The purpose of postulancy is to be a period of preparation for novitiate during which the Society and the postulant have an opportunity to get to know each other. Consequently, the postulant and the community begin a process of mutual discernment as to whether the Saviour is calling the postulant to Salvatorian apostolic life. In order to assist the postulant and the community in this discernment, the postulant receives basic instruction in the Society's origins, history, and apostolic life.
The postulant also receives instruction and participates in programs and activities that help him to progress in his human, intellectual, and Christian formation. Additionally, the postulant begins formal Salvatorian formation by developing his capacity to live in community and to have some experience of apostolic ministry.