as it is possible and shareable.  

11.The most important teacher is the tenor of life of the community. There should be a basic minimum of knowledge absorbed  in order to make the spiritual life feasible.