During the course of formation, the student will spend one year in full-time pastoral ministry.   This year of residency is to be lived in one of the communities of the province, and takes place normally after the first year of theology (4th year of formation).  This allows the student to take a year off from graduate studies, so that he may be fully focused on ministry within the context of community life.  This an important part of formation, because the student has a better opportunity to live the Dominican life as he will probably live it later after initial formation.  Although the student is already living the Dominican life.  The dynamics of community life is different, e.g. community size is small, compared to the 60 friars of St. Albert's where the students reside.

This time of residency is used for evaluation and discernment from the student's perspective, but also from the province's and laity's perspective too.  During the ordination rites, the people of God are placing the candidate before the bishop and stating that they find this candidate worthy.  The superiors of the province do the same.  This year of residency is an opportunity for the lay community to offer feedback to the superiors on the worthiness and growth of the student.

The time of residency is wonderful for the student to engage in many forms of ministry, meet wonderful and faith-filled people, learn about themselves, and learn more about living in a smaller community of Dominicans.  In a recent survey of the students (2002), the number one and most highly rated aspect of formation was the year of residency.  The students find this year especially helpful to their personal discernment of being a Dominican, and for requesting holy orders.  This is a time where many have found-out more about their gifts, strengths and weakness.

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