Passionist International Bulletin - PASSIOCHRISTI

PPaassssiioonniisstt IInntteerrnnaattiioonnaallBBuulllleettiinn

“The young... will develop and bring to conclusion the present initiatives...Life is passed on from hand to hand, from religious to religious for the fulfillment

of the universal plan of God and for his Reign”.Letter of Fr. General

Fr. Ottaviano D’Egidio, Superior General, signs the Letter of Convocation of the 45th General Chapter in the presence of the students at Sts. John and Paul, Rome.

N° 10 - New Series, March 2006

T A B L E O F C O N T E N T SThe Curia Informs

Fr. Ottaviano D’Egidio, Superior General, C.P.Letter of Convocation of the 45th General Chapter................p. 3Fr. Ottaviano D’Egidio, Superior General, C.P.Attachment to the Letter of Convocation of the 45th General Chapter ..................................................................p. 6Fr. Ottaviano D’Egidio, Superior General, C.P.Address of the Superior General, Fr. Ottaviano D’Egidio to the Community at Santa Barbara (Honduras) ....................p. 8Fr. Luis Enrique Bernal, C.P.Realities of the Provinces.....................................................p. 9Fr. Jefferies Foale, C.P.A Chairos Moment for the Congregation ............................ p. 11Fr. Joseph Mitchell, CPIntegrating Justice and the Integrity of CreationInto the Passionist Charism................................................ p. 12Fr. Luigi Vaninetti, C.P.Passionists in Smotrycz: a simple presence.........................p. 15Fr. Vital Otshudialokoka, C.P.The C.P.A. Congress: The Passionist Conferencein Africa...........................................................................p. 17

Secretary GeneralActivity of the General Council.......................................... p. 19Fr. Fabiano Giorgini, C.P.HISTORICAL NOTES: Concerning Restructuringin the Passionist Congregation........................................... p. 22

Fr. Fabiano Giorgini, C.P. and Fr. Paulino Alonso,C.P.Passionist Preaching to Nuns and to other Womenreligious during the 18th and 19th Centuries........................p. 24Fr. Giovanni Zubiani, C.P.“It is Your Face that I Seek”: Blessed Maria Pia Mastena.......................................................................p. 26Information concerning the process of canonization of Blessed Charles Houben (of Mount Argus)...........................p. 28Fr. Adolfo Lippi, C.PReflections on the current status of the Restructuring Process.........................................................p. 29

Passionist LifeNews from the ConferencesCII. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 31IPCM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 37CIPI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .p. 39NECP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .p. 42Laity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 43COPAL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .p. 44Special Events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 45Witnesses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 50Witnesses-New Presence. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 51Passionist Sister and Nuns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .p. 52 Professions and Ordinations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 53 New Publications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 55Obitus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 57

Passionist International Bulletin

N° 10 - New Series - March 2006

EditorGeneral Curia of theCongregation of the Passion

General Consultor for CommunicationsLuis Alberto Cano, C.P.

Editing and Translation of TextsFloriano De Fabiis, C.P.Giovanni Pelà, C.P.Lawrence Rywalt, C.P.Ramiro Ruiz, C.P.

PhotographsChristopher Gibson, C.P.Jefferies Foale, C.P.Lawrence Rywalt, C.P.Nancy Nickel

AddressUfficio ComunicazioniCuria GeneraliziaP.za Ss. Giovanni e Paolo, 1300184 Roma - ITALIATel. 06.77.27.11Fax: 06.700.84.54Pagina Web: http://passiochristi.orgE-mail: [email protected]

GraphicsMarco Animobono

Cover LogoLoretta Lynch

CoverFr. Ottaviano D’Egidio, Superior General signs the Letter of Convocationof the 45th General Chapter in thepresence of the students at

Sts. John and Paul, Rome.

PrintingGrafica Animobono s.a.s.Via dell’Imbrecciato, 71a00149 Roma

TTHHEE CCUURRIIAA IINNFFOORRMMSS

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My dear brothers,

While we are still immersed in themystery of Christmas in which we con-template God within the “sign” of achild (Lk 2:12), I fraternally greet allthe religious of the Congregation, thewomen religious and the laity of thePassionist Family and, at the beginningof this New Year, I wish you new life,courage and fruitful charity.

The year 2006 will also be the year ofthe Chapter and therefore according tothe directive of No. 76 of the GeneralRegulations, I hereby convoke theXLV General Chapter of ourCongregation. It will take place inRome, at the Retreat of Sts. John andPaul, near the mortal remains of ourFounder, St. Paul of the Cross. It willbegin on Sunday, 01 October andconclude on Saturday, 21 October.

The Constitutions remind us that theGeneral Chapter is “the supremeauthority in the Congregation…”(#126); “The General Chapter meets tocarry out its task of making laws andholding elections. It has to promote thefaithfulness of the Congregation to theideals of community and service of theChurch. Its primary responsibilities,therefore, are as follows:

(a) to discern the workings of the HolySpirit in the events of life, and thus tobe a powerful force in the task of con-tinual adaptation and renewal; (b) to nourish the growth and develop-ment of the authentic Passionist spirit,so that it will be manifestly embodied inevery member of the Congregation, nomatter where he lives;(c) to consider closely the state of theCongregation, and to clarify its com-mon goals of community life and apos-tolic activity;(d) to foster solidarity, and to maintainunity without insisting on uniformity;(e) to evaluate how the GeneralGovernment has operated, and theextent to which the planning of the pre-vious Chapter and of the GeneralSynods has been implemented. It willavoid, however, specifying administra-

tive procedures thatdepend on the SuperiorGeneral and his staff;(f) to elect the SuperiorGeneral and hisCouncil.” (#127)In conjunction with thesetasks, the Chapter willconsider Restructuring asit central and fundamen-tal topic, as was decidedat the General Synod atthe end of November2004 and, since that date,we have already begunthe process in which wehave encouraged our reli-gious to participate asthoroughly as possible.The date of thisannouncement of theChapter is today, 01January 2006, the feastof Mary, the Mother ofGod and the world day ofPeace. These are twoevents that emphaticallyspeak of life: the mater-nity of Mary who con-ceived and gave birth to Jesus, the Sonof God and her Son who took flesh; andone of the Beatitudes that was pro-claimed by Jesus on the mount:“Blessed are the peace-makers, for theywill be called children of God.” (Mt.5:9).“The Passion of Jesus, the passion forlife” was the theme of the previousGeneral Chapter that took place inItaicí, Brazil in the year 2000 andwhich gave to the Congregation and tothe Passionist Family a document bythe same title, “The Passion of Jesus,the passion for life” and which hasinspired the life of the Congregationduring these last six years: it is the follyof the Passion of Jesus that culminatesin his death, but which would bringforth life and victory over death itselfand over sin through the paternal mercyof God.

“Nothing will be impossible for God”,the Archangel Gabriel says to Mary in

the verse of the gospel of theAnnunciation (Lk. 1: 26-38). For manyyears I read this line of the Gospel andI always understood the dialoguebetween the angel and Mary within thecontext of the mystery of the incarna-tion and as if it only referred to this.“´You will conceive in your womb andbear a son, and you shall name himJesus… He will be called Son of theMost High, and the Lord God will givehim the throne of David his father, andhe will rule over the house of Jacobforever, and of his Kingdom there willbe no end.” But Mary said to theangel: ‘How can this be…?’ And theangel said to her in reply: ‘Nothing willbe impossible for God.’” It is a sensi-tive and sublime story, the humility ofMary and the presence and the grace ofGod, and it is a story that is almostfinalized at Christmas; but I believethat we need to go further, deeper,because all the elements of the Passionare also present.

LLeetttteerr ooff CCoonnvvooccaattiioonnooff tthhee 4455tthh GGeenneerraall CChhaapptteerr

Wood-carved statues of the Annunciation, Sts. John & Paul, Rome.


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Mary accepts that the Word of God beful-filled in her and she is disposed tobecome the “realization” of God.

“Be it done to me according toyour word.” She assumes the plan ofGod in her life; she supports it; she col-laborates with it. The angel that wassent to her sets forth the plan of God forher; he communicates it, explains it,and enables her to know it. Today theHoly Spirit speaks to us silently; but itis necessary to know how to hear andunder-stand him in the signs of thetimes, in the Magisterium. It may beperplexing and frightening to us, but heenables us to know how to accept thewill of God. With the “yes” ofMary that begins the incarna-tion, it is she who allows Godto work and accept and accom-plish her mission of being theMother of God which we con-template during these days: thechild that will also be theCrucified and Risen One.

The Angel announcesto her that the child that shewill conceive will be called“the Son of God”. The angelswill sing it at Bethlehem for hisbirth, but the title “Son of God”will also be a source of deathfor him, in fact the Jews willshout out to Pilate: “he shoulddie because he proclaimedhimself to be the Son of God.”

“The Lord God will give himthe throne of David…” the angelannounces to Mary. “So, then, you area king?” Pilate will ask him. “I am, butmine is not a kingdom of this world…”“Crucify him!” the crowd will shout.The soldiers mocked him: “Hail kingof the Jews” and they slapped him inthe face. And the crowd: “If you sethim free you are no friend of Caesar’s;anyone who makes himself a king isdefying Caesar!” and human power isused to oppose God. “Away with him,away with him, crucify him!” they willpersist. And Pilate: “Shall I crucifyyour king?” But the battle is lost; hateis stronger than justice. The blind whohad regained their sight were far away;the lepers that were healed; the womenwho shouted “blessed are the breaststhat nursed you”, as well as so manyothers. Yes, they are far away andabsent: “he handed him over to them tobe crucified.” The son of David, whosereign would have no end, the Son ofGod the Most High, Emmanuel, would

be crucified naked, insulted and humil-iated.

It is true, “nothing will beimpossible for God”, nothing is impos-sible for so great a heart: to be life andto accept death; to die so as to give life.It is within this faith perspective thatwe should prepare ourselves to experi-ence the event of the General Chapterand within it the Process of theRestructuring of the Congregationwhich is its main theme.

We will speak among our-selves trying to understand the ways ofGod and we will converse with theLord.

We will have to leave Jerusalem, per-haps disconsolate and sad as were thedisciples of Emmaus; but the Lord willspeak to us and along the road ourhearts will burn within us and he willopen our eyes to recognize him.

It will be our task to discern “the planand the divine will”, today, and reflecton our lives from within our present,globalized world as well to understandefficacy of our mission within it. Weare already aware that the challenge ofRestructuring tests our consecration tothe Passion of Jesus at its very roots.We cannot close our hearts and mindsthinking that thus we will preserve our-selves. It is necessary to go forwardwith courage in order to be yeast in achanged world.

The efficacy of our mission isour life itself. We are alive if weaccomplish our Mission, in the waythat yeast is alive only as it ferments inthe dough. If the yeast decides to pre-serve itself, it agrees to the death of itsvital elements. It is a choice for life! Itis about welcoming the Lord who

comes to visit us!The episode of the visit of the Lord toAbram may serve to enlighten us “atthe oak of Mamre, while he was sittingby the entrance of the tent during thehottest part of the day.” (Gen. 18:1).Abram dedicated himself to offeringhospitality to the Lord: “If I find favorwith you, please do not pass your ser-vant by”: he enlists the help of Sarahand her servants.

“…While he remained standing nearthem under the tree…they asked him,‘Where is your wife Sarah?’ ‘She is inthe tent’, he replied. One of them said,

"I will surely return to youabout this time next year, andSarah will then have a son."Sarah was listening at theentrance of the tent, justbehind him. Now Abrahamand Sarah were old,advanced in years… SoSarah laughed to herself…But the LORD said toAbraham: "Why did Sarahlaugh and say, 'Shall I reallybear a child, old as I am?' Isanything too marvelous forthe LORD to do? At theappointed time, about thistime next year, I will returnto you, and Sarah will have ason." Because she was

afraid, Sarah dissembled, saying, "Ididn't laugh." But he said, "Yes youdid." (Gen. 18:9-15).

Like Sarah we must overcome theresistance and fears within our heartand be trusting: “Is anything too mar-velous for the LORD to do?” the Lordsays to Abram and the Angel Gabriel atthe Annunciation: “Nothing will beimpossible for God”. And of Abramand Sarah, “old, advanced in years”Isaac was born, from whom wouldcome the multitude of people promisedto Abram; and of Mary: ‘How can thisbe, since I have no relations with aman?” is born Jesus, the Savior.

Such are the ways of God andhis ways and his plans are mysterious.But He, as Jesus says: “is the way, thetruth and the life.” Our task is to under-stand it, accept it and make it the planof life for us personally and for theCongregation, especially on the occa-sion of the General Chapter: Lord, “ifI find favor with you, please do notpass your servant by.”

Icon of the “Hospitality of Abraham and Sarah”


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No one may consider himselfexempt from participating; all are partof the common charism of the Passionof Jesus given by the Holy Spirit to St.Paul of the Cross and transmitted to usin our vocation.

The young in initial forma-tion—the postulants, novices, students-- who will persevere: many of ourideas and projects will be shoulderedby them with their energy. They willdevelop and bring to conclusion thepresent initiatives, some of which arealready germinating, and they willattain the goals and objectives that arebeing planned today. Life is passed onfrom hand to hand, from religious toreligious for the fulfillment of the uni-versal plan of God and for his Reign.It may occur that the older religiousfeel that they are alienated from thedynamic and hopes of the Chapter andfrom the Process of Restructuring as ifthe evening or sunset were not an inte-gral part of a day. There are beautifulevenings and sunsets, rich in color,warmth and tenderness: such are theelderly and infirm religious who placetheir difficulties and limitations withinthe context of faith and prayer.Consequently, they should no longerfeel excluded. In fact, evening is still part of a day andas a poet says, “the evening is not theday that is dying, but the night that is achild.” And it may contain lifetime sur-prises as was the case of Abram andSarah. The example of God whoappeared at Christmas in the guise of afragile Child may serve to encourageus. He was completely entrusted to theMary and Joseph, he, the omnipotentOne. He assumed weakness out oflove, and the weakness will bear lifeabundantly.

I am convinced that the elder-ly and the sick of the Congregation andof the Passionist Family possess a spe-cial mission for the General Chapterand for the Process of Restructuring: asfar as they are able, to collaborate withthe process and especially to raise up toGod their prayer and to accept the sac-rifices and limitations of their ad-vanced age, of their illness and of theirdependency on others.

In this respect I want to recalla particularly meaningful verse ofExodus: “At Rephidim, Amalek cameand waged war against Israel…Joshuadid as Moses told him: he engagedAmalek in battle after Moses hadclimbed to the top of the hill with

Aaron and Hur. As long as Moses kepthis hands raised up, Israel had the bet-ter of the fight, but when he let hishands rest, Amalek had the better of thefight. Moses' hands, how-ever, grewtired; so they put a rock in place for himto sit on. Meanwhile Aaron and Hursupported his hands, one on one sideand one on the other, so that his handsre-mained steady till sunset. AndJoshua mowed down Amalek and hispeople…Moses also built an altarthere, which he called Yahweh-nissi;for he said, "The LORD takes in handhis banner…” (Ex. 17:8.10-13.15).Moses climbed to the top of the hill andwhen he raised his hands in prayer thesoldiers who were fighting in the valleybelow were energized and Israelbecame stronger and won the battle.Moses fought by prayer. It is a battlethat our religious who are sick and eld-erly can also undertake.

May a sense of responsibilityfor the Congregation and its mission inthe world, to which we have beencalled by God, grow within each of us.

In preparation for the GeneralChapter we will offer special prayersthroughout the Congregation beginningsix months prior to the Chapter, i.e.next April 1st. In meetings between theGeneral Council and the Commissionfor Restructuring there was a sense thatthis time period needs to be lived as anextended retreat for the entireCongregation.

In the attachment, that is anintegral part of this present document,several items of the Constitutions and

General Regulations are cited asreminders concerning the GeneralChapter and preparation for the same.Furthermore, there are norms for par-ticipation at the Chapter that wereapproved at the last General Synod inRome at the end of November, 2004.According to these norms, the names ofthe elected delegates must be commu-nicated to the General Secretariat assoon as possible, but no later than next15 June in order to send them the doc-uments and other necessary informa-tion.

My dear brothers, let us trust-ingly prepare ourselves for the Chapter.Let us place the Congregation and thePassionist Family beneath the protec-tion of Mary and Joseph, the guardiansof the Holy Family at Nazareth.“Nothing will be impossible for God!”I am certain that it is He who willaccompany us along the road of prepa-ration. May St. Paul of the Cross,whose birth we commemorate on 3January, bless us.

Happy New Year and a Good Journey!

Rome, 1 January 2006Feast of the Mother of God Retreat of Sts. John and Paul

Fr. Ottaviano D’EgidioSuperior General, C.P.

“There are beautiful evenings and sunsets, rich in color, warmth and tenderness:such are the elderly and infirm religious who place their difficulties and

limitations within the context of faith and prayer.”


____________________March 2006 PIB N. 10____________________6

This attachment contains what is prescribed for theGeneral Chapter in the Constitutions, in the GeneralRegulations and the Norms for Participation in theGeneral Chapter that were approved at the GeneralSynod that took place in Rome at the end of November,2004. This is offered as a “reminder”; for the completetext please consult the Constitutions, the GeneralRegulations and the Acts of the Synod.

From the Constitutions

129. The General Chapter meets every six years.Its ex officio members are: the Superior

General, who will also preside at the Chapter, previousSuperiors General, the General Consultors, theProcurator General, the Secretary General, the SecretaryGeneral of the Missions, the General Econome,Provincial Superiors, and Vice-Provincial Superiors.

If a Provincial or Vice-Provincial Superior isprevented from attending the Chapter, his place will betaken by his first Consultor; if he in turn is unable toattend, another shall be chosen by the ProvincialCouncil.

130. In accordance with the norms of the GeneralRegulations, one or more delegates [are] elected […] Ifa delegate cannot be present at the Chapter, his place willbe taken by a substitute.

N.B. Regarding the members “per officio” referred to atNo. 129 of the Constitutions, the norms approved by thelast Synod also allow for the participation “ex officio” ofthe regional Vicars with at least 25 religious, for which atemporary Rescript was requested of the Holy See inaccord with what is permitted at No. 114 of theConstitutions. In reference to the election of the dele-gates, the norms approved by the last General Synodmodify what is prescribed by the Constitutions andGeneral Regulations.

From the General Regulations

76. The General Chapter is announced by means ofa circular letter sent by the Superior General to the entireCongregation nine months before it is to take place.

It is the duty of the Superior General with hisCouncil to ensure that the matters proposed to theCapitulars are carefully prepared and sent to them atleast six months before the Chapter.

The Capitulars must be consulted about theagenda proposed for the Chapter, and they are free to putforward other topics for discussion.

Provinces, Vice Provinces, Regional Vicariates,and local communities, as well as any individual reli-gious, are free to send to the General Chapter their ownwishes and suggestions.

78. The Superior General with the consent of hisCouncil may call experts to attend the Chapter. Theytake part, however, only in a consultative capacity.

The Superior General with the consent of hisCouncil may also invite some religious to take part in theChapter in a consultative capacity, so as to ensure that allparts of the Congregation are represented.

N.B. I wish to especially remind you of two points ofNo. 76:The Capitulars must be consulted about the agenda pro-posed for the Chapter, and they are free to put forwardother topics for discussion.

AAttttaacchhmmeenntt ttoo tthhee LLeetttteerr ooff CCoonnvvooccaattiioonnooff tthhee 4455tthh GGeenneerraall CChhaapptteerr

Fr. Ottaviano D’Egidio, Superior General, signs theLetter of Convocation of the 45th General Chapter.


7

Provinces, Vice Provinces, Regional Vicariates, andlocal communities, as well as any individual religious,are free to send to the General Chapter their own wishesand suggestions.The Norms approved by the General Synod XII of 2004are valid for the next General Chapter of 2006

1) THE NORMS FOR PARTICIPATION ATGENERAL CHAPTERS:

Those Provinces with at least 50 religious shallhave one delegate; Provinces with more than one hun-dred religious may elect an additional delegate for everyone hundred religious and for every unit greater than onehundred; Regional Vicars of vicariates with at least 25religious are members by right of the General Chapter.

Those Provinces with less than 50 religious,those Vice-provinces and Vicariates shall elect one dele-gate from with the parameters of the regionalConference for every 50 religious and additional dele-

gates, one for every unit greater than 50.For the election of delegates to the Chapter,

those religious that form part of Regional Vicariates shallnot be counted with their respective mother Province,but within the context of the regional Vicariates.

Those religious of the communities of LatinAmerica that are directly dependent upon Spain, the reli-gious of Mozambique that depend totally upon Brazil,and the religious of Angola who depend directly onPortugal shall be counted within the RegionalConferences (together with the Vicariates), and not with-in the Mother Province.

Every Conference shall devise appropriatenorms for the election of its Delegates to the GeneralChapter.

Every Regional Conference shall have oneBrother as its delegate to the General Chapter.

2) THE ANTICIPATED NUMBER OF CAPITULARS:General Curia: Fr. General, the Council, Major officials, Ex-General: 11Provincials – Vice-Provincials: 28Delegates of the Provinces with at least 50 religious: 15Delegates of Provinces with more than 100 religious: (PAUL) 2Regional Vicars with at least 25 religious: 6Delegates of Provinces with less than 50 religious, of Vice-Provinces and of Vicariates:

COPAL Conference (377 religious) 8 delegates +CPA Conference (145 religious) 3 delegates +NEC Conference (112 religious) 2 delegates +PASPAC Conference (195 religious) 4 delegates = 17Brothers 7

Total members: 86N.B. For determining the number of delegates those religious were not counted who do not have active and passive voice (GR 68, 73, 77, 99a, 99d).

(The following is the response that we received from theCongregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life andSocieties of Apostolic Life concerning our request tomake changes to our Constitutions.)

The Vatican 24 January 2006

Dear Father (Ottaviano),

We have received your letter of 5 January of thisyear by which, according to article No. 114 of theConstitutions of your Institute, you have requested per-mission for a prescript for temporary approbation of avariation of Article. No. 129, regarding the participantsex officio at the General Chapter, and according to theappended text.

Considering the reasons proposed, thisCongregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life andSocieties of Apostolic Life concedes this request, exceptfor what is specified in Article 114 which states that anymodification of the text of the Constitutions must beapproved by two consecutive General Chapters prior tothe petition being submitted to this Dicastery for defini-tive approval of the proposed variation.I take this opportunity to send you my sincerest regardsand to wish you every blessing in the Lord.Franc Rodé, C.M.Prefect

Piergiorgio Silvano Nesti, C.P.Archbishop Secretary

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Dear Brothers:

I am very happy to be able to visit, even if onlybriefly, this area of the Congregation in CentralAmerica. It is a visit that was planned for last year, butwhich only now was possible. I have sincerelyadmired the great apostolic ministry that you are doingand that you have done in the past. The works that youhave undertaken, the social service programs that youhave planned and accomplished; the pastoral plan; andthe excellent involvement of the laity in pastoral ani-mation have earned you the appreciation and respect ofthis town. You are a living, successful and missionarypart of the Congregation. As I admire all of these qual-ities, what comes to mind is the gospel passage of therich young man who meets Jesus. It is the gospel thatwe read for the feast of St. Gabriel of the SorrowfulVirgin. The young man was already fulfilling all thecommandments of God’s law, and he was living anordered life in harmony with them. But the young manwanted to do something more to gain eternal life. TheEvangelist tells us that Jesus, looking at him intently,loved him: and he looked within him at his truthful-

ness and sincere desire to want to be better than whathe was, and Jesus said to him: “if you want to be per-fect, (not only good; but perfect) go, sell what youhave and give it to the poor.” (Mk.10:21) Completedetachment for total freedom for mission and for fol-lowing Jesus. It was a very difficult requirement forthe youth; he became sad and he went away with hisdoubts, his resistance to the call and to the desire to beperfect and with his inability to respond to the chal-

lenge. Thus, seeing the good that youhave accomplished and that you areaccomplishing, I ask myself: what islacking in our Passionist presence in theregion of Santa Barbara? I know thatbefore next May you have to discern andmake decisions about the ways in whichwe are present in this region and abouthow to improve the efficacy of our mis-sion. I believe that a fundamental andeffective value that has to be rediscov-ered is the community dimension. Iknow that you frequently meet and thatthere is a fraternal spirit among you;however, in the way that you are dis-persed and isolated throughout the regionfor pastoral reasons, you do not offerthese people the witness of the communi-ty dimension of our Congregation, thedimension of a “religious family”. And itis a witness that would also be useful for

lay families, for vocation animation and for reciprocalhuman and spiritual assistance; a witness of communi-ty prayer and mutual assistance amidst the difficultiesof work and inevitable health problems.

This will not be something easy, consideringyour habits of working and living alone, organizingyour own life and your pastoral ministry. However, weare at a point in time when we need to give a completepicture of religious life to those young people whoseek to enter the Congregation. Although we mighthave many doubts and points of resistance, we have tohave faith in the Lord. This morning in the canticle ofIsaiah, there was a passage that I have previously citedin my letter about Restructuring, which reads: “I willlead the blind on their journey; by paths unknown Iwill guide them. I will turn darkness into light beforethem, and make crooked ways straight.”(Is.42:15)

You must enthusiastically pursue your ministryin Honduras so that through you the living presence ofthe Congregation may continue – a presence that espe-cially evangelizes the poor.

Address of the Superior General,Fr. Ottaviano D’Egidio to theCommunity at Santa Barbara

(Honduras)

Fr. Ottaviano, Fr. Luis Alberto Cano and members of the community at Santa Barbara, Honduras.


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(Editor’s note: Usually this space is dedicated to the col-umn of Fr. Luis Alberto Cano, First General Consultorand moderator of the CII Conference (Inter-provincialIberian Conference). However, in this issue we will offeran interview with one of the Provincials of the CLAPConference, Fr.Norberto Donizzetti Brocardo, formerProvincial of the CALV Province in Brazil.)

• Fr. Norberto, can you briefly summarize for us the

present situation in your Province with regard to thenumber of religious, the median age and the locationand types of ministries of the religious?The CALV Province currently consists of 72 religiouslocated in 17 communities in the following Brazilianstates: Rio Grande do Sul, Paraná, Santa Catarina, SaoPaulo, Rio de Janeiro and Paraíba. We are also present onthe continent of Africa with a mission in the Diocese ofBemba, Mozambique. The ages of the religious are dis-tributed as follows: -- 47% between the ages of 25 and 45;-- 28% between the ages of 45 and 65;-- 25% above the age of 65.

• With regard to vocations, what is the situation in your

Province? How has the vocation process developed inrecent years?

The vocation effort of the CALV Province is theresponsibility of the young religious of one of thehouses of theological formation. This work is beingundertaken by means of vocation animation programsthat were organized together with the pastors of theparishes where we do ministry and also in communi-ties that are not directly under our spiritual care, butwhich are associated with our charism. The candidateis in contact with the Vocation Team so that discern-ment continually becomes clearer and more in depth.In the successive phases the candidate develops agreater understanding of the Congregation. The affec-tive, community, spiritual and pastoral dimensions aredeveloped during the process, and involve many indi-viduals on a collaborative basis. Particular emphasisis given to the elements of prayer, dialogue and reflec-tion. The coordinator of the Vocation Team periodi-cally meets with the Formation Team to present andevaluate the vocation ministry. Currently, in additionto the novitiate (a joint novitiate of the Brazilian

Vicariates), there are six houses of Formation: one forpreparatory studies, two for Philosophy and three forTheology.

• In your opinion, what are our prospects for the future

with regard to our presence in Brazil?

Our Passionist presence in Brazil continues togrow throughout our history, since we first arrived here in1911, as a prophetic sign of the grace of God. Those whopreceded us left us a legacy of faith and hope that urgesus to rediscover this historical memory and, at the sametime, to assume new challenges that are present in thesocial, political, religious and personal reality of theBrazilian people. With the courage of prophets and insearch of modes of true witness, we continue to perceivenew perspectives, new horizons for Religious Life inBrazil: opening paths toward the future, helping tostrengthen the faith of our people and renewing our com-mitment to the radical following of Jesus Crucified. Tobe a Passionist today in Brazil is a reality in the midst ofthe other diverse cultures of this country and, althoughsituated within so much diversity, the charism of thePassion is lived according to the way that it was proposedto us by St. Paul of the Cross. We can say that we liveunity in the midst of plurality. Many age groupings ofour religious give us a sign of hope that the Holy Spirit isdoing something new in history.

REALITIES OF THE PROVINCES

THE CALV PROVINCE - BRAZIL

Fr. Norberto Donizetti Brocardo, former CALV Provincial


____________________March 2006 PIB N. 10____________________10

• In your area of responsibility what is the greatest

need in Passionist life?

Generally speaking, the greatest need is a trueand significant challenge to Religious Life: that the reli-gious themselves be the protagonists for the kind of lifethat they have chosen and that they will make life choic-es that will truly make them happy. The holiness of con-secrated life does not depend on Psychology, rather onthe gracious action of God in their life. The great prob-lem is how to help individuals interiorize this, to discov-er it, to accept it and to accept responsibility for theirchoices.

Another point is that Religious Life, similar to allChristian life, needs contemplation as well as action. Theaction can be diversified, but it must always be the fruitof prayer that calls us to study the signs of the times, todiscern the needs of the present world and to respond tothem. Today our present world demands qualified pro-fessionals. This being so, one needs to prepare oneself inareas such as economy, technology, psychology, the arts,etc. It is this knowledge that will allow for successfulactivity in the world without, at the same time, neglectingone’s primary objective which is consecrated life, or thecommitment to Christ and to the Church. If one is notvigilant in this area he runs the risk of losing the meaningof his own vocation. The difficulty is in making the reli-gious become aware that study that is well focused, thatopens new horizons and engenders a capacity for effec-tiveness in the Church and in the world, makes witness toJesus Christ more effective rather than being opportuni-ties for self aggrandizement.

• In your Province, is there any project that you

work on together with the Passionist Family(female Passionists, lay Passionists)? Whatkind?

Yes, through the Latin AmericanPassionist Conference (CLAP) the men andwomen religious, Passionists that are active as wellas contemplative and the lay Passionists who areboth consecrated and not, form the Passionist fam-ily in Brazil, each living the charism of St. Paul ofthe Cross in his or her own manner. The work ofCLAP in Brazil is coordinated by the Presidentwho, together with a service teams, program thevarious activities, in particular the groups ERPAL(Passionist Study seminar of Latin America);FORPAL (Meeting of Passionist men and womenformation personnel); and ENFORP (Meeting ofPassionist men and women in formation.) The roleof the laity in our Province is significant becausethey lovingly assume their presence and their mis-sion in the midst of the Passionist Family. The

laity are organized in communities that are established inthe areas where they live and where they do pastoral min-istry within the life of the Church. There are the so-calledCLP’s (Communities of Lay Passionists) that are presentwithin the various regions of Brazil who have their ownstatutes together with coordinators for each group – coor-dination that is both regional and national that representthem at the events of CLAP.

• How do you perceive the process of Restructuring

that the Congregation undertook during GeneralSynod? Is it applicable in your region? How?

We are very hopeful about the process ofRestructuring that the Congregation has begun. Historyhas taught us about the need to update institutions. In ourcase, this updating is linked with administrative concernsand living out spiritual life. In the CALV Province,Restructuring is seen positively, to the degree that it isaccompanied by the establishment of criteria which willnot only help us to create new Provinces in theCongregation, but also to create “Provinces that arenew”. Brazil is a country that possesses great culturaland religious wealth and this richness is the product ofdiversity. This also affects the way that we are Passionist.Today each group that is present in Brazil, be it aProvince or a Vicariate, has its own identity which cannotbe lost. We believe that our greatest mission in theprocess of Restructuring is that of lovingly bringingtogether and the dimensions of living out the Passionistlife in this country called Brazil.

“Religious Life, similar to all Christian life, needs contemplation as wellas action. The action can be diversified, but it must always be the fruit ofprayer that calls us to study the signs of the times, to discern the needs of

the present world and to respond to them.”


_____________________March 2006 PIB N. 10_____________________ 11

Dear Passionist Brothers all over the worldRecognizing that as a community, we are striving to"revitalize and open new horizons" for our life together,we are glad to accept an opportunity to share some of ourreflections on the topic of solidarity in the Congregationtoday.

First of all, we are deeply impressed by the proclamationof the last General chapter (4.6), that we are engaged indiscovering a "new way of being together as Passionistsin mission for the life of theworld". Nothing could bemore consistent with thegrowth of our self aware-ness through the last severalchapters, extending oursense of "love of theCrucified" to love of the"small c" crucified, andpresently, Passion for Life,embracing peace, justiceand the integrity of creation.

We not only stand againstthe deleterious aspects ofcontemporary life which"reduces the human being toa mere producer and simpleconsumer" and now "col-lides with a limit: nature,whose resources are limitedand whose capacity ofresistance is not infinite" (Polanyi, quoted by LeonardoBoff). We stand with those who are most affected bythese developments and with creation.

As a Congregation, we are well placed to celebrate diver-sity. It should become progressively easier for us to"think globally, even cosmically, and to act locally". Thisway of thinking touches everything - our personal devel-opment as individual Passionists, the continuing processof being formed in a way that makes us able to relate to achanging world as Passionists in community, the reshap-ing of our communities, ministries and juridical units. We have come to see the wisdom of the last GeneralChapter's emphasis on viewing our world through the"lens of the Crucified". We feel we have barely scratchedthe surface at this stage. Learning solidarity, in our localsituations and in the diverse cultures of our Congregation

will guide us through turbulent times. More than everbefore, we are becoming conscious of how thoroughlyinterconnected all life is, and how solidarity among all itscomponents is the only path to peace, justice and theintegrity of creation.

We reaffirm the General Chapter's statement: "Solidarity"is the word chosen to describe a new way of being togeth-er as Passionists in the mission for the life of the world.New realities call for new responses in faith. (2000General Chapter 4.6)

The Solidarity CommissionSolidarity: Consultor and Commission In order to carry out the 2000 General Chapter programin matters relating to solidarity, the Superior General andCouncil

• assigned responsibil-

ity for this sector toone Consultor, FatherJeff Foale CP

• appointed a

Commission forSolidarity (full title, -Commission forSolidarity and Missionand for Justice andPeace and the Integrityof Creation.) The Commissionmeets twice a year toadvise the General andCouncil on mattersrelating to this wholearea. Until this year therewere six membersworking with theGeneral Consultor.

These men are:Antonio Curto (Italy, former Mission Secretary,Provincial South Italy), Christopher Gibson (Argentianand the USA, Mission Secretary), Jesús Maria AristínSeco (Bilbao, Spain), John Sherrington (London,England), Kevin Dance (Australia, PassionistRepresentative at the UN in New York), Stephen Dunn(Toronto, Canada). In February 2006 the General and Council appointed twoadditional members to the Solidarity Commission: JohnMuthengi Katoka (Nairobi, Kenya) and Mario VenturaMejía (Guatamala).

Sincerely in the Crucified and Risen LordJefferies Foale, C.P.

Fresco of Christ Crucified and St. Paul of the Cross, Ovada

Fr. Jefferies Foale, C.P.General Consultor

A Chairos Moment for the Congregation


____________________March 2006 PIB N. 10____________________12

(Editor’s note: Usually this space is dedicated to the col-umn of Fr. Robert Joerger, moderator of the IPCIMConference. In this issue he offers an article written byFr. Joseph Mitchell, CP (CRUC). Fr. Joseph receivedhis training in theology at Catholic Theological Union inChicago and completed a graduate degree in EasternPhilosophy, Cosmology and Consciousness from theCalifornia Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco.While working to establish the Passionist Earth & SpiritCenter in Louisville, Kentucky, he also conducts seminarsand retreats in cosmology, eco-spirituality and medita-tion throughout the country. He can be contacted [email protected]. or Joseph Mitchell, CP •Passionist Earth & Spirit Center1920 Newburg Road • Louisville, KY 40205) •502.451.2220)

For a Passionist, the defining Christian symbol is thecross. Jesus’ suffering on the cross is the ultimate rep-resentation of self-sacrifice and God’s unboundedlove. From this theological perspective, the respon-sive Passionist who reflects on the world situationcannot miss the connection between the historical

passion of Jesus and the current suffering of thosemarginalized by our society. Contemplation of thecross of Jesus has motivated Passionists to assert:“We wish to share in the distress of all, especiallythose who are poor and neglected” (Constitutions#3).

The fundamental relationship of thePassionist charism to the issues of ecological justicehas not always been apparent. Most Passionists findan obvious connection between their charism and acommitment to the economically poor. This has beeneasily extended to those who are “spiritually” poorwith afflictions caused by the conditions of alienationwithin our society. More recently, the concept of “themarginalized” broadened our concerns for justice to

include liberation not only from material poverty,but from all forms of discrimination. However, therelationship between social justice and the integri-ty of creation has only recently become apparent.

Ecology is about relationship. It is defined as“the study of the interdependence and interactionof living organisms (animals and plants) and theirenvironment (other sentient beings as well as inan-imate matter).” Ecology understands the world notas a collection of isolated objects, but as a networkof necessarily interconnected and interdependentsubjects.

Only within recent times have humans becomeecologically aware that everything is hitched toeverything else in the world. The progression ofmodern science has demonstrated that creation is amassive connection of ecological systems. Thesun, moon, Earth and other planets are locked intoa relationship through gravitational interaction.Chlorophyll molecules allow plants to interact

with the photons from the sun. The paper which youhold in your hands was once a tree and still containsthe amalgamation of molecules of sunlight, rain, soiland rock joined in relationship. Basic human activi-ties such as eating, breathing and communication areall manifestations of our interrelatedness.

Integrating Justice and the Integrity of Creation

Into the Passionist Charism

Fr. Joseph Mitchell, C.P. (CRUC)

Ultimately, ecological awareness is spiritual aware-ness. Whenever a concept underscores the impor-tance of relationship, it speaks to the essence of ourChristian spirituality. The perennial wisdom of ourPassionist tradition has attuned us to the importanceof our human relationship with the divine. It has alsoencouraged the advocacy for justice in our relation-ship to other humans. Now, for the first time, weunderstand that everything ultimately depends uponimproving our relationship with the Earth. As ourPassionist brotherThomas Berry has said,“We need to move froma spirituality of alien-ation from the naturalworld to a spirituality ofintimacy with the natu-ral world.”

The worldview whichformed most of us hasobscured our intercon-nectedness with theEarth as it alienated usfrom the natural world.According to the pre-vailing opinion of themodern era, the Earth issimply inert matter. Ithas no inherent spiritualdimension. The naturalworld is somethingexternal to the human –it is the stage for our life and a resource at our dispos-al.

This small-minded perception has allowed some of usto assume an aloof spiritual attitude that disdains anyinvolvement with the natural world as a distraction. Itgave others permission to exploit and pollute the nat-ural world with little concern for its internal integrity.A worldview in which humans are not recognized asinterconnected with the Earth and all of the life sys-tems is an inaccurate perception of reality. In addi-tion, it has made acceptable the plundering of theplanet, causing untold harm to all major life systems.Now we are at the point of ecological catastrophe:breathing polluted air, drinking toxic water, consum-ing infected food grown in contaminated soil. Theresult is not always noticeable, but Thomas Berrywarns us that “you can not have healthy humans on asick planet.”

With many of the major life systems on Earth in jeop-ardy, religious consciousness is being awakened tothe integrity of creation. It has become vitally impor-tant to recall that we are creatures of Earth and every-thing about us is a part of the natural world – or,mediated to us through nature. The human speciesmay be a unique dimension of the natural world, butnot separate from it. Our bodies are made of the samestuff as the mountains and oceans, the stars and thesoil. We are governed by the same dynamics of birth,

life, growth and deathas all other living crea-tures. There is aninherent integrity to allcreation.

A statement by theWorld Council ofChurches was one ofthe first to couplepeace and justiceissues with the integri-ty of creation. “Weaffirm that the world,as God’s handiwork,has its own inherentintegrity; that land,waters, air, forests,mountains and all crea-tures, including allhumanity, are ‘good’ inGod’s sight. Theintegrity of creation

has a social aspect which we recognize as peace withjustice, and an ecological aspect which we recognizein the self-renewing, sustainable character of naturalecosystems.”

The concerns of social justice are plentiful. There isthe poverty issue, the refugee issue, the racial issue,the nuclear issue, the hunger issue, and the numerousforms of discrimination. Many people of faith havecome to understand that we will never be able to ade-quately advance the well being of the human commu-nity unless, at the same time, we nurture a primaryconcern for the well being of the total Earth commu-nity. The search for a better society is inseparablefrom the search for a mutually enhancing human-Earth relationship. Only by correcting our relation-ship with the Earth can a just and sustainable humansociety be established.


_____________________March 2006 PIB N. 10_____________________ 13

“We need to move from a spirituality of alienation from the natural world to a spirituality of intimacy with the natural world.”


____________________March 2006 PIB N. 10____________________14

At the root of the crisis we are suffering is a basicbreakdown in our life together. We find a startlinglack of compassion and care for each other, fornature, and for the future of our fragile planet. Whileour charism inspires us to defend the poor and bringjustice to the marginalized, we must not overlook theevidence that it is the most vulnerable in our worldwho suffer the most from environmental degradation.Overwhelmingly, it is the children of the poor whosuffer higher rates asthma and lead poisoning thanother children. Those in the ghettos and barrios aremost negatively impacted by toxic dumps, pollutedstreams, and neighborhood incinerators belchingforth lethalfumes. Knowing this,we mustexpand thesensitivities ofour charism.By integratingour compas-sion for them a r g i n a t e dsectors of soci-ety with a com-mitment to theintegrity ofcreation, ourmission onbehalf of thesuffering of theworld might berephrased toaffirm: we, the Passionists, are committed to ensure ajust, healthy, beautiful, and sustainable world for ourchildren and the future generations of all species.

We live at a time when the establishment of a harmo-nious relation between humans and the Earth hasbecome imperative. It is the defining issue of the 21stcentury. As with people of all spiritual traditions,Passionists face the challenge of formulating a viablespirituality that embraces the integrity of creation.Otherwise we must resign ourselves to a religiousway of thinking that is obsolete, uninformed by con-temporary science, inattentive to the contemporaryecological crisis, and unable to evoke significantmeaning.

Humans have an absolute need for the natural worldto nurture our spirits as well as our bodies. The Earthactivates our inner world. We cannot survive long

unless we are in touch with the beauty of nature. Todiminish the splendor of the outer world is to limit thefulfillment available to our inner world. ThomasBerry expresses it so eloquently: “If we would goback to our primary experience of any natural phe-nomena we would recognize that immediately on see-ing the stars splashed across the heavens at night, onlooking out over the ocean at dawn, on seeing thebrilliant autumn colors of the oaks and maples andpoplars in autumn, on hearing a mockingbird sing inthe evening, or breathing the fragrance of the honey-suckle while journeying through a southern lowland;our immediate response to any of these experiences

or parallel expe-riences on othercontinents, is amoment ofsomething akinto ecstasy. Thereis wonder andreverence andinner fulfillmentin some over-whelming mys-tery. We experi-ence a vast newdimension toour own exis-tence.” The dev-astation of thenatural worldwill distort themore sublimeinterior experi-

ences that bring fulfillment and meaning to humanlife.

Above all other disciplines and institutions,the spiritual traditions move into the dimensions ofawe and wonder to enlarge the human heart. An eco-logical spirituality is grounded in the sense that theworld had a spiritual dimension from the very begin-ning, long before humans emerged onto the scene.God is not separate from the world. Rather, creationitself is the primary revelation of the Divine.Enriched emotionally by the experiences of awe andwonder within creation, we can expand our sense ofcommunity to include the whole of creation. In doingso, we can redefine our responsibility and gain a newsense of our appropriate place in the great mystery oflife.

Passionist mission on the shores of the Huallaga River, Peru


_____________________March 2006 PIB N. 10_____________________ 15

Editors’ Note: Following his Canonical Visitation to thePassionist religious of the ASSUM Province, Fr. LuigiVaninetti,CP, General Consultor, invited Fr. WaldemarLinke CP, to write the following article.

Smotrycz is the name of a village in the south-west sec-tion of Ukraine, where a Passionist community has beenpresent since 1991. This region of Podole where thePassionist missionaries are located is mentioned byRussian historians beginning in the 12th century. In the14th century Podole was even the center of a small prin-cipality within the Grand duchy of Lithuania.

It is during this period (1375) that Dominicanfriars arrived in Smotrycz. Their mission in present dayUkraine began before Lithuania became Catholic due topolitical reasons. The first Catholic church in Smotrycz,dedicated to St. Nicholas (“Mykola” in Ukrainian) wasbuilt approximately during this time period. It wasmade of wood and in this area that was continually dev-astated by wars with the Turks, the Tartars and the vari-ous groups of Cossacks, it could very easily have been

destroyed by fire. The church of brick was built in 1796 with the help of the noble family Potocki, but shortlyafterward the Dominicans had to leave this area becauseof the beginning of Russian rule.

Then the priests of the diocese of KamieniecPodolski arrived. There were usually two, the pastorand the vice-pastor. Their work was usually difficult andvery complex. The population in that area was com-posed of Orthodox (Ruthenians), Catholics (of Polishorigin) and Jews. The Jews had a synagogue and fourhouses of prayer. In 1880 the Jewish religious commu-nity comprised a significant part of the population of thecountry (approximately 48%). The Catholic communi-ty and the Orthodox each had a church. In the Catholicchurch a miraculous image of Our Lady of the Rosarywas highly venerated. Numerous neighboring villagesalso depended on the pastoral care of the Catholic priestsof Smotrycz.

This situation continued in this manner until theFirst World War (1914-1918) and the Civil War inRussia. According to the Treaty of Riga (1920) this partof the region of Podole became part of Ukraine and wasplaced under Russian rule. After 1924 Ukraine itselfbecame part of the Soviet Union. It was the beginningof a difficult and sad period: the last Mass in the churchof Smotrycz was celebrated on 8 December 1935. Thechurch was closed in 1936, the image of Our Lady wasprobably destroyed and the priests were arrested. Fromtime to time a priest appeared who secretly celebratedMass for the local people. A large number of thesecourageous priests were deported to Siberia or wereimprisoned.

The church remained isolated on the high banksof the Smotrycz River -- a solitary and silent witness tothe presence of the Catholic faith in that area. Howevera building this noteworthy could not remain abandonedfor long. The local authorities confiscated it and turnedit into a cultural center. For this reason a stage was builtin the church and dances, as well as political and cultur-al events were held there. Nevertheless, the walls them-selves rebelled: voices vibrated off the walls that wereaccustomed to the praises of God. So to facilitate thedances, other, lower structures were added next to thechurch, extremely unsightly and distressing.

Passionists in Smotrycz: a simple presence

L-R: Albin Sobiech,Piotr Czaplinski, Luigi Vaninetti,Przemyislaw Sliwinski, Stanislaw Mazur.


____________________March 2006 PIB N. 10____________________16

The church continued in this condition until the famous“perestroika” of Mikhail Gorbachov. Even this periodwas not at all favorable to the faithful in Ukraine. In thenearby village, Czercze, during this same period, an oldchurch was destroyed that dated from the same timeperiod as that of Smotrycz. The Catholic community ofSmotrycz clearly understood that if the church wasreturned to them it would be lost. In 1988 there was achapel in one of the houses of Smotrycz. Fr. RomanDzwonkowski, SAC left behind a reminder of the Massthat was celebrated in Smotrycz in 1988. The followingyear the church was returned to the Catholic communityand, with great effort, they managed to officially organ-ize this community. All that was needed was a priest.The bishop of Kamienic Podolski, Jan Olszanski,appealed to the dioceses and religious provinces ofPoland for priests. He even contacted the Passionistsand the provincial, Fr.Wladyslaw Zysk CP, gave him apositive response.

The Passionists arrived in Ukraine on 19 July 1991.That very year the Soviet Union collapsed and Ukrainebecame independent. The Passionists were officiallyaccepted by the new Ukrainian state (one of the few reli-gious institutes that were present.) The first Passioniststo minister in this region were Frs. Albin Sobiech andPiotr Czaplinski. During this early period they lived andworked in the sacristy and in the structure that theCommunist government had annexed to the church. Inthe Autumn of 1992 the small community began to builda real residence which was completed in 1995.

Presently there are three religious assigned tothe community of Smotrycz. They minister in sixparishes, each with its own church. Together with laycatechists they instruct children and adults. Various

parish groups are also active including the “LivingRosary”, the “Legion of Mary” and the “Third Order ofSt. Francis”. The parish communities are primarilycomposed of the elderly, but there are already signs ofhope for the future: in fact, the young are beginng tofeel that they have ties to their own religious heritage.

The building where the community resides also hasroom for guests and every year it hosts about 800 per-sons. These people come primarily for retreats and reli-gious formation. Recently the community acquired anold state building and has begun to remodel it as a nurs-ing home for the elderly. During the severe Ukrainianwinters during which the temperatures drop to -30º or -40º C. it is the elderly who are most vulnerable to coldand hunger and who are in need of health care.

This venture has already produed postive results. Inaddition to assistance received from several Europeancountries, the local authorities have responsed very gen-erously to the needs of this work and have donated theland surrounding the house to the Congregation, as wellas an orchard and land for additional construction. Eventhe Christian Orthodox are interested in this initative andtried, according to their limited resources, to help uswith this work hoping that they, too, will be welomed inthis home. This good will and open reciprocity hasmade ecumenical dialgoue more fruitful and concrete.

This is a land that is steeped in religious tradition, in suf-fering and devastation due to historical and ideological

events and even today the people continueto suffer. One Passionist religious who iscurrently a member of this communitysaid: “It is a land where it is possible tounderstand the mystery of the Passion ofChrist that is on-going in humanity...”Perhaps it is precisely in this context thatwe have a ministry as Passionists, whichhelps us to keep alive the memory of thePassion of the Lord.

Reflection on the future of our presence inthis land necessarily includes providing forsomeone who speaks the language, is avail-able for the mission and is willing to expe-rience inculturation in this context. It alsoincludes finding ways to financially sustainthese recently initiated projects.

This year a young Ukranian, Witalij,professed First Vows in the Congregation. He is present-ly studying theology in the community in Warsaw. It isa sign of hope for the future of the Church and theCongregation in this troubled country.

L-R: Frs. Przemislaw Sliwinski, Albin Sobiech, Luigi Vanninetti, Stanislaw Mazur, Piotr Czaplinski.


_____________________March 2006 PIB N. 10_____________________ 17

Every two years the CPA organizes a “CulturalCongress” for its members. At the beginning of2006, from 3 – 6 January, the Passionist Conferencein Africa had a cultural congress on the topic of“Restructuring”. It is a topic that all of thePassionist Congregation is studying for brainstorm-ing, self-reflection and a deep-er sense of its meaning andimplications within the globalreality.

The process of Restructuring,as recommended by the 44thGeneral Chapter and taken upby the General Synod of 2004,involves everyone and no onemay stay on the outskirts ofthe discussion, excusing him-self or delegating the matter toothers.

The process of Restructuringshould be guided and lived bythe members of theCongregation with a spirit offaith. “God has not aban-doned his people in their jour-ney through the desert” andwe, too, have faith that Hewill not abandon ourCongregation in this process of Restructuring.However, the presence and the guidance of Godrequires our responsibility in making true and realis-tic choices, while being attentive to the movementsof the Spirit and being open to the creative action ofGod.

The cultural Congress of the CPA took placein Nairobi at our house of Ushirika and was wellreceived by the participants. It was an opportunityfor on-going formation and, above all, for a self-examination of the path that the Congregation is tak-

ing. The three days were divided into three confer-ences or sharing of experiences.

The first dayA Spiritan Father spoke about several areas

that are essential to the experience of religious life inan African context and of the impact thatRestructuring can have on these areas: communitylife; the experience of mission; personnel; forma-tion; sharing of resources; and administration.

The second dayTwo young ex-Passionist postulants

addressed the group. They spoke as non-Passionists,but also as persons who were familiar withPassionist life since that had lived it at one time.

They challenged the Passionists: since we are aCongregation and therefore possess a structure and aparticular mission, we are called to be attentive tothe signs of the times and their relevance in theworld in which we live and carry out our mission.Africa is a continent in which most of the countriesare still in the process of development. This conti-nent, which is seeking for a sense of equilibrium onall levels, offers many challenges to Passionist spir-ituality and charism and to its mission. In Africa, inparticular, Restructuring is directed toward our pres-ence and mission.

The C.P.A. Congress: ThePassionist Conference in

Africa

Meeting about Restructuring in Kinshasa, Congo

Fr. Vital Otshudialokoka, C.P.General Consultor


____________________March 2006 PIB N. 10____________________18

The third dayAn Irish Sister of the Congregation of Loreto wasthe facilitator. She shared her personal experience ofliving in Africa as a missionary and as someone in aposition of leadership.

We dedicated these three mornings to dialogwith the presenters and to sharing among ourselves.In the afternoon we studied the reality of thePassionist Conference in Africa in relation toRestructuring, highlighting the concrete steps thathave been taken as well as those that are pro-grammed in this process. When one speaks aboutRestructuring one becomes aware of the process;commits to the decision of the Congregation; seesthe importance of Restructuring; demonstrates goodwill and enthusiasm for undertaking this process;and, at the same time, Restructuring is seen as aprocess that is a distant reality.The most positive dimension of this cultural con-gress was the opportunity that it gave to the mem-bers of the Conference, especially the young, forserious reflection on the process of Restructuring.The following are the most significant questions thatemerged from the discussion groups:

1) In today’s world, and in the African context, howdo we perceive the Passionist presence?2) For we Passionists of Africa, what are the privi-

leged areas in which wecalled to carry out ourmission according to ourcharism?

3) How do become partof the global process ofthe Restructuring of theCongregation?

4) What does it meantoday that we are aninternational Congre-gation?

These questions arechallenges and, at thesame time, tasks thatshould motivate theConference to transformits life and to encourageit to make some decisions.

The fraternal visit to the SALVVice-Province (Congo)

After the Congress, I made a fraternal visit tothe SALV Vice-Province in the Democratic Republicof the Congo. I can assert that the Vice-Province,despite the enormous difficulties that it faces, isworking at acquiring a true sense of itself as a juridi-cal and responsible entity. During this visit I metwith all the religious who work in Kinshasa.Together with the Vice-Provincial, Fr. Emery Kibal,and the delegates of the Vice-Province, we did anevaluation of the Congress in Nairobi. On that occa-sion I tried to better explain the process ofRestructuring to the Congolese religious who werepresent, inviting them to become more involved inthis process of the Congregation.

During this time I also visited the Sisters,“The Daughters of the Passion” and I was happy tosee that vocations are also increasing to theirCongregation. They have many young vocations.They have begun a new social project: a school forgirls that have not had any formal education and areilliterate. This is a hands-on work in the regionwhere they minister.

Participants at the C.P.A. Congress, Nairobi, Kenya


_____________________March 2006 PIB N. 10_____________________ 19

In the final months of the year 2005, Fr. General,Ottaviano D’Egidio, participated in the Synod of Bishopsthat took place in Rome from 2-23 October. The themeof the Synod was: “The Eucharist: source and summit ofthe life and mission of the Church.” Fr. Ottaviano, one ofthe Superiors General that was elected to represent over250 Orders and Congregations, made a significant inter-vention entitled: “A new world is born in the Cenacle andbeneath the Cross.”

He participated in the opening celebrations of thecentenary of the LAT Province on 30 October and he alsotook part in the meeting of the Superiors General (USG)which had as the topic of its meeting: “Fidelity and aban-donment in Consecrated Life.” From 28 November to 1December he presided at the Provincial Chapter of theIOS Province of England at which Fr. NicholasPostlethwaithe was elected provincial for the third time.

At the beginning of the New Year 2006, on 17 January,after having presided at the opening of the annual assem-bly of CIPI, Fr. General departed for a fraternal visit tothe Passionist communities of Guatemala, El Salvador,Honduras and Costa Rica. He was accompanied by thefirst Consultor, Fr. Luis Alberto Cano. This served as animportant opportunity for bringing about an awareness ofthe process of the Restructuring of the Congregation. Hethen traveled to the Vicariate of Peru (RES) where,together with the entire General Council, he visited ourmissionary communities in theAmazon jungle (4-10 Feb.) InLima he met with all of theSuperiors of Latin America(COPAL). He also presided atthe General Consulta meetingand visited the four communi-ties of Lima and other apostolicand formation communities ofthe region (11-18 Feb.)

From 23 February to 1 MarchFr. Ottaviano was in India, inthe THOM Vicariate, for thecelebration of the 25th anniver-sary of the foundation of theVicariate. On 8 March Fr.Luigi Vaninetti presided at theopening of the General Chapter

of the Passionist Sisters of St. Paul of the Cross in LaMontanina (Vicenza, Italy).

The General Consulta of 3-10 December 2006

From 3 to 10 December the final General Consulta of theyear took place in Rome at the retreat of Sts. John andPaul. Using a consolidated agenda, the Councilexchanged information about the activities of the individ-ual consultors with particular references to the fraternalvisits to Portugal (FAT), to Indonesia (REPAC), to Korea(MAIAP) and to the canonical visitation to Poland(ASSUM). Reports were given on how these religiousare witnessing to the life of the Congregation, their plansand the difficulties in the various regions and in the vari-ous missionary activities.

Particular attention was given to reports about the situa-tion of our presence in Ukraine and in Vietnam – realitiesthat are very different in history as well as socio-culturaland ecclesial contexts—but both of which are very hope-ful. The foundation in Vietnam will be dedicated to “OurLady of Lavang”. We are also trying to make the com-munity in Bethany more stable with the addition of newreligious from various provinces of the Congregation.Presently there are five religious and several guests thatwill be in residence for an extended period of time.

Activity of the General Council

The Superior General and General Curia during a Consulta Meeting.


____________________March 2006 PIB N. 10____________________20

Flow chart for the preparation of theGeneral Chapter

The first days of the Consulta were dedicatedto a meeting with the RestructuringCommittee and with the Moderator of thenext General Chapter, Fr.Ward Cortvriendt,O.Praem, a Dutch Norbertine who is alreadyfamiliar with our Congregation. The dynam-ic of the preparation for the Chapter wasstudied; in particular, how to integrate theprocess of Restructuring that has been car-ried out to this point in time, together withthe remote preparation and the immediatepreparation for the General Chapter. Withregard to this process the need emerged toformulate realistic and attainable objectivesfor the Chapter, to involve the Congregationand Passionist Family to a greater degree and to coordi-nate a systematic and organic approach for preparationfor the Chapter. For this purpose a PreparatoryCommission was named and other Commissions werealso composed to prepare, guide and animate the Chapteritself.Coordinator of Preparation for the Chapter: Fr. LuigiVaninetti, General Consutlor; Moderator of the Chapter:Fr.Ward Cortvriendt, O.Praem.; Secretary for theChapter: Fr. Ciro Benedettini; Preparatory Commission;Commission for Communications; LiturgicalCommission; Commission for Logistics; FinancialCommisssion; Interpretors/Translators.

Meeting with CIPIDuring 6-7 December the General Council met with theItalian formation personnel and then with the provincials.These meetings were recommended by the last GeneralChapter of 2000 and have as their objective, which thecentral government has fulfilled for several years, that ofencouraging greater awareness of the different areas ofthe Congregation. To this has been added the task ofgreater familiarity with the topic of Restructuring.

Meeting of the Council with the Formation Personnelof CIPIThe General Consultor, after summarizing the history ofCIPI since 1970 and the subsequent collaboration of thesix Italian provinces for the renewal and the overseeingof Formation programs, cited several successful projects:the foundation of the National Novitiate (1977); the Inter-provincial Student Theologate (1991); and the definitivecomposition of the Common Formation Program (2000).However, the present moment is marked by a difficultconvergence of common projects and practical collabora-tion among all the Provinces. In the presentation that fol-lowed by the individual Provinces and the subsequentdialog, the following common points were made:• Italy is undergoing a decrease in the number of

vocations, but it is still in a privileged situation in theWestern world, and it is opening itself, although in vary-ing degrees, to receiving vocations from other geograph-ic and cultural areas. This is a challenge that requirestrained formation personnel and new formation pro-grams.• There is also a strong move toward common pro-grams, whether that of a formation program as well ascollaboration and integration of energies. The difficultiesof the recent past have disoriented the world of formationand this demands further study so that we may patientlydevise new ways of collaboration within the context ofthe vast process of Restructuring.• The Superior General expressed his appreciationfor the substantial and difficult task of the Formation per-sonnel: formation is the heart of the Congregation andthe provincial programs must also make greater strides inthe areas of vocation recruitment and formation.

Meeting with the Italian Provincial SuperiorsIn the work that CIPI has undertaken in the six Provincesduring the past thirty years are the significant institution-al, cultural and formation programs. For the past twoyears it has studied the process of Restructuring, a topicthat is now being studied within the larger context of theCongregation as was decided at the last General Synod of2004. Following the presentation on the situation of theindividual provinces, an interesting dialog took placewith the General Council that highlighted various topicsthat need further study and clarification: the meaning ofthe process of Restructuring; how to reconcile local iden-tity and unity in the Congregation; the demands of forma-tion and the mission of the Congregation that requiresnew forms of life and institutions. Particularly importantis the element of solidarity among the different parts ofthe Congregation. In view of this process, very strongconvictions were expressed among the Italian Provincialsconcerning differing positions that lead to difficulties,fears and perplexities that require further study andunderstanding.

Meeting of the General Curia with CIPI Commission


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The General Consulta of 10-17 February 2006The General and his Council visited the RES

Vicariate in Peru. During 4-9 February he visited thePassionist missions in regions of Yurimaguas, Tarapotoand Moyobamba where two Passionists bishops ministertogether with various missionaries of the CORI Province,in addition to the local Passionists. This region is locat-ed in the Amazon jungle, an area that has abundant riverswhich feed into the Amazon River and is characterized bya tropical climate and beautiful natural surroundingswhich, however, make communication difficult – the nat-ural means of travel are the large and dangerous rivers. Life is very difficult and there are diverse forms of pover-ty and hardship. The missionaries do outstanding work ofevangelization, and for several years, have made signifi-cant efforts in the areas of vocation recruitment and for-mation. The Vicariate is blessed with vocations and theyare expending great amounts of human and financialenergy to build up the formation programs and the struc-tures needed to sustain it. During these days, Fr. Generalreceived the final profession of two religious and therenewal of vows of eight others.

From 10-17 February 2006 the General Consulta tookplace in our retreat house in La Molina, Lima. Above all,there was an exchange of information regarding the activ-ity and the visits of Fr. General and the Consultors.Particularly significant was the report on the CPACongress (Conference of Passionists in Africa) that tookplace in Nairobi from 3-6 January 2006 around the topicof Restructuring and the possibility of greater collabora-tion with the missions of Angola and Mozambique; aboutthe 37th CIPI Assembly that took place in Rome during15-17 January 2006 with the theme of: “Updating andContribution to Restructuring in the CIPI Region”; aboutthe canonical visitation of the PAUL Province (USA) inlight of its upcoming provincial Chapter next May; aboutour presence and activity at the UN and the developmentof Passionists International, a new juridical entity of thePassionist Family that makes our presence at the UNmore focused and effective.

During this meeting two new members werenamed to the Solidarity Commission who represent LatinAmerica and Africa. The religious are respectively:Mario Ventura (Honduras) and John Mutengi Katoka(Kenya).

A large period of time was dedicated to planningfor the upcoming General Chapter: to defining the com-position of the Commissions; elaborating the directivesfor the Preparatory Commission for the formulation ofthe agenda of the Chapter; the meeting with the GeneralEconome for evaluating budgets for the preparation andcelebration of the Chapter and the preparation of projectsfor the repair of the house of Sts. John and Paul for pres-entation during the Chapter itself.Meeting of the Council with the COPAL SuperiorsOn 15-16 February the meeting of the General Councilwith the COPAL Superiors took place – a vast area thatincludes all of Latin America and the Caribbean, withdiverse forms of presence and development of thePassionist Congregation. This meeting, that was origi-nally scheduled to have take place at the time of theSynod of 2004 in Mexico, took place in the beautifulretreat house of La Molina, Lima which is also the stu-dent theologate, presently with 17 young students in res-idence.It was an interesting meeting that offered the opportunityof becoming aware of the distinct Passionist realities inLatin America, with their strengths and problems, theirplans and their difficulties. Another constructive aspectwas the dialog with the General Council about theprocess of Restructuring: important points were the clar-ification of terms, of reasons and motivations forRestructuring; the plans and the dynamics of the processthat is projected for the entire Congregation; and the spe-cific role that Latin America can play, particularly in theareas of Formation, of sharing with the Laity and thePassionist Family; of reflection and future plans for soli-darity and justice.The dialog with the General Council also provided anopportunity for studying the spirit that inspired the newnorms for participation at the General Chapter, which aimat involving the new and developing areas of theCongregation and for allowing for more inclusive repre-sentation. During this same time period, 14-15February, the General Econome, Fr. Battista Ramponi,met with the economes of the Provinces, Vice-provincesand Vicariates of Latin America. The meeting had athree-fold agenda: reports of individual economes aboutthe financial and administrative situation in the respectivesocio-political, cultural and ecclesial realities of theirjuridical entities; the report of the General Economeabout the economic and administrative situation of theCongregation, about the plans proposed by the last Synodand about the common problems of the Congregation;and to search for ways of collaboration and solidarityamong the Province, Vice-Provinces and regionalVicariates.

Fr. Ottaviano D’Egidio, the General Council, theRestructuring Comission and moderator of the next General

Chapter Fr. Ward Cortvriendt, O.Praem..


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(Editors Note: In preparation for the General Chapter of2006, Fr. Fabiano Giorgini has written a booklet in theseries “Studies in Passionist History and Spirituality”,entitled “Organization and Restructuring in the historyof the Passionist Congregation, Historical Notes”, Rome2005. Currently this publication is available only inItalian. However, Fr. Fabiano has prepared a synopsis ofthe work which we present below “to help the religiousto appreciate their vocation.”)

Organizational modifications, on every level, have con-tinually taken place in religious life according to the dif-ferent forms of lifestyle in which consecrated life hasexpressed itself during various cultural and ecclesial eras.Many Restructurings have also taken place within ourCongregation, even if this term that is used in our presentdocuments was not used in the past. There were manyRestructurings in the number of general and provincialconsultors, in the composition of general and provincialchapters, in diet, finances, etc. There were more radicalRestructurings with regard to the criteria by which our

houses (retreats, residences, quasi retreats, hospices, etc.)were founded and named and regarding the Provinces.Booklet No. 57 of the series “Studies in PassionistHistory and Spirituality”, entitled “Organization andRestructuring in the history of the PassionistCongregation, Historical Notes”, Rome 2005, offers apanorama of these events on p. 68 (currently this publica-tion is only available in Italian).

In the Passionist Congregation the basis fororganization has been the local community, inspired by amodel of apostolic community life: “Their life, writes theFounder, is not different from that of the Apostles, in factit is modeled on their lives, which forms the basis for theconstitutions that helps to create a man entirely of God,entirely apostolic, a man

of prayer, removed from the world, from worthlessthings, from himself, i.e. someone who truly can becalled a disciple of Jesus Christ, and who is capable ofbearing many children for heaven.” (Notizia 1747, No.3).

The apostolic community was an entity that gavecourageous witness to Jesus by mean of assiduous prayerand the proclamation of the Word. The Passionist com-munity was structured by Paul based on an intense expe-rience of God, who was contemplated and received in hisself-revelation as Love and who gives his own life forhumanity. To insure this assiduous experience of ‘God-Love-gift’ he chose various opportune means: geograph-ic solitude and being apart from the crowd; radical pover-ty, trusting in the promise of Jesus that ‘the laborer isworthy of his reward.’ The overall structure of the com-munity was derived from the loving presence of theSuperior, who was also considered a spiritual Father, toprovide the religious with the means to open their heart toa person who was competent and duly empowered by theauthority of the institute. The community was alsoresponsible for the physical heath of the religious, helpedhim to grow in his spiritual life, and even to form himintellectually with a view to the mission that he wouldundertake in the name of the community itself.

The community was to be composed of 10 to 15members so that there would always be present a suffi-cient number of religious to praise God, while the otherswere away preaching missions, retreats, etc.

HISTORICAL NOTESConcerning Restructuring in the Passionist

Congregation. By Fr. Fabiano Giorgini, C.P.

Stained glass window, Monastery Choir,Pittsburgh, USA

He also did not want the community and the religious tobe directly involved in the care of parishes so that theywould not be absorbed in ministry. While this would cer-tainly be useful to the local Church, it was not in keepingwith what the Founder felt we should be offering to theChurch. This was the criteria for the organization of thecommunity that would be capable of achieving its ownend both internally (a living community, of continuousprayer, study and preparation for apostolic service andpreaching) and pastorally (undertaking the ministry ofConfession, spiritual direction, retreats, missions.).

On the basis of these criteria new foundations would notbe made unless a sufficient number (12-15) of religiouscould be provided to compose the new community.Consequently, after the Napoleonic suppression, themajor Superiors decided not to reopen all the retreats, butonly those that were founded by St. Paul of the Cross,and not even all of these, but rather only 10 between thetwo Provinces and, until 1830, new foundations were notaccepted so as to be able to increase the number of reli-gious via new professions.

It can be said that until 1952, structural or organizationalchanges were made keeping in mind this basic structureof community which was safeguarded as the Founder hadfashioned it. Many changes took place in the structure ofthe Provinces; for example, until 1854 one singleprovince encompassed the communities that were pres-ent in England, Ireland, Belgium and France. In 1854,the communities of France, Belgium and Holland formedthe Province of St. Michael (MICH), which was separat-ed from the Province of St. Joseph (IOS). The commu-nities that developed in Central and South Americaunderwent many changes regarding province member-ship until a viable model was discovered. In 1952, at theGeneral Chapter, it was decided to make revise the Rulesand Constitutions indicating those elements that wereconsidered to be essential and those that were consideredof secondary or minor importance. In this revision, that

took place during the years 1953-59, with respect to thehouses, significant restructuring took place by making adistinction in the types of houses: retreats, quasi-retreats,residences and houses of profound solitude (Rule, 1959,No. 243). The goal was to make community life possi-ble in ways that were in keeping with the objective ofeach house. In reality, this facilitated the multiplicationof the houses, while not being attentive to solitude andthe number of members in the community. The revisionalso led to significantly centralizing power in theSuperior General and his Council, and also favored theauthority of the Provincial and his Council; the localsuperiors were no longer elected at the provincial chap-ter.

After Vatican Council II there was a movementin the opposite direction: a radical decentralization thatgreatly reduced the influence of the General and hisCouncil in the running of the Congregation. It alsoreduced the influence of the Provincial and his Councilwithin the sphere of the Province itself.

Sufficient attention was no longer given to thestyle of life, i.e. those elements which could help main-tain the practice of moderation on a personal and com-munity level (fasting and poverty); and silence as thenecessary climate for an intense experience of God andthe essence of apostolic service. Everything was left tothe decision making of the provincial chapters and to thegood will of the individual communities. In practice,what disappeared was the concept of a retreat as a houseof solitude for the purpose of creating a more conduciveatmosphere for prayer and study as a means of prepara-tion for apostolic ministry. That which prevailed was theconcept of a house as simple residence, reducing thevalue of the number of religious (a minimum of 3 reli-gious comprise a community.)

It is also important to remember that the mis-sionary efforts in non-Catholic areas were carried out bythe Congregation in the 20th century, entrusting it to indi-vidual Provinces, which had the responsibility for per-sonnel (preparing, sending and upkeep) and for financialneeds. All in all, the experience was acceptable.Whereas, in Bulgaria and Valacchia, until 1935, when itwas entrusted to the SPE Province of Holland, theGeneral provided personnel; however frequently this wasdifficult to sustain. The same situation occurred whenthe house in Bethany was no longer used by MICHProvince of France, following World War I.

It is my hope that the booklet that I cited abovewill be of some help in enabling greater reflection onwhat we intend to do in order to optimize our apostolicenergies in the Church.


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Fresco, Ovada, Italy

Preaching in the monasteries of the Passionistnuns was one of the most important means of pro-moting the memory of the saving love of God asrevealed in the life and Passion of Jesus amongthem. This memory is meant to encourage conse-crated religious to unite themselves in love to Godand to dedicate them-selves to the well-beingof their neighbor.Canon law was verycautious with regard tothe choice of preachersand confessors for themonasteries and thecommunities of womenreligious. A request forthis service meant thatthe Passionists wereesteemed by the bish-ops, the chaplains andthe superiors of thesemonasteries. Paul ofthe Cross, being sobusy with the founda-tion and organization ofthe Congregation and the preaching of popularmissions, that he could not accept all the requeststhat came to him from the monasteries.Nevertheless, he preached over 100 retreats inmonasteries. We have record of at least 57 retreatsthat he preached to contemplative communitiesand to the few communities of Sisters who wereactive apostolic during this period. He organizedhis preaching using the Ignatian method, whilebeing attentive to the needs of the community;however, he gave primary attention to meditationon the Passion of Jesus. Every day he usuallygave two or three meditations on the mysteries ofthe faith, or on current topics, and dovetailingthem with the Passion of Jesus. He also offeredtwo periods of catechetical instruction as a help tobetter understand those virtues to be practiced anddefects to be corrected. The Eucharist was usual-

ly celebrated early in the morning because thepeople and the community generally got up earlyand also because of the Eucharistic fast. Sinceduring his time one could not receive Communionevery day, during the retreat he liked to have a so-called “general Communion” with special solem-

nity so that thegift of theEucharist couldbe better appre-ciated.

During theinstructions heemphasized fra-ternal charity,exemplary com-munity life,fidelity to thevows and theRule, zeal forthe salvation ofsouls. For thenuns, this prima-rily consisted inprayer for the

conversion of sinners and for their perseverance inholiness. During the day he strongly urged lovingdialog with God who was present in their heartsand, to this end, he recommended that they fash-ion a “bouquet of sentiments”, the fruit of theirmeditation on the Passion of Jesus, and to carry itin their own heart, repeatedly making acts ofthanksgiving (“grateful memory”). This includedthe offering of their life and their sacrifices anduniting themselves to the intercessory prayer ofJesus for the needs of humanity. At the end ofevery retreat, Paul usually gave some reminders toassist them in formulating resolutions that wouldbe helpful to the religious at that moment. Thismethodical process and style of preaching waspassed on as an inheritance to the members of theCongregation.


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Passionist Preaching to Nuns and toother Women religious during the 18th and 19th

Centuries

Fr. Fabiano Giorgini and Fr. Paulino Alonso

Interior courtyard of the Monastery of the Passionist Nuns, Tarquinia.


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The preaching of retreats to contemplatives inmonasteries and to communities of active apos-tolic women religious by other Passionists contin-ued to increase during the 18th and 19th centuries.From the Annals of Fr. Giammaria Cioni, up untilthe year 1796, retreats were preached to at least100 communities of religious women. In reality,the preaching was even more extensive; howeverfrequently these were not registered in order toallow more space for recording missions and otherpreaching to the faithful. In the various registriesof apostolic ministries between 1828 and 1902 andonly in the region of Lazio, the Passionistspreached 835 courses of spiritual exercises tocommunities of women religious. From the com-munity of the city of Lucca in Tuscany, from 1830to 1902, 15-20 courses of spiritual exercises werepreached each year. In England, according to theAnnals of Nardocci, during the early years ofPassionist presence courses were preached to thefew groups of women religious that were present.This number grew significantly during the 19thCentury and by the 1970’s the Passionists werepreaching 17-20 retreats annually to both activeand contemplative women religious.

Various preachers did not stop at oral preachingbut also wrote books inorder to help the faithfulgrow in the spirit of prayerand in the practice of chari-ty and perfect communitylife. Among these authorsBlessed Dominic Barberi, inaddition to preachingretreats, also wrote bookletson formation for religiouswomen dealing with theirincorporation into religiouslife. These works helpedthem to live out their owncharismatic identity and inparticular, to instruct themin the practice of mentalprayer. Among these writ-ings there was a series of dialogs to help the reli-gious become women of prayer. For the Instituteof Charity of Veroli, he wrote a booklet dealingwith charity in community and its practice.Blessed Dominic also offered his gift of preaching

to the communities of religious women inBelgium as well as in England where he re-wroteand translated his dialogs on prayer into English inorder to further assist some communities to whomhe had previously preached.

Another preacher who was in great demandin the 19th Century was Blessed Lorenzo Salviwho wrote on devotion to the Child Jesus for reli-gious as well as for the faithful in general. Also Fr.Ignazio Carsidoni, in order to help people to per-severe in the fruits of the retreat, published, SanteIndustrie per mantenere stabilmente il frutto degliSpirituali Esercizi (Holy Practices to sustain thefruit of Retreats). The book was directed towardall those who had made a retreat, both religiousand laity.

The same spirit of dedication marked thepreaching ministry of the Passionists to communi-ties of religious women in the USA, Spain and inMexico. In the USA, Fr. Gaudentius Rossi, whohad preached for several years in England and thenin America, published, The Voice of Jesus in orderto teach meditation on the Passion of Jesus, usinga method of dialog between Jesus and the one whowas praying. Helping the religious progress in the

spirit of prayerwas deemed ani m p o r t a n tmeans of insur-ing persever-ance in thegood resolu-tions that wereformulated dur-ing the retreats.It also served asa way of help-ing them redis-cover each daythe motivationthat they need-ed to perseverein religious life

with a sense of enthusiasm and in the offering oftheir life in union with that of Jesus, for the gloryof the Trinity and the well being of the communi-ty.

Passionist Nuns, Lucca

____________________March 2006 PIB N. 10____________________26

Despite the fact that this is acause that is external to theCongregation, nevertheless it wasconducted by the General Postulationof the Congregation and in this issueof the PIB we wish to propose the fig-ure of Mother Maria Pia Mastena. Shewas the foundress of the Sisters of theHoly Face who are our neighbors herein the heart of Rome in their clinic onthe nearby Aventine Hill. We are alsoassociated with them though ourpreaching and missions in Indonesiaand especially by means of theBeatification of their Foundress byHis Holiness Benedict XVI on 13November 2005.

Additionally their spiritualityis centered on the Passion of Christ,and together with Him a special devo-tion to the Passionist saints, in partic-ular St. Paul of the Cross, St. Gabrielof the Sorrowful Virgin and, above all,to St. Gemma Galgani, under whoseprotection they place the aspirants oftheir Institute. The spirituality ofMother Maria Pia Mastena is explicit-ly Christo-centric. This is clearly stat-ed in the summary of Fr. FilippoD’Amando: “We can immediately saythat in Mother Maria Pia Mastena apersonal relationship with Jesusbrought about a transformation intothat new creation to which St. Paulrefers and insists, as one moves toembrace Christ and is embraced byHim, a blurring of one’s own timewith Christ’s time, a reliance uponGod in every tribulation, for everyconsolation, an embracing of thecross, finding in it the fulfillment ofwhat is lacking in the Passion ofChrist.” (Quoted in Positio, p. 526).The Face of Christ impelled her torelive in herself that same love thatimpelled Christ, even to undergo thesupreme trial of his Passion and death.

These two spiritual dimen-sions made my predecessor, Fr. CarlosLizarraga, accept this cause, and inturn, I too, continued this cause that

culminated in the declaration of 5 July2002 and, recently, the beatificationitself. BRIEF BIOGRAPHICAL PROFILE

Blessed Maria Pia Mastenawas born in Bovolone in the Italianprovince of Verona on 7 December1881, the first born of eight children ofGiulio and Maria A. Casarotti. Herfather was a practicing Christian,devoted to the family, an honest labor-er, patient and kind to the poor. Hewas noted for his great charity. Hermother was an exemplary Christianwoman. She was an elementaryschool teacher, a member of theFranciscan Third Order and was veryactive in parish ministry, attendedMass on a daily basis and undertookvarious penances. From this deeplyreligious family environment theBlessed acquired those elements ofher education and formation thatwould bring her to sanctity. When hersister, Maddalena, died she wasknown for her sanctity and her broth-er, Plinio had to leave thepriesthood for reasons ofhealth, while another brother,Fr. Tarcisio, became aCapuchin and was a mission-ary in Brazil. The Blessed wasbaptized with the name ofTeresa Maria on 29 December1881 and on 19 March 1891she received her First HolyCommunion, an event thatwould always remain for herone of the most beautiful daysof her life, a day that shesolemnly commemoratedevery year, even until late inher life. Her encounter withJesus in the Eucharist was adecisive event for her: on thatoccasion she made a privatevow of perpetual virginity.Her spirituality was character-ized by a profound love forJesus in the Holy Eucharistand by an intense devotion tothe Holy Face. On 27 August1891 she received the Sacrament of

Confirmation.In Bovolone she attended

public schools and had a quiet adoles-cence marked by apostolic fervor asshe taught catechism to the children ofthe parish. The authentic and intenseChristian life of her family, coupledwith apostolic zeal inspired the youngMaria Pia to a life of perfection andthe total gift of herself to God.

On 7 December 1901, at the age of 20,she entered the Institute of the Sistersof Mercy of Verona and professedvows on 24 October 1903 with thename of Sister Passitea Maria of theChild Jesus. With the permission of her confessor,

the Mother General and the Mistressof Novices, on 11 April 1903 shemade “a private vow to be a victimsoul”, that was marked by an intenseEucharistic spirituality and a particu-lar devotion to the Passion of Christand to Mary Immaculate.

“It is Your Face that I Seek”:Blessed Maria Pia Mastena

Fr. Giovanni Zubiani, C.P.General Postulator

Beatification of Bl. Maria Pia Mastena, St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome.


_____________________March 2006 PIB N. 10_____________________ 27

During the years 1907-1908 sheobtained a teaching degree and adiploma in specialized education. Shetaught in various locations, also dedi-cating herself to an intense apostolateto her alumni, to the sick and to thehandicapped. She spent a long periodof 19 years in the city of Miane, whereshe organized liturgies and other reli-gious functions, school in the after-noon for women and evening schoolfor young boys and men.

With the authorization of herSuperiors and the “approval” of theHoly See, on 15 April 1927 sheentered a cloistered monastery, some-thing that she had wished to do since1910, in order to further herEucharistic vocation and to live a con-templative life. She remained in theCistercian monastery of Veglia until15 November 1927. This changebrought about many trials for theBlessed; however, she gave herselftotally to the cloistered life in theMonastery demonstrating a particulardevotion to the Eucharist, to thePassion of Jesus and to the Holy Face.On 15 November 1927, with theencouragement of the bishop ofVittorio Veneto, she left theMonastery, resumed teaching andbegan the foundation of a newCongregation.

In 1936 the bishop, bydecree, canonically established theCongregation of the Holy Face. TheBlessed renewed her religious vowsand the first sisters made their profes-sion. Religious houses were openedin various cities. On 10 December1947 the Congregation was designat-ed a Congregation of Pontifical Rite.The following year the Congregationheld its first General Chapter at whichMother Mastena was elected SuperiorGeneral. All of her activity was cen-tered on the consolidation and theexpansion of the Congregation, under-taking new initiatives for the poor, thesuffering and the sick.

She died in Rome on 28 June1951 at 10:35 P.M. after havingreceived the Sacrament of the Sick.Her body was transferred to San Fiordi Sopra where her funeral was cele-brated in the parish church in the pres-ence of many priests and the faithful.On 26 December 1953 her remains

were trans-ported to achapel of theI n s t i t u t e .The plaqueon her tombcontains thef o l l o w i n ginscription,which is asynthesis ofthe life,activity andthe virtuesof MotherM a s t e n a :"Fidel i ter-fortiter-suaviter transit".

SPIRITUAL PROFILE According to witnesses, doc-

uments and her writings, BlessedMaria Pia Mastena was a woman ofdeep faith centered on Jesus in theEucharist and on the Passion of theDivine Redeemer. She was favoredwith a great intimacy with Him,together with profound mystical expe-riences, a love of the Church, andapostolic activity for the salvation ofsouls. A decisive event in her spiritu-al life was her First Holy Communionat the age of 10. Her spirituality wasessentially Christo-centric and wascharacterized by personal communionwith Christ and by intense Eucharisticdevotion. In the Holy Face she con-templated the mercy of the heavenlyFather and made the total oblation ofherself for the salvation of souls.From her love of Christ was also bornher tender love for the Virgin Mary,for the Church and for her ministries.She always practiced interior recollec-tion in a spirit of mortification and ofpoverty. As a novice, with the permis-sion of her confessor and her superiorsshe made “the vow of a victim soul”by which she perpetually bound her-self to the Passion of Christ by a mys-tical death. She was attentive to themagisterium of the Pope Pius XI con-cerning the Sacred Heart of Jesus, andof Pope Pius XII regarding theMystical Body of Christ. She imbuedher Institute with an ecclesial andChristo-centric dimension. Her faithand her submission to the will of Godwere purified in the darkness of trying

events and the humiliations followingthe “failure”, humanly speaking, ofher experience of cloistered life withthe Cistercians. She was exacting inthe observance of the Rule; however,at the same time she continually urgedjoy and serenity, lived in the light ofthe Face of Christ. Blessed Mastenawas an outstanding teacher of the spir-itual life not only to the Sisters, butalso to aspirants to the priesthood andto religious life. The elements thatcharacterized her spiritual life aresummarized in these words:

• “to engender” an awarenessof and devotion to the Holy Face ofJesus as the reality of the Christianmessage that originates in baptism andwhich makes every Christian an apos-tle of the suffering face of Jesus;

• “to restore”: The consecratedperson and every Christian must unitehimself with Christ in his passion anddeath, in order to follow Jesus and tooffer oneself to Him in continuousreparatory expiation for what is lack-ing in the Passion of the mysticalChrist, which is the Church;

• “to rediscover”: The Face ofJesus is not only contemplated, butalso imitated, incarnated and lived,above all by means of works of serv-ice and of charity, of justice and of fra-ternal concern, in order to rediscoverthe outline of the Holy Face of Jesusin the face of one’s neighbor.

Pope Benedict XVI and Fr. Giovanni Zubiani, Postulator General.



28

INFORMATION CONCERNING THE PROCESS OFCANONIZATION OF BLESSED CHARLES HOUBEN

(of Mount Argus)

On November 24, 2005, inthe Congress Hall of the PontificalCongregation for the Causes ofSaints, the Undersecretary presidedat the medical consulta regarding thepresumed miracle granted to Mr.Adof Dormans of Manstergeleen(Netherlands) through the interces-sion of Blessed Charles Houben.

Summarizing the case,which was delineated in the“Positio” presented by thePostulator (Fr. Giovanni Zubiani,CP), based on the diocesan processthat took place in the diocese ofRoermond, the medical doctors whowere involved in the study of thematter and who could find no scien-tific explanation for the incident,gave their unanimous approval forthe on-going study of the allegedmiracle.

On 22February 2006,the Bishop, Ge-neral Promoterof the Faith,presided at thediscussion ofthe TheologicalConsultors.Concerning theHouben Causeand the pre-sumed miracleattributed to theintercession ofBl. Charles ofMount Argus,the theologians,together withthe BishopPromoter, ex-pressed their

positive judgment.Now the cause will beexamined by theCardinals and Bishopsof the same Congre-gation.If all proceeds favor-ably, the next stepwould be the Procla-mation of the Ponti-fical Decree statingthe miraculous natureof the event. Then theHoly Father willrequest the counsel ofthe Cardinals in a con-sistory that will decidethe favorability ofproceeding to the can-onization. If the opin-ion of the Cardinals isfavorable, HisHoliness will estab-

lish the date for the solemn ceremony ofCanonization of Blessed Charles Houben in thePatriarchal Basilica of St. Peter.

Bl. Charles Houben – approx. 45 years old.

____________________March 2006 PIB N. 10____________________


_____________________March 2006 PIB N. 10_____________________ 29

First of all, in the space that I was allot-ted for these reflections, I want to saythat the way that the questionnaire wasfocused, i.e. on the three topics ofcharism, presence and mission, seemsto have been the best way to avoid thedifficulty of thinking aboutRestructuring as something that ismerely external, that is purely juridicaland geographic or as something thatconcerns the incorporation of provincesor vicariates. This was accomplished byasking the religious to reflect upon theirspiritual values and their renewal,above all with respect to the charism.The result was that the Passion is at theheart of Passionist identity. Similarly,other central elements are the person ofthe Founder, the history of theCongregation, and the example of thesaints. At the same time concern wasexpressed about the difficulty of devel-oping a deeper appreciation for thesefigures and for the history and spiritual-ity of the Congregation in various cul-tures. This was a common reactionwhose importance cannot be underesti-mated, even if it is clear that this unityof charism must be reconciled with the

variety of ways that exist forinterpreting it.

How wonderful it is when,among the Passionists, there isdiscussion about our charism, ourpresence and our mission; whenwe examine ourselves concerningthese elements; and when weshare our feelings on these mat-ters not only with those near to us,but with the rest of theCongregation! Beyond the physi-cal or juridical dimensions ofRestructuring – and even moreimportant– are the new insightsthat were made about the possibil-ity of spiritual and attitudinalRestructuring. Focusing our dis-cussion on the fundamental topicsof charism, presence and missionhas been a wonderful and valu-able dynamic. It was very inter-

esting to read the responses to the ques-tionnaires of so many communities andindividuals. At the same time we won-der about how it would be possible tofurther this dialog so that many others –all those who so wish – can participate.I proposed to Fr. Nicholas that all thesummaries of the responses that wehave received be put on the internet siteof the Congregation so that everyonemay read them and if anyone so wishes,he may also have access to originalresponses themselves. However it waspointed out that there would be lan-guage problems and that translations ofthese texts might not feasible.

For example, below is anexcerpt from the reply of the Council ofthe Vicariate in Kenya concerning thesubject of the charism: “In our com-munities we must experience that thePassion of Jesus is good news for us, itfrees us from fear, slavery, self-determi-nation of our life; it makes us realizethat relationships are gifts that are notmerited; it helps us realize the urgencyof announcing this to others. It is thisprocess-plan that the Passion as

love/gift puts into action. If thisprocess does not transform the way inwhich we perceive everyday life andrelationships, then it is not good news(we are not evangelized) and we are notbearers of good news (we are not evan-gelizers).”

This same response also calledfor the Congregation to establish itsown school of theology, which wouldbe at the service of the Church. Therewere many other responses that weresimilar to this one. Frequentlyreference was made to the decline ofsome traditional ministries in whichone would think that the charism of theCongregation would necessarily be evi-denced. This calls us to further studywhether there are consistent elementsin the charism that might also be livedout in more diversified activities.However, this does not mean that, froma purely juridical point of view (assome have been inclined to reason),that the charism does not have its ownphysiology and that the Congregationdoesn’t have its own identity. It doesnot mean that “anything goes” or thatall is relative. The Congregation iscontinually called to acquire a greatercapacity for discerning which min-istries and activities are in keeping withthe charism and which are not. Forexample, the response of the CORM-GEM vicariate referred to the need for“a congregation with an appearancethat is apostolic, varied and comple-mentary, without conflicting positions,in which various approaches exist sothat more people are able to access theWord of the Cross.”

The diversity of ways of per-ceiving the charism may endanger theunity of the Congregation; however, italso favors the perception of the multi-plicity of meanings present in thecharism.

Reflections on the current statusof the Restructuring Process

Fr. Adolfo Lippi, C.P., Restructuring Committee

Fr. Adolfo Lippi, Restructuring Commission,Provincial PRAES.


____________________March 2006 PIB N. 10____________________30

In particular, two fundamental dimen-sions of the charism were present: onethat can be referred to as active, ofproclamation: redemption and transfor-mation of the dominant ethic, liberation;and the other that could be categorizedas passive: (but which is more activethan any other kind of activity), whichgives meaning to suffering and witness-es to the life that is present within it.This is an extremely important under-standing that is found within all theresearch that dominates current thought,including literature and the arts. Italludes to the profound meaning of suf-fering, the meaning of being for God andin God. It is a search that demandsa new image of God and a new the-ology, which needs to be well root-ed in the Bible (liberated from cer-tain forms of conditioning), aboveall in the area of mysticism. I thinkwe are all aware of the researchbeing done concerning the value ofreparation, specifically in the suf-fering of the saints in union with thePassion of Jesus. Our publicationLa Sapienza della Croce (TheWisdom of the Cross/ ItalianPassionist Conference) has studiedthis topic on numerous occasions. Thismeans that the charism does not placewhat the world esteems in a privilegedcategory, i.e. the most gratifying aspectsof existence; rather it incorporates all therealities of diminution and even death, asintegral elements of human existence.

Thus, in the greater part of theresponses it is evident that the life of theCongregation or of each communitycannot be found in what remains, as if byinertia, in the life forms of another time,in which one notices an ongoing deple-tion of the power of the Spirit. This isseen for the most part in the capacity toadapt oneself to new situations; to recy-cle buildings and resources; to be opento others without the constriction of thelaw; to assume responsibility for theCongregation in the situations in whichwe find ourselves; in the area of prayer;in the sense of having a mission evenwithout anyone asking for it or recogniz-ing it. A sign of life is a perception ofthe Passion as a gift, an unmerited gift,that goes beyond the mentality of anexchange and which involves forgive-ness, builds peace and unity in a commu-nity. One of the responses stated that ifthe charism does not generate unity inthe community it means that the charism

is alien to that community. One commu-nity arrived at the conclusion that thecurrent diminution and aging of the reli-gious can be understood as an invitationfrom God to live the experience of Jesus’feeling of being abandoned by theFather. On the other hand it can alsoappear to be a sign of death, of estrange-ment, the tendency to disown thecharism because the context no longerexists within which each of us first cameto know religious life.

Toward concrete proposals forRestructuring

Having said this, we can ask ourselves ifany concrete proposals for Restructuringare present, even within a juridical, geo-graphic or economic context. I repeatwhat I said above: until the next GeneralChapter we will particularly be con-cerned with dialoging about what cur-rently exists. Therefore, it seems to methat Consultation B (that was directedtoward the major superiors) tends toevoke a feeling of tension betweenConsultation A and the concrete deci-sions for restructuring that should comeabout during the Chapter and the matu-ration of the same.

The alternatives which wereexpressed in the questionnaire forConsultation B do not pit a traditionalistpoint of view against a progressive one,as much as contrasting more institution-al aspects with respect to a rediscoveryof the prophetic and charismatic natureof consecrated life. In general, theresponses are split down the middle: thismakes it obvious that there are difficul-ties present and that there are even flawsin both arguments. Realistically, wemust not forget that the prophetic atti-tude always generates rejection and evenpersecution. The Bible vividly giveswitness to this and psychology explains

the complexity of fears, insecurities andresistance to something new and whichoften generates automatically and oftenuncontrollably defense mechanisms andexaggerated and irrational attacks. Wecannot forget that we are not a newCongregation, to which are added onlythose who share the uniqueness of ourcharism. For many the more institution-al aspects are certainly those that giveone a certain sense of security and whichwe are not ready to abandon. How dowe do this in such a way that these donot impede the flowering of new charis-matic and prophetic responses to thechallenges of our time? It is a topic that

needs to be studied more in depth soas to be able to form a common spiritand avoid useless and painful con-flicts.

Certainly an objective and evenscientific (human sciences) examina-tion of conscience can be very helpful.There are many who are calling for amore in-depth and better coordinatedstudy of the charism and its applica-tion in today’s world. There weremany responses that called for furtherdevelopment of the relationshipbetween the religious and the other

components of the Passionist Family, thenuns, the religious Sisters. This newventure, similar to what is happening inmany other institutes, may also help usin the recovery of our prophetic vitality.Another very common topic is that ofsolidarity, above all within theCongregation, but also beyond it. Formany, even better than economic soli-darity, would be solidarity that aims attrue sharing, on an institutional level, ofall of the resources of the Congregation,beginning with a sharing of personnel.

Obviously we are only in thebeginning stages of a great projectwhich, if we proceed with perseverance,can lead to that revitalization of theCongregation that everyone is hopingfor. Basically it is about discerning whatthe Lord wants to do today in ourCongregation and being attentive tothose things more than what we think itwould be nice to do. It is about recog-nizing the signs of the times that arepresent in the work of Restructuring andbeing at the service of Life.

Mosaic in the Reconciliation Chapelof the Shrine of St. Gabriel, Italy

_____________________March 2006 PIB N. 10_____________________ 31

The first Passionist missionaries arrived fromSpain to Monte Sameiro in Barga on 7 October1931. In 1933 they left Monte Sameiro and relo-cated in the city of Braga. In 1933 they alsomade a foundation in Barroselas (Viana deCastillo) where in 1941 they began the construc-tion of a beautiful monastery that received thefirst Portuguese Passionist seminarians in 1951.Presently it is a retreat house. Little by little,they made other foundations: Vila da Feira,Acros de Valdevez, Antuzede, Palhais(Barreiro). Linda-a-Velha (Lisboa), Quimbele –Uíje (Angola), Viseu. Today they remain inBarroselas, Santa María da Feira, San Antonioda Charneca (Barreiro), Linda-a-Velha, Viseu yUíje (Angola).

The Passionist missionaries in Portugalbegan their celebration of the 75th anniversaryyear with a Mass of Thanksgiving at the Shrineof Our Lady of Sameiro, Braga, which includeda visit to the original monastery of 1931. Theysubsequently visited other sites associated withtheir presence in that city, concluding with a cel-ebration in the Casa de Mãe, Barroselas.

Another meaningful event was the visit tothe cemetery where they prayed and remem-bered the Passionists who were part of the orig-inal foundation in Portugal. They also prayedfor all of the other religious who worked untir-ingly in Portugal and left lasting impressions inthis land by the witness of their lives and theirapostolic activity.

The following events are scheduled for2006:

-- On 07 May 2006, a novena will begin in honorof St. Paul of the Cross in Barroselas. This willhelp to prepare spiritually for this anniversaryyear and will culminate in a solemn Mass ofThanksgiving that will be transmitted by TV, aswell as by local radio stations. It will concludewith a solemn procession.

--The anniversary commission is alsopreparing cultural and recreational activities thatwill take place from 29 April – 07 May 2006.

--The year will conclude on 07 October atthe Shine of Our Lady of Fatima, the Titular ofthe Passionist Province. This celebration willcoincide with the Meeting of the IberianPassionist Lay Family Movement. Their activi-ties will include a film presentation highlightingthe 75 years and will conclude with the celebra-tion of a Mass. Following a meeting of thegroup, the day will conclude with a processionand prayer service in the chapel of theApparitions.

75 Years of thePresence of Passionist

Missionaries inPortugal

CII (INTERPROVINCIAL IBERIAN CONFERENCE)

•

Anniversary poster of the Fatima Province of Portugal

NNEEWWSS FFRROOMM TTHHEE CCOONNFFEERREENNCCEESS

(The following is an excerpt of the letter that Fr.Fernando Rabanal, FAM Provincial, wrote to thereligious of the FAM-COROM Vicariate ofVenezuela on the occasion of the 100th Anniversaryof the Province.)

“As both a Province and a Congregation we arepresently experiencing the process of Restructuring.Father Ottaviano’s Letter of Convocation of thenext General Chapter; the meeting and study of theour Provincial Project that emanated from ourrecently celebrated XXX Provincial Chapter; thevarious Assemblies that have taken place in ourareas of pastoral responsibility – are elements thatchallenge us to live out this historic moment in anattitude of profound conversion so that the grace of

God continues to dwell within us and, thus, a “newcreation” may come into being – a creation that theSpirit wishes to bring about in our Passionist reli-gious life…

In Venezuela a sense of new vitality is evi-dent, which, in addition to manifesting the livingpresence of the Lord in our midst, breaks the dead-lock so that without fear, we may face the risks aswell as encounter God’s providence within us, inaccord with what He asks of us. Let us be certainthat in Venezuela, God calls us to conversion and tolife…”

____________________March 2006 PIB N. 10____________________32


Celebration of the Jubilee Year of the FAM Province

in Caracas, Venezuela

The Assembly of the Passionists of Central America tookplace in San Salvador, El Salvador on 04 December2005. In a letter that he subsequently wrote to the reli-gious of this region, Fr. Fernando Rabanal, FAMProvicial, we read the following:

“the Central American Assembly was a valiantstep forward that, without a doubt, is the result of the

grace of the Spirit and the faith of the religious. In every“step” we find Easter, the fruit of death and resurrec-tion. This is something which we Passionists shouldgrasp with particular insight so that we don’t confuse itwith other concerns or strategies. And when we see sup-port for all the decisions, we can glimpse great hope forour work now and in the future…This signifies theimportance of Restructuring for our revitalization. It isgood for us to remember that, although a juridical enti-ty no longer exists, our Province has not forgotten aboutits responsibility for maintaining the presence of theCongregation in Honduras. If, beginning with our HolyFather, we are truly convinced about reaching out to thepoor and needy, then we should recall that we have agreat challenge before us which is more urgent todaythan ever before—a challenge in truth and in the livedreality. This challenge deals with a country that, togeth-er with Haiti, is at the top of the list with regard to pover-ty and misery. It is difficult, if not impossible, to under-stand our presence in Latin America without strengthen-ing our life and mission in Honduras. The challenge ismade not only to those (religious) who are there (inHonduras), but also to our entire provincial community,which we have to make more present in the reality ofeach community of this region.”

Assembly and PastoralVisitation of Fr. Fernando Rabanal,

FAM Provincial to the communities of Central America

Our Lady ofFatima’ s ChurchCaracas Venezuela

Fr. Ottaviano D’Egidio, Fr. Luis Alberto Cano, GeneralConsultor and members of the Community of El

Salvador, FAM - CHRIC, Vicariate

_____________________March 2006 PIB N. 10_____________________ 33

The Assembly of the FAM Province took place inCacalomacán, Mexico from 14 to16 December 2005. Fr.Fernando Rabanal presided. At this point in time,Mexico is going through a period that calls for commit-ment and co-responsibility on the part of all the reli-gious, so that they may respond to the grace of God andthus give united, fraternal witness to their life as reli-gious. Thus, by means of discernment they hope to per-ceive what God wants of them and how they may carryout his will. The Province in Mexico, by the wisdom ofthe Holy Spirit, feels that new life, a sign God’s blessing,is sprouting from the old tree trunk.

A noteworthy item is the participation of the“Voluntarios” (Volunteers) who, for many years haveadmirably carried out various forms of ministry that isclearly in keeping with the Passionist charism. Theyhave taken their first steps in a social concern project inconjunction with the Centenary of the Province in theirwork with the children of the Colonia Vallejo, a complexarea of the city that is within one of our parish bound-aries. In addition to the work with these street children,they reported on other various types of projects withwhich they are involved such as: summer courses; the

“youth platform”; vocation awareness; missionaryendeavors; assistance to those affected by recent hurri-canes; the creation of a web page and the publication ofa Passionist magazine. This long term program in har-mony with our Passionist charism, in addition to beingsomething new among us, is being very positivelyreceived and may be extended to other areas and regionswhere we are ministering and may even be extended tothe level of the provincial network. It is a response toone of the objectives of the Provincial Chapter, i.e. thePassion for solidarity and justice, as well as what wasasked of us by the General Chapter in its work via theCommission for Justice and Peace.

Assembly of the FAMProvince (Spain)

The 5th Assembly of the FID Vice-Province of Colombia was celebrated inthe Passionist community of St. Gabrielof Our Lady of Sorrows (Cajicá) from30 January to 2 February 2006. Twentythree religious in final vows and sixlaity participated. The topic that wasresearched and studied was that ofRestructuring. The presenter was theVice-provincial of the Marist Brothers.The Assembly also dedicated some ofits work to evaluate the road that theyhave taken over the past two years, aswell as the revision of the Statutes of theVice-Province. This was a project that

was mandated by the previous Vice-ProvincialCongress.

V Assembly of the FID (Colombia)

Vice-Province


Santa María de Guadalupe in Cacalomacan - Mexico

Religious and laity of the Passionist Family, participants in the Assembly of the FID Vice-Province, Colombia

The Pastoral Visitation of Fr. Eulogio Cordero to the commu-nities of Panama took place from 12 -17 December 2005. Hemet with all the members of the community. He spoke of theprocess of Restructuring in the Congregation and aboutPassionist life in the Province. He also presented and initiat-ed dialogue about the proposals that originated in theProvincial Chapter. Finally, there was reflection and discus-sion about the life and mission of this community.

The meetings were marked by open and frank dis-cussion. They spoke about the possibilities as well as thepossible risks of Restructuring, citing the danger of central-ization and ignoring of the infleshing of the same in the real-ity of the local situation. They also reflected on the wealththat can come from this process when it is lived out in all itsdimensions, beyond the juridical elements. During the dia-log, they spoke about how it would be possible to energizethe Passionist presence in this region. They also reflected onvocation recruitment and commitment to the laity.Additionally, they analyzed the advisability and functions ofthe Provincial Delegate for Ecuador and Panama.

Several of the communities were visited that arecared for by one of the religious. They began in San Gabrielin Vista Alegre, Our Lady of Perpetual Help and the commu-nity of Cerro Silvestre. Some of these communities are inneed of some form of renovation or improvement of thebuildings. They have asked for financial assistance from themembers of the community as well as other external sources.It was stated that the Commission for the Missions was veryhelpful in assisting them to accomplish many projects.Finally, the Provincial team visited the church of theImmaculate Conception called “Cáceres”as well as the exten-sive Church of Sts. Peter and Paul in the region of la Floresta.

The Assembly of the SANG Province took place during5-6 December in Guayaquil, Ecuador at which theProvincial, Fr. Eulogio Cordero, presided. TheAssembly began with a prayer and a keynote address byFr. José Luis Quintero on the topic of Restructuringentitled: “The call to Restructuring: a moment in thedynamic of religious life.”

During this period the Provincial visited thecommunity in the city of Guayaquil. He noted that theactivity of this community is characterized by twodimensions: educational and apostolic. The apostoliccommitments are centered in two parishes that of LaAnunciación and Santa Gema. The Anunciación parishis close-knit parish with a family atmosphere. Theparish of Santa Gema is more cosmopolitan and wel-comes people from various sectors of the city to partic-ipate in its sacramental life.

The Provincial then reported on the education-al and outreach activities that take place in the village ofCerecito as well as the Passionist Education Project.The latter began as a parish school and then developedinto an Educational Center with over 1025 students.

In the city of Conocoto, the Provincial reflect-ed on the concept of pastoral service that the religiousoffer to the church of Conocoto; however it was felt thatthis was not the moment for the Passionist church to bedeclared a parish.

Finally, in the community of the capital city,Quito, the Postulant Residence, the religious haverecently carried out a vocation and mission awarenesscampaign that was directed by the students and postu-lants. They work as a coordinated team in the parishand in the various chaplaincies.

____________________March 2006 PIB N. 10____________________34

Assembly of the SANGProvince, Ecuador

Visit of Fr. EulogioCordero, SANG ProvincialSuperior, to the Passionist

communities of Panama

Fr. Eulogio Cordero, SANG Provincialand participants in the Assembly

Fr. Eulogio Cordero, SANG Provincialand members of the community in Panama


The Tenth Congress of the SANG-EXALVicariate took place in Obrajes, La Paz,Bolivia. Fr. José Luis Quintero gave the open-ing address on Restructuring in theCongregation. Following his presentation,there was a lively discussion, as the participantssought to learn more about the reason for theprocess, the expectations and the options thatare being proposed. An opportunity wasoffered for reading the conference of Fr. Vital,General Consultor, which was given during the2004 General Synod of the Congregation andrecorded in the Acts.

Fr. José Luis then presented the ele-ments for reflection concerning Restructuringthat were offered by Fr. Ottaviano in his letterto the Congregation. Once again, there wasanimated and enlightening dialog. Fears wereexpressed about this new situation, as well asabout the difficulties in choosing concreteoptions and the type of evaluation needed onthis road that we undoubtedly must travel.

_____________________March 2006 PIB N. 10_____________________ 35

During 27- 30 December, 2005 the X Congress of theSANG-CARM Vicariate of Chile took place in Viña delMar. The following religious were elected to positions ofleadership in the Vicariate: Fr. Hernán Vargas, RegionalVicar; Fr. Desiderio Morales, First Consultor; and Fr.Gabriel García Báez, Second Consultor.

The Congress discussed the topic ofRestructuring and there was a sense that now they have abetter understanding of this process. They studied howRestructuring seeks to revitalize the charism, the presenceand the mission of the Passionists in order to answer, withdynamic fidelity and creativity, this question: “Todayhow de we live out the Passionist charism in a meaning-ful way?” The discussion on this topic was led by Fr. JoséLuis Quintero. His observations, within the context of thereality of the Vicariate, were very enlightening. With thisspirit and within this context, the religious are attemptingto make initial responses to this question on both person-al and community levels.

In their prayer during the Congress they meditat-ed on the Scripture passage from 1 Sm.3:8-9: “Here I amLord, you called me…Speak, Lord, your servant is listen-ing.” Recalling the witness of the first disciples who metwith Jesus, stayed with Him and followed Him, the reli-gious expressed their desire to renew their radical deci-sion to stay with Him as Passionists here and now, and tocontinue the journey, conscious that they bear a treasurein earthen vessels. It was further noted that in John 1: 39,the Evangelist adds the detail that, “It was about four inthe afternoon” i.e., it was not long before a new daywould begin. This, too, is their hope: that soon a new daywill begin for the Vicariate, a day that is a gift from Godand for which they are responsible.

X Congress of the SANG-EXALVicariate of Bolivia

10th Congress of the SANG-CARM Vicariate of Chile

Participants in the 10th Congress of the SANG - EXALVicariate, Bolivia.

Frs. Hernán Vargas, Regional Vicar; Fr. Desiderio Morales1st, Consultor and Fr. Gabriel García Báez;2nd Consultor.


The Provincial, Fr.Juan María Santamaríaaddressed the assembly, detailing the scope of theCongress. He invited those present, the old and theyoung, to remember the reasons for which thePassionists went to Peru. He suggested that theyreturn to their roots: “we came for the mission andwe have to rediscover these foundational elements.”The mission is the reason for our existence.

The Provincial cited No. 37 of the docu-ment, “Vita Consacrata” that refers to the audacityof taking risks and accepting challenges. We cannotcomfortably sit back. He also reminded them thatthe Congress was celebrated in an ecclesial context,as well in the context of Latin America and the con-text of the Congregation (Restructuring).Restructuring was considered as something thatincluded interior, personal, communitarian andstructural dimensions, in a universal context of reli-gious life, and refers to the great icons of the GoodSamaritan and the Samaritan woman:

• Looking at religious life from the experi-ence of the marginalized and the excluded.

• It is a call to simplicity, living more radicallyand profoundly.

• Like the Samaritan woman, Religious Lifeis about searching. Being a well of “living water”and satisfying the thirst and hunger of many broth-ers and sisters.

• Cultivating compassion: the image of theInn (the Good Samaritan). The inn as a place ofwelcoming and dialog. Is our religious life truly aninn?

• Lack of communication is one of the greatproblems in our communities.

At the conclusion of the Congress, Fr. JavierAreitioaurtena, C.P. was elected the Vicar of theVicariate.

XI CONGRESS OF THE REGIONAL VICARIATE OFPERU (CORI-RES)

17-19 January 2006La Molina

____________________March 2006 PIB N. 10____________________36

•

Fr. Ottaviano D’Egidio, members of the General Curia, Bishop Santos Istueta, Fr. Juan MariaSantamaria CORI Provincial and members of the CORI-RES Vicariate, Perú


_____________________March 2006 PIB N. 10_____________________ 37

The Archbishop of Kingston, JohnJ. McEleney, S.J., had visited thePassionist Superior General in Rome, Fr.Malcolm La Velle, and requested mission-aries for Jamaica. The time had come formore intensive outreach into the interior ofthe island, specifically in the civil parishesof Manchester and St. Elizabeth. In April,1955, on the feast of our Mother ofSorrows, five Passionists of St. Paul of theCross Province arrived in Jamaica: FathersCanisius Hazlett, Cormac Shanahan,William Whelan, Anthony Feeherry, andCallistus Connolly. At first, three of themissionaries resided in Mandeville andworked in Manchester and St. Elizabeth.The other two remained in Kingston tocare for the parishes of St. Elizabeth andSt. Peter Claver.

A significant milestone in the his-tory of the Passionists in Jamaica was theestablishment of Mount Calvary RetreatHouse in Mandeville, in 1973. Its firstdirector, Father Martin J. Tooker, inspiredthe ministry, which continues today.

In 1975 the Passionists made a veryconscious decision about their future in Jamaica when theydecided to begin to seek local vocations. This effort borefruit when a native Jamaican, Bertram Chin, was ordainedon June 30, 1991. On July 9, 1991, a week after the ordi-nation of Father Bertram Chin, Father Paul M. Boyle, for-mer Superior General of the Passionist Congregation, wasappointed as the first bishop of the newly created ApostolicVicariate of Mandeville.

About forty-five minutes away from Kingston, onthe main road leading to the North Shore, is ImmaculateConception Parish in Stony Hill. Originally this parish wasestablished and served by the Jesuits. In l980 thePassionists were asked by Archbishop Samuel Carter totake over its pastoral care. The first Passionist pastor wasFr. Joseph Jones, C.P.

The Sisters of the Cross and Passion came in 1985towork with their Passionist brothers in Mandeville. Theirfirst missionaries were Sisters Bernadette Hughes, JoanneFahey, and Kathleen Mary Burke. Beyond retreat and edu-cational ministries they have been present to the people vis-iting the sick in hospitals and in their homes.

The first group of “Passionist VolunteersInternational” arrived in Jamaica in September of 2003.Under Passionist sponsorship and direction, the ministry ofthese young laymen and women focuses on the “daughter”churches of Stony Hill, outside of Kingston. The first fourvolunteers taught rural children to read, conducted religiouseducation classes, supervised a summer Peace camp, organ-ized a Christmas Pageant, accompanied people to Kingstonfor medical care, visited the sick in hospitals.

Jamaican Passionists have also conducted popular“Crusades,” days of preaching and prayer that promote theCatholic message in a way adapted to the ordinary people.In the future, crusades may provide a Catholic voice forJamaican Christians.

Despite the shortage of Passionist personnel inJamaica, the parishes, retreat house, grade schools, highschool, and a new teachers’ training college continue towitness to the charism of St. Paul of the Cross and the pres-ence of Christ Crucified in the midst of the Jamaican peo-ple.

50 Years of Passionist Presence 1955 – 2005Jamaica, West Indies

IPCM (USA - CANADA)

•

Original missionaries of the PAUL Province in Jamaica, W.I.: Frs. Canisius Hazlett, Cormac Shanahan, William Whelan,

Anthony Feeherry and Callistus Connolly.


____________________March 2006 PIB N. 10____________________38

The priests and brothers of Holy Cross(CRUC) Province are celebrating one hundredtwenty-five years of Passionist presence in SacredHeart Retreat, including 125 years of service to thepeople of St. Agnes parish.

At the request of Bishop McCloskey thePassionists came to Louisville, Kentucky in 1877and served at St. Cecilia parish. They agreed to staffthe parish until such time as they could find a suit-able location for a monastery. In 1879 they pur-chased land from the Sisters of Mercy. ThePassionist monastery, named Sacred Heart Retreat,was formally opened on July 18, 1880.

Bishop McCloskey also asked thePassionists to take care of the parish of Saint Agnes.For many years the monastery chapel served as thechurch for the people of St. Agnes parish. In 1905the present Passionist Monastery was built. As St.Agnes parish continued to grow, the chapel ofSacred Heart Retreat was no longer large enough. In1928 the corner stone for a separate church was laidand the new St. Agnes Church was formally dedi-cated on February 11, 1928.

Over the years Sacred Heart Retreat hasserved as a center for a variety of preaching min-istries throughout the United States and in severaldeveloping countries. Passionists who were formedin this house have gone to mission areas such asChina, Japan, Korea, the Philippines and Jamaica,West Indies. Passionists from this community alsoserved as chaplains at different institutions (hospi-tals, convents, schools) in the area.For thirty years (1906-1936) Sacred Heart Retreatwas the novitiate for the province. For twenty-nineyears (1936-1965) the Retreat also served as aschool of theology. During the period 1965 to 1973newly professed Passionists lived here while com-pleting their college studies

A Mass celebrating this anniversary was cel-ebrated in the Church on October 19, 2005. ThePresident of Catholic Theological Union inChicago, Fr. Donald Senior, C.P., preached the hom-ily.

125 Years of Passionist Presence in Louisville, Kentucky(1880-2005) Centenary of the Monastery Building --

“Sacred Heart Retreat” (1905-2005)

Sacred Heart Retreat, Louisville, Kentucky (CRUC- USA)

•


_____________________March 2006 PIB N. 10_____________________ 39

In early December the General Curia welcomed agroup of students from the Fine Arts Department ofthe “La Sapienza” University of Rome. The visittook place within the context of a course entitled:“Popular culture and religious devotion in the mod-ern era”. This academic year it was taught byStefania Nanni, a professor of modern history in thisdepartment and a scholar in social and religious his-tory of the XVI and XVII centuries.

The study tour was aimed at “viewing” theobjects and places associated with Passionist identi-ty and the apostolic methods used during the 1700’s.By means of “ancient” settings (the period of resi-dency of the Vincentians and the Passionists), theartifacts that are preserved in the collection ofobjects “for” missions and “from” missions, and theletters of the Historic Archives (that Fr. PaulinoAlonso presented in their historic context), theyoung people were able to understand many aspectsof the popular mission. The visit to the room of St.Paul of the Cross particularly impressed the visitorsas well as the museum dedicated to him. In the daysthat followed, Stefania Nanni expressed her appreci-ation as well as that of her students for the instruc-tive and human value of their visit to our house. Asa way of expressing their gratitude, some of the stu-dents prepared a CD with music and pictures of theareas that they visited, as well as of their discover-ies, fotos of the religious and documents from thearchives.

The Basilica of the “Madonna delle Grazie” (Our Lady ofGrace) in the city of Nettuno (RM) re-opened its doors to thefaithful after several months of restoration. In honor of the occa-sion a solemn Mass was celebrated on 23 October 2005 withCardinal Giovanni Battista Re, presiding, and Fr. OttavianoD’Egidio, Superior General and Fr. Carlo Fioravanti, Rector ofthe Basilica, among the concelebrants. Also present were vari-ous pastors from the neighboring parishes of Nettuno, as well ascivil and military authorities and a large number the faithful.

The current basilica was built during the years 1960-1970 and incorporates a synthesis of styles of various historicalperiods beginning in 1550 when a statue of Our Lady of Grace“miraculously” arrived from Ipswich, England in the midst ofthe iconoclastic period initiated by Henry VIII. The Passionistswere given custody of the Shrine in 1888 and in 1950, on theoccasion of the canonization of St. Maria Goretti, her remainswere permanently enshrined in the Basilica.

The renovations that were just completed include newmarble flooring in the Basilica, as well as repair work done tothe roof, the bell tower and the crypt that houses the shrine of theSaint. The walls of the crypt are now adorned by originalmosaics by Fr. Tito Amodeo, C.P. (PRAES) depicting scenesfrom the life of St. Maria Goretti. Additionally, at the rear of thecrypt the remains of Fr. Mauro Liberati, C.P.,the postulator forthe cause of Maria Goretti, have been enshrined as per his finalwish prior to his death in 1969: “Following my death, my placeis there near my ‘Marietta’”. In his homily during the Mass ofrededication, Cardinal Re said: “Her great faith and moralstrength made Saint Maria Goretti a model for life who knewhow to forgive the one who had taken from her the greatest giftthat God had given her – the gift of life itself -- and she wantedthat he would be with her in paradise.”

Roman UniversityStudents Visit Sts. John

and Paul

New Beginnings for theBasilica-Shrine of St.

Maria Goretti, Nettuno

CIPI (ITALY)

University students of Rome with Fr. Paulino Alonso (FAM) (far right)

(L-R) Fr. Ottaviano D’Egidio, Fr. Carlo Fioravanti and Cardinal Re in Nettuno


____________________March 2006 PIB N. 10____________________40

Meeting of the General Curia with the ExecutiveCouncil of CIPIOn 7 December 2005, the meeting of the General Curiawith the Executive Council of CIPI took place atGeneralate of Sts. John and Paul in Rome. Those attend-ing the meeting were Fr. Luigi Vaninetti, GeneralConsultor, the six Italian Provincial secretaries and thesecretary of CIPI, Fr. Giovanni Pelà.

Each province made a report on the current situ-ation in his province and how it was addressing theprocess of Restructuring. In the subsequent dialog,emphasis was placed on the importance of sharing infor-mation about how this process of Restructuring is pro-ceeding. This will help the Provincials who in turnshould involve the communities of their province so as tofacilitate a better understanding so that each religiousfeels that he is involved in this process.

Some specific elements were highlighted thatare peculiar to the Passionist presence in Italy due to itshistory, spirituality and culture which cannot be ignoredin the process of Restructuring. Consequently, we looktoward the future with trust, realizing the importance ofwhat the Congregation is experiencing at this time.

The Circular Letter of the CORM Provincial,Fr. Giuseppe Martinelli entitled: “The Witness of ourPassionist Community in the Territory”, datedAugust-September 2005.This Circular Letter, that follows one on Formation, isaimed at helping the religious to reflect upon and moti-vate our identity as men of God, men of prayer and ofspirituality, drawing on our rich and profound charismat-ic-spiritual patrimony.The reflection was divided into two parts: in the firstpart the term/concept of region was clarified as meaningfully human; in the second part, several reflections wereoffered about the modality for realizing meaningfulbelonging in the territory.

The particular Passionist vow, concluded Fr.Martinelli, is aimed at having a dynamic impact on thedignity of persons and with life of the world whichshould be much more than promoting passive memory…

The 37th Assembly of CIPIThe 37th Assembly of CIPI took place in Rome

on 16-17 January 2006. The theme of the Conferencewas: “Updating and Contributions of the CIPI regionregarding Restructuring”. Three reports were presentedto generate dialog about this topic.The first talk was given by the president of CIPI, Fr.Luigi Vaninetti, General Consultor. He addressed the

issue of the path that the Congregation has taken thus farconcerning Restructuring. He began by reviewing themain points that the Superior General stated in his Letterof Commencement of 20 March 2005 in which he statedthat: “The Synod that was celebrated in Rome from 26November to 6 December, 2004, described Restructuringas an instrument for the revitalization of theCongregation and for opening new horizons and per-spectives for the Passionist vocation.” To this, Fr. Luigiadded: “perhaps we have mistakenly understood this asmeaning that Restructuring means, above all, that theProvinces should be consolidated. This has created toonarrow a viewpoint as well as bringing the study of thematter to a merely functional level within the presentlyexisting Conferen-ces.Perhaps only byacquiring a widermental and geo-graphic perspectivecan we be helpedto realize some-thing new forfuture generationsand for the futureof theCongregation.” Fr.Luigi then spokeabout the other twoletters that weresent by theSuperior Generalwith the goal oftrying to involveall the Religious inthis process.

The report con-cluded with somepersonal reflec-tions. Above all, Fr. Vaninetti emphasized thatRestructuring is an interior and institutional process.This means that the process of a change of life and one’sinterior conversion is possible through new institutionalmodels. It also involves theoretical and practicalaspects: combining practical choices that bring aboutnew communication and collaboration, with historicaland theological reasoning.

Furthermore, Restructuring is about continuitybut also about diversity: it is part of the process of therenewal of Consecrated Life and at the same time, sucha movement is profound and has far reaching effects thatlead to a global revision of our life.

NEWS FROM CIPI (Inter-Provincial Conference

of Italian Passionists)Fr. Giovanni Pelà, C.P.Secretary CIPI

Members of CIPI meet in Rome.


_____________________March 2006 PIB N. 10_____________________ 41

In conclusion, it seems that while we are await-ing a clear and definitive project, there is also the fearthat it will collapse around us. Nevertheless, there are noready-made solutions. We will only discover them whentogether we listen to the Spirit who is present in the dia-log and in the prayer of the entire Congregation.

The second report was presented by Fr. AdolfoLippi, a member of the Commission for Restructuring.On the basis the work done by the Commission up to thispoint, Fr. Lippi made some reflections on the value ofRestruc-turing.

Above all he referred to some critical or pes-simistic responses to the process of Restructuring per se:for some it is utopian, while for other it is already toolate. Someone thought that it was a way of destroyingwhat was remaining of the Passionist tradition.However, Fr. Lippi observed that Restructuring does notdeal with the content of the Constitutions.

There were also positive responses. The focus-ing of the questionnaire on the topics of charism, pres-

ence and missionhelped to avoidthinking ofRestructuring assomething mere-ly external,juridical and geo-graphic. Thusthe religiouswere invited toreflect on thespiritual valuesand the revital-ization of thesame, above allthat of thecharism. Theresult was thatthe charism ofthe Passion iscentral to every-one. This is theunifying elementeven if we needto take into

account that there are different ways of understandingthe same charism. It is the unifying dimension of theCongregation, but it also allows for a wide interpretationof the meaning of the charism. Two fundamental dimen-sions were present: the so-called active, of proclamation,of redemption and of transformation of the dominantethic; and the other, the so-called passive (however, infact it too, is very active) that gives meaning to sufferingand makes its fruitfulness evident.

Therefore, speaking of the concrete dimensionsof Restructuring, Fr. Lippi affirmed that on the basis ofthe responses that were made, the most outstanding are

those that address the international dimension of theCongregation; the meaning given to the charism; and ourattitude toward the poor. There were many otherresponses that called for further development of the rela-tionship between the religious and the other componentsof the Passionist Family, nuns, Sisters and the laity.

The third report, that of Fr. Antonio Rungi, theProvincial Superior of the DOL Province, dealt with thepotential and the difficulties that CIPI is encountering inthe process of Restructuring. Fr. Rungi, referring to theresponses of the other Provincials, underlined that itappeared that the path of Restructuring is irreversible. Itis also moving along well in Italy; however, Fr. Rungiadded that it seems that it is moving at two differentspeeds. Some provinces want to increase the velocity,while others are moving more slowly because of histori-cal, cultural and attitudinal factors. There is an informa-tion network functioning in all the Italian provincesthrough which all the essential content and meaning ofRestructuring is transmitted.

Fr. Rungi underlined again what Fr. Lippi hadpreviously said about the responses received and the pri-macy of the charism. What are the long-range goals?These can be divided into three categories: the firsthypothesis is that nothing will change; the second isthere will be a few changes or modifications on an exper-imental basis for a specific time period; the third, that bythe end of the next General Chapter we will decide whatare the goals toward which we should be aiming and inwhat way they will be attained, until the year 2012.

In conclusion, Fr. Rungi stated that we are pro-ceeding in the direction that was set forth by the Synodof 2004. Today, the Italian Passionists are well disposedto embrace the theme of Restructuring which, however,needs to be further clarified, keeping in mind the his-toric-cultural realities that characterize our presence andactivity.

The Assembly continued with reports aboutStauros, the Cattedra “Gloria Crucis”, the publication“La Sapienza della Croce” and the Lay PassionistMovement. The following day there were meetings ofthe various Commissions, their reports and upcomingprojects.

• Together with the circular letter of Fr. Antonio Curto,LAT Provincial, on the occasion of the Centenary of theLAT Province and of Passionist Presence at the Shrine ofthe Madonna della Catena, Laurignano, there is a letterof His Excellency Salvatore Nunnari, Archbishop ofCosenza (Italy), dealing with this anniversary. The nextissue of the BIP will report on these events.

•

Members of CIPI meet in Rome.


_____________________March 2006 PIB N. 10_____________________

(Optional Memorial: January 5)

The saints are authentic imitators of Christ and BlessedCharles Houben was one of these. Pierluigi di Eugenio saidof him: “He spent his life blessing, healing and forgiving.He was always willing and amiable. He was a poor manamong the poor. He offered his life as a gift to those whowere suffering. He gave himself completely to God and toothers. The needy of spirit and of body did not let him restfor even a moment. Deeply devoted to his family and to hiscountry, he worked for many years far from both; yet herediscovered his own brothers and sisters in those in distressand his own country in the nation of Ireland.”John Andrew was born in Munstergeleene, Holland, on 11December 1829, the fourth of ten children of a well to dofamily. He grew in wisdom, age and grace. His brotherJoseph would say of him: “He only knew two roads: oneto the church and the other to school.” At the same timeinroads were also being made within him toward the priest-hood. He came into contact with the Passionists who hadrecently arrived in Holland at the initiative of BlessedDominic Barberi. At the age of 24, on 5 November 1845,he entered the novitiate at Ere in Belgium and at vestition hewas given the name Charles.During his novitiate he was enthusiastic. One of his com-panions recalls: “I was very edified by his great holiness.He was exemplary, filled with faith and a spirit of piety;exacting, observant of the Rule; simple, amiable and gentle.His piety and joyful spirit earned him everyone’s esteemand affection.” On 21 December 1856 he was ordained tothe priesthood. In 1852 he was sent to England where thePassionists had been established for ten years. Charlesnever returned to Holland or to his loved ones. His motherdied within eight years and his father within two.He spent more than forty years of his life in the British Isles.He was first assigned to Aston Hall, in England. There heministered to Irish immigrants who had undertaken the dif-ficult work of laboring in the mines. This experience wouldbe helpful in his subsequent assignments in Ireland. He ded-icated himself entirely to them, concerning himself withtheir problems and their health conditions. He comfortedthem, helped them and healed them while he continued towork for the Congregation and for the Church.In 1857 he was transferred to Ireland, to Mount Argus inDublin where the Passionists had recently arrived. Themonastery and the church had to be built and Father Charleswas providential in these areas. The Irish people, who sawhim at their side with great solicitude, responded with gen-erosity. A beautiful monastery and church were constructedand were dedicated to St. Paul of the Cross. Unknowingly,

Father Charles wasalso preparing hisown shrine.Charles was never agreat preacher, inparticular due tolanguage difficul-ties. However hespend hours in thec o n f e s s i o n a l ,attending to thedying, blessing thesick with the relic of St. Paul of the Cross, together withmoving prayers which he himself composed. He wasrenowned as a miracle worker. Every day almost three hun-dred people, from all parts of Ireland, England, and Scotlandand even from America sought him, attracted by his reputa-tion for holiness. They discovered a compassionate, avail-able and gentle heart. When confronted with hopelesscases, doctors and nurses in Dublin advised their patients togo to Father Charles. And he went to them in their homesand in hospitals, frequently offering unexpected healingsand always a serene smile. With great love he prepared thedying for their final journey, kneeling in prayer at their bed-side. In order to afford him some rest, his superiors fre-quently reassigned him from one monastery to another buteventually they returned him to Dublin.He was an exemplary religious in community, characterizedby faith and piety, simplicity and affability, and possessingan angelic disposition. Despite his many duties, he spentlong periods of time in adoration before the BlessedSacrament. At times the sacristan had to rouse him so thathe would continue the celebration.During his final years his suffered greatly due to an infec-tion in his leg as well as other maladies. He endured illnesswith great patience while at the same time trying to carryingon his apostolate. Every day he continued to go up anddown a stairway of 59 steps, even several hundred times, toreceive and bless people who came to him.He died peacefully on 05 January 1893. For five days priorto his burial, he received funerary honors suited for a king,attended by people from all of Ireland.John Paul II declared him Blessed on 16 October 1988, offi-cially declaring the sanctity of Father Charles, who duringhis lifetime was known as the saint of Mount Argus.

(Francesco Valori)

NECP (NorTH EuropE)

BLESSED CHARLES HOUBEN…The Good Samaritan of Ireland

42

•

Shrine of Bl. Charles in Mt. Argus church.


In January, 2006, the Inter-province Committee met with theIntercouncil of PAUL and CRUC to introduce the committeesand discuss the work that the committee has accomplished sinceits inception.ICLA meets twice annually and consists of leaders from sever-al groups in St. Paul of the Cross Province as well as HolyCross Province: The Community of Passionist Partners(CRUC); The Passionist Associates (PAUL); MissionFulfillment Program (PAUL); Office of Lay Formation(CRUC); Passionist Volunteers (PAUL); Passionist VolunteersInternational (PAUL); and Representatives from both provin-cial councils.They discussed what ICLA has done since its inception in 2003:Invited each other to our respective Board Meetings; participat-ed in each other’s programs and invited Associates andPassionist Partners to each other’s events; developed and pre-sented a collaborative program on Lay Leadership; developedand presented a proposal for inter-province collaboration in thePassionist Volunteer program; developed and presented a pro-posal for a Lay oriented/edited/written Journal of Spirituality;created a “Rule of Life” for the Passionist Associates, adaptedthe “Rule of Life” for the Community of Passionist Partners,and incorporated the CPP adaptation into the Associates “Rule”.In addition, they discussed several initiatives that are currentlybeing developed: The Spiritual Journal; dissemination ofPassionist Volunteer and Passionist Volunteer International lit

erature in the Western Province ministry sites; invitation to theSisters of the Cross and Passion to join ICLA; continuing theLeadership Program which was first presented during August12-14, 2005 in Detroit; developing an Integrated Workshop onPassionist History and Spirituality; and recommending aLanguage Focused program on Passionist Spirituality in Rome.The Intercouncil group expressed their appreciation and supportfor the collaborative work of ICLA and affirmed their direction.

43

Father General opened and presided at St Joseph’s ProvincialChapter from Monday 28 November to Thursday 1 December2005. Father Robert Joerger, assisted as Chapter Facilitator.Guests included Father Leo Bos, CP, Provincial Superior SPEand Sister Maureen McNally, CP, representing the Cross andPassion Sisters. The Chapter was held at Minsteracres RetreatCentre, where the Superior, Father Jeroen Hoogland, (SPE) andthe Minsteracres Community welcomed the Capitulars andensured a prayerful and fraternal context for the Chapter.Key to its deliberations, the Chapter reviewed the threeProvince priorities confirmed at the last Chapter, which havebeen a central focus since 1999. The Chapter welcomed into its discussions a group of lay col-laborators – friends of the Province – who have offered toaccept responsibility for future development at Minsteracres.This ecumenical group – including a retired Anglican Bishop –proposed that the Chapter should delegate authority to them andthe local Community for a two year period to ensureMinsteracres continues to grow beyond current Provinceresources. Encouraged by Father General the Chapter agreed tothis proposal which was put into effect immediately and will bereviewed and assessed by December 2007.The Chapter also discussed progress on transferring responsi-

bility for St Joseph’s Parish Highgate to the WestminsterArchdiocese. The intention is to develop the monastery andgrounds to generate finances to build a new home for thePassionist Highgate Community and help the parishioners pre-pare and adapt for new pastoral leadership. The Chapterapproved the Highgate Report, mandating the new Curia to con-tinue progress towards achieving these sensitive and complexobjectives. The Chapter also discussed current issues of ProvinceCommunity, Formation and Passionist Mission.Encouragement was given to continue the “open Province con-versations”, which were initiated by three of the younger mem-bers of the Province.On Wednesday 30th November, Nicholas Postlethwaite, CPwas re-elected as Provincial. Daniel Donovan, CP and JohnKearns, CP were elected as Provincial Consultors. DanielDonovan CP was elected 1st Consultor.

St Joseph’s Province ProvincialChapter 28 November to 1

December 2005

MMeeeettiinngg ooff IInntteerr--pprroovviinnccee CCoommmmiitttteeee oonn LLaayy AAssssoocciiaattiioonn ((PPAAUULL--CCRRUUCC))

LAITY

_____________________March 2006 PIB N. 10_____________________

Fr.General, Fr.Nicholas Postlethwaite and members of the St. Joseph Province, England

(L-R) Fr. Donald Ware (PAUL), Fr. John Michael Lee(PAUL), Fr. Philip Paxton (CRUC), Fr. Gerald Laba (PAUL)

and lay members of the Inter-Province Committee on LayAssociation.


____________________March 2006 PIB N. 10____________________44

Lima, Peru/ 13-16 February 2006

On 13 and 14 February, following the Consulta ofthe General Council, the members of COPAL (the majorsuperiors and delegates of the Passionist Conference ofLatin America and the Caribbean), totaling 17 members,met to address topics pertinent to the conference, such asways of electing delegates from the continent to theGeneral Chapter; and especially, the topic ofRestructuring. They also had the opportunity to listen toand dialog with Fr. Christopher Gibson, the SecretaryGeneral of the Missions and Fr. Kevin Dance, the repre-sentative of the Congregation at the United Nations,regarding the respective issues and their implications inour communities of Latin American and the Caribbean.

On 15-16 February, two groups – the GeneralCouncil and COPAL – met and discussed the topic ofRestructuring. What follows is a summary of that meet-ing:A) While analyzing possible ways of dialoging aboutRestructuring within the conference, there was obviousneed for: -- bringingC O P A L ,ERPAL, FOR-PAL, CenterFORUM, theP a s s i o n i s tFamily to thelevel of CLAPand the fourzones that theycomprise to con-tinue to betterunderstand thevarious aspectsof the process ofRes t ruc tu r ingand other mat-ters that are ofvital importancefor our life andmission;-- establishing ways of seeing that the language used in theprocess of Restructuring is simple and accessible to every-one and that is it is also thought provoking so as to betterascertain the “why” of Restructuring;-- defining Bibilical and theological underpinnings of reli-gious life that would enlighten the process ofRestructuring;-- motivating everyone so that the process is in harmony

with the objectives of JPIC (Justice, Peace, Integrity ofCreation).

On an exterior level, it was proposed that we con-front and interact with the challenges that society presentsto us (especially the emerging culture), in the unique localcontext and be open to the experiences of the other confer-ences.B) They then discussed some specific aspects of the topic:-- the phase of brainstorming has been poor and insignifi-cant; the religious have not owned the process;-- Why are we speaking about Restructuring? and, Whatprovoked our discussion on Restructuring? -- Will the processes of Restructuring respect local cultureor that Restructuring will be inculturated? -- The importance of enriching the term “Restructuring”with a dynamic that was generated by the General Chapterof 2000 (“The Passion of Christ, the Passion for Life”) andby the dynamic generated by “re-foundation and revital-ization”;-- Emphasize the sense of gratitude;-- Encourage the healing of personal, community and

institutional woundsthat, after beingborne for manyyears, may possiblybe affecting theprocess of Restruc-turing…C) Finally, two sug-gestions were madeto the GeneralChapter:1) That the GeneralChapter offer crite-ria or elements tofurther elaborate thestatutes of the con-ferences; and 2)That the GeneralChapter have a“ Biblical icon” anda “sign” as aCongregation.

At the same time that these meetings were in process, dur-ing 14-15 February, ten of the Economes of COPAL metwith Fr. Battista Ramponi, the General Econome. Overall,there was a sense that these meetings were very positive inevery way.

MEETING OF THE GENERAL COUNCIL AND THE COPAL CONFERENCE

(Passionist Conference of Latin America and the Caribbean)

•

Fr. Augusto Canali, C.P.General Consultor

Fr. General, Bishop Irizar and participants at the meeting of the COPALConference, Perù


_____________________March 2006 PIB N. 10_____________________ 45

The 25th Anniversary of theFoundation of the Passionists in India: 1981-2006

The long wait for the opening ofthe doors to India

Perhaps today we would becelebrating 150 years of Passionistpresence in India if in 1849, Fr.Antonio Testa of St. James hadagreed to the request that wasmade for a Passionist foundationin Bengala. He replied that in lightof the foundation that had just beenmade in England, additional per-

sonnel was not available. During the service in India ofBishop Leo Kierkels, CP first asApostolic Delegate and then, fol-lowing the independence of thenation as Pro-Nuncio Apostolic,there was no move to found theCongregation in India except dur-ing the final years of the presenceof Bishop Kierkels. One reasonmight be that the missions were theresponsibility of a single Province

and these were oriented towardareas where language or other tiesto the mother country existed thatwould facilitate their work.

In fact, the Province of St.Gabriel (Belgium), in 1930, under-took ministry in the then BelgianCongo; the St. Paul of the Cross(PAUL) and Holy Cross (CRUC)Provinces of the USA wereinvolved in China; the Mother ofHoly Hope (SPE - Holland)Province was directed towardIndonesia, even the despite the factthat they could only enter in 1946;however, in the meantime theywere involved in Bulgaria. The St.Joseph (IOS - England) Provinceministered in Australia from 1884,the Immaculate Heart of Mary(CORM - Italy) Province inTanzania from 1933, and theSpanish speaking provinces weredirected toward Latin America. The General Chapter of 1946 andthe General Curia that was electedencouraged the Provinces toundertake new missionary endeav-ors because often the Nuncios orApostolic Delegates requested usto accept mission in new areas,while the power of Communismadvanced in many nations destroy-ing numerous missions andexpelling no native missionaries.This is what occurred for usPassionists in the missions inChina and Bulgaria, and the samealmost took place with the Dutchmissionaries in Indonesia. On the

Fr. Fabiano Giorgini, C.P.

Bishop Leo Kierkels, C.P.

SSPPEECCIIAALL EEVVEENNTTSS

____________________March 2006 PIB N. 10____________________46

contrary, Catholic missionarieshad easy entry into the Philippines,Japan, Korea and Taiwan(Formosa). Within the context ofthis situation attention was direct-ed toward India with the hope offinding some possibility of makingentry. Toward the end of 1951, theSuperior General, Fr. AlbertDeane, entrusted the Consultor, Fr.Malcolm La Velle, with the task ofvisiting the Passionist communi-ties in Australia, appraise the foun-dation already underway in Japan,and study the possibility of enter-ing India. Upon his return fromAustralia he visited India and hespoke extensively with BishopKierkels, the archbishop of NewDelhi, and both of them were infavor of a Passionist foundation inthe city.

Bishop Kierkels was infavor of the decision; however hewas of the opinion that we acceptthe offer to establish a foundationin Ceylon (present day Sri Lanka).This was an invitation that hadbeen offered repeatedly since 18November 1946 by Fr. M.Goonetilleke of the diocese ofChilaw, via the same BishopKierkels. The foundation inCeylon was seen as a point of entryinto India. Bishop Kierkels alsopointed out that in the south ofIndia there was greater possibilityfor vocations and keeping theentire Passionist observance,whereas the possibilities of thesame in the North were minimal.The content of this report wasstudied in the Consulta of 01February 1952. No decision wastaken; however they had a betterunderstanding of the dynamics ofthe proposal.

The proposals of Cardinal ValerianGracias

On 28 March 1952, Fr.Neil McBrearthy, C.P., secretary toBishop Kierkels, wrote to the arch-bishop of Bombay, BishopValerian Gracias, a good friend ofBishop Kierkels, and he asked himif there was any possibility ofestablishing a Passionist commu-nity in his archdiocese. BishopGracias promptly responded on 31March 1952: “I am not only agree-able in principle to have them, butwould welcome them.” Herecalled that he had already admit-ted the following to his archdio-cese: Franciscans, Salesians,S.V.D., Capuchins, the PilarSociety and the Redemptorists, but

he had also found a place for thePassionists. He suggested that per-haps it would be better if AmericanPassionists go there since theyspoke English, “but also becauseof their familiarity with culturaland ecclesiastical conditionssomewhat similar to ours inBombay.”

On 05 April 1952, Fr. Neilcommunicated to the General, Fr.Malcolm, the response of the arch-bishop of Bombay and also thepositive response of Bishop AndreiD’Souza of Poona. On 10 April1952, the bishop of Bangalore,during his farewell to BishopKierkels and to Fr. Neil who weredefinitively leaving India, said: “I

Fr. Malcolm Lavelle, C.P.Superior General 1952-1964


_____________________March 2006 PIB N. 10_____________________ 47

am glad to hear that the Passionistswill be coming to India. Will theycome to the South? They will bemost welcome in Bangalore. Ihope you will also come back oneday to India.”

During the travels of Fr.Neil and Bishop Kierkels toSwitzerland, the airplane made astop at Rome in Ciampino on 20April 1952 and there they had ameeting with Fr. Malcolm who lefta brief note regarding theencounter: Fr. Neil assured methat archdiocese of Simla-Delhiwas willing to offer the Passionistsa house and property on a hilltop inSimla and in the district (Hissar) ofapproximately 100 villages in needof evangelization. He also was cer-tain that the diocese of Bangalorewas willing to receive Passionists.

The road to CeylonIn the meantime the gov-

ernment of India made it ever moredifficult for foreigners to enter thecountry and consequently, toobtain visas. Because of this situ-ation, attention was once againdirected toward Ceylon. Duringthe Consulta of 21 March 1953they studied the situation of theAustralian SPIR Province that wasfinding it difficult to enter NewGuinea where they had beenfocusing their attention followingthe request of the ApostolicDelegate to Australia. Therefore,entry into Ceylon was seen as away to also enter India. TheGeneral Curia was amenable tothis request. A favourable conclu-sion was reached and on 19 April1954 the General Curia consideredthe request of the SIPR Provincialto try to enter New Guinea perhaps

because India and Ceylon did notwelcome Australians or because ofthe insistence of the ApostolicDelegate to Australia and the car-dinal of Sydney that they go toNew Guinea. The General Curiaapproved the request and thereforethe foundation in India or Ceylonwas once again postponed. On 15 September 1956 theGeneral, Fr. Malcolm, togetherwith his consultors, again consid-ered the offer of Fr. M.Goonetilleke, the MissionaryApostolic who, since 18November 1946 offered one of hisproperties in the diocese ofChilaw, some 35 miles fromColombo. He had studied in Romeand had also been at Sts. John andPaul and he believed that thePassionists would do very wellwith the preaching of missions,retreats and spiritual direction.The bishop of Chilaw was in

agreement. However no conclu-sion was ever reached. In theinterim the difficulties to enterCeylon were increasing and in1956 the missionaries could onlyenter if they were employed astranslators of documents, at whichthe Italians were particularlyadept. The Curia believed that Fr.Sofronio Sofranov as well otherreligious of the Pietà (PIET)Province could translate the Dutchdocuments. There were variouspreparations; however in the endonce again this endeavour failedbecause visas were not granted. Once again, the mediation ofCardinal Gracias

During his stay in Rome inthe summer of 1959, CardinalGracias restated his invitation tothe General to make a foundationin Bombay and elsewhere in Indiaand to eventually send the Irishwho would be more easily accept-

First Indian Passionist professions in Cochin. Back L. - R.: Frs. Henry K., Chris G. FrontL.- R.: Sebastian K.C., Joshy V., Paul Ch., and Sebastian K.X.


____________________March 2006 PIB N. 10____________________48

ed by the government. Fr. Malcolm spoke about this withthe Irish Provincial and the latterwanted to hear the opinion not

only of his Council, but also that ofthe all superiors of the communi-ties. Fr. Malcolm, on the occasionof his visit to Belgium, stopped inDublin to get a sense of the mind-set of the assembly. Those presentdecided that the Provincial and oneof the consultors should go toBombay to see the properties thatwere offered by Cardinal Graciasand there discuss some additionalessential matters. When hereturned from India he was sup-posed to stop in Rome to speakwith the General and then, inIreland, he would have made thefinal decision. Fr. Malcolminformed Cardinal Gracias bymeans of the letter of 25November 1959. Following thevisit of the Provincial and one of

the consultors to India, the IrishProvincial Curia decided negative-ly. Among the reasons for thisdecision was the following that

was stated in the letter of 24February 1960: “We believe thatEnglish mission and retreat workis on the decline and even nowinsufficient to keep priests occu-pied; that knowledge of two orthree vernacular languages, atleast, would be necessary for con-stant employment; that the finan-cial remuneration from missionand retreat work would provide nomore, at most, than a bare mainte-nance; that this Province wouldhave to support the venture forvery many years to come, andindefinitely, at a cost of thousandsof £s”.

Fr. Malcolm informedCardinal Gracias that, due to thecommitments that the IrishProvince had undertaken in

Bechanaland and in the Union ofSouth Africa, and the urgent needswithin the home province itself, itfelt that it was not in a position toaccept the proposal to make a com-mitment in India. This refusal ofthe request was done very regret-fully: “I am sure Your Eminencerealizes that we deeply appreciatedyour offer, and that we investigat-ed it sincerely and with the realwill to accept it if at all possible.We should all like very much tosee our Congregation firmly estab-lished in India, and we were look-ing forward in the not distantfuture to having Indian Passionists.Despite the fact that we are unitedto India by a special bond throughour esteemed Monsignor Kierkels,we seem fated to have our hopesrepeatedly deferred. This is not thefirst time that a foundation in Indiawas offered and seriously dis-cussed, only to have a combinationof circumstances thwart ourdesires. I sincerely hope thatthrough the workings of DivineProvidence the Passionists shalleventually be an integral part ofthe Church in India.”

A Dream Come TrueToday we are celebrating

the realization of the dream that Fr.Malcolm shared with CardinalGracias. For 25 years thePassionists, by the grace andbenevolence of God, are an inte-gral part of the Church of India!The decision concerning the foun-dation in India was made withinthe new General Curia in light ofprogress of the foundations inJapan, in the Philippines and thebeginning of the promising foun-dation in Korea. However the cat-

Bishop Joseph Kureethera blessing of the first seminary in India Passionists L.to R.Chris G., (director), Carlos E.,Phil S. & WalterK., (superior)


_____________________March 2006 PIB N. 10_____________________ 49

alyst for the re-opening of the dis-cussion on this matter was a letterfrom Fr. Raymond Pulvino, a mis-sionary in the Philippines, to Fr.Norbert who suggested that afoundation in India be attempted.In the consulta of 19-21 December1977 the letter was read and thevarious fruitless attempts to makea foundation in the past werereviewed. It acknowledged that atthe moment it was very difficult tofind capable personnel because allthe Provinces were experiencing adiminution in its members. Theyagreed to research for opportuni-ties that might be available. TheConsultor, Fr. Norbert Dorsey, wasassigned to carry out the project.

In a letter dated 3 February1978 of Bishop Joseph Kureethara

of the diocese of Fort Cochinapproval was given to begin adecisive study on the part of theGeneral Curia to establish thisfoundation. The bishop recalledhis friendship with Fr. RaymondPulvino who was working in thePhilippines: “I expressed my

desire to have a house of thePassionist Fathers in Cochin. Icame to know of this famous Orderwhen I was staying in Rome and Icould also visit your House, closeto the Coliseum, at the invitationof my classmates who belonged tothis Order.Patiently awaiting entry visasand residency in IndiaThere was a long period of waitingfor the entry visas and at the end ofJanuary it was decided that thegroup that was in Rome would bedivided and two of the religiouswould continue to study Englishwhile the others would return totheir provinces. The Bishop ofCochin then asked that two reli-gious enter with tourist visas inorder to organize meetings with

students at the end of the academ-ic year. I shall do all I can if youwould like to open a House here.There are a lot of vocations in thisarea. So you can also select somecandidates every year”

Fr. Norbert was absent fromRome doing canonical visitations

and attending several provincialchapters and consequently, hecould only respond on 8 April1978. He recalled past attempts:“For so many years ourCongregation has wanted to servethe Church in India, and yet some-thing always intervened to spoil orpostpone those hopes. Your clearwords of invitation certainlycheered our hearts and I assure youthat our General Council is deeplygrateful”. He restated the reality ofthe growing scarcity of personnelthat the Provinces were experienc-ing, but the General, Fr. Paul Boyle,hoped to find several religious whowere prepared for this task. Sincethe General’s absence from Romewould continue until the latter partof May, he could offer no furtherinformation until the summer ofthat year. The bishop responded on24 April 1978, re-stating his hopeof receiving the Passionists andurged the same by again stating thatin this region vocations, thanks beto God, would be easily forthcom-ing. He recalled the difficulty inobtaining entry visas and headvised that some of the religiousenter under the classification of stu-dents for studying Indian cultureand therefore, could be granted avisa for one year and which couldbe renewed; or that they classifythemselves as tourists which wouldentitle them to a three-month visathat could be renewed for an addi-tional time period. The General discussed the matterwith the Council from 4-6September 1978 considering thepossibility of attempting the foun-dation with ap-proximately fivereligious who would principallydedicate them selves to preaching

Fr. Norbert Dorsey, C.P., General ConsultorCurrently bishop emeritus of Orlando Florida, USA


____________________March 2006 PIB N. 10____________________50

and promoting vocations. Thecommunity would be directlyresponsible to the General with vol-unteer personnel from theProvinces. The General, Fr. Paul,would announce this decision dur-ing the Synod of 1978 and wouldinform the religious via the PIB of30 October 1978.

During a meeting of theCouncil, 17-18 May 1979, theGeneral announced the response tohis request for volunteers for thefoundation in India and that he haddecided to begin the process withthe bishops in India via Fr. Norbert.

During the consulta of 13-15 December 1979, it was decidedto proceed with the foundation afterhaving listened to the report of Fr.Norbert and the opinion of theSecretary General of the missions,Fr. Casper. The religious were tobe chosen from the 13 religiouswho had volunteered. During theconsulta there was significant dis-cussion aboutthe presence ofthe religious inIndia so thatwe would noti n d i s c r i m i -nately acceptany activity, oractivity thatwas favouredby individuals.It was deemedimportant tokeep in mindthe ministeriale x p e r i e n c ethat was takingplace in Japan and which could alsogo well in India. Thus prioritywould be given to:1) preaching by means of missions,

retreats and other opportune formsof announcing the Word of God;2) the establishment of houses ofprayer to teach prayer and to formprayer groups;3) vocation promotion for theestablishment of the Congregation.

In the PIB of 06 January1980 the General informed theCongregation at length about thelong road that had been travelled inorder to arrive at the decision toopen a Passionist community inIndia in the state of Kerala, in thecity and the diocese of Cochin. Heexplained the plan for the religiouswho were about to enter India, inaccord with the ordinary, BishopJoseph Kureethara: to preach; topromote experiences of prayer; andpromote vocations to the ongrega-tion. He also noted that futuredevelopment of the Congregationshould be the fruit of the gradualgrowth of the community. In the Consulta of 18-20 March

1980 the choice of volunteers wasmade for the community that wouldbe established in India.They were:

Fr. Walter Kaelin ( C R U C )designated superior, Fr. JohnHanlon (PAUL), Fr. Philip Smith(SPIR)Fr. Carlos Elizalde (FAM),Fr. Lombardo Lonoce (LAT), Andit was further decided that theirdeparture would occur as soon asthe documentation was ready,hopefully in October 1980. In fact, in the Catholic schools of

his diocese the month of April wasdedicated to reflection on the topicof vocations. Frs. Walter and Philipwent to Cochin on 22 March 1981and were warmly received by theBishop who presented them to theclergy and the Catholic community.They immediately began thepreaching of missions and retreats.They renovated the house, called“Ashram I.X.P.”, which the bishopthen blessed on 27 May 1981. Theentry had to be done by means of atourist visa and they had to arrangethe length of their stay in the com-munity in such a way that there

w o u l dalways ber e l i g i o u savailable toreplace thosewho had toleave thecountry inorder torenew theirv i s a .V o c a t i o np r o m o t i o nwas blessedby God andon 13 June1982 the first

14 candidates began the three yearformation program consisting ofone year of vocation orientationand two years of “pre-graduation”

L-R: Fr. Michael Higgins, CRUC Provincial, Fr. Marsilin Sony K. (newly ordained),Bishop Paul Boyle; Fr. Ottaviano D’Egidio and concelebrants.


_____________________March 2006 PIB N. 10_____________________ 51

study. On 18 May 1985 the firstfour novices celebrated theirVestition and subsequently pro-fessed vows in 1986. In the mean-time, so that the young would notcontinually have a change of for-mation personnel, it was decided totransfer the students to Arusha,Tanzania, to study Philosophy andthen to Nairobi forTheology. On 26August 1989 the firstPassionist Indian reli-gious professed perpet-ual vows and on 6April 1991 there wasgreat rejoicing whenthe first PassionistIndian priest wasordained in the cathe-dral of Arusha. At thattime the Indian com-munity had grown con-siderably and wasorganized as a Vicariate dedicatedto St. Thomas, consisting of 7 stu-dents of Theology in Nairobi, 5 stu-dents of Philosophy in Arusha and25 postulants in Cochin. During the Chapter of 1991, theCRUC Province of the USA wasgiven responsibility for the THOMVicariate of India. In 1992 thenovitiate was initiated in Bangalorewhile additional students professedperpetual vows. On 20 May 1993the student house entitled,“Passionist Jyotir Bhavan”, wasblessed. There the students whohad initially begun their formationin Arusha continued their forma-tion. On 31 May 1993, sevennovices made their first professionof vows. Gradually all formation was againcarried out in India with local for-mation personnel. With the assis-

tance of the Congre-gation and inparticular the CRUC Province,seven house were opened and in2004 the Vicariate was composedof 25 religious in perpetual vows,among them 21 priests, 6 clericalstudents in temporary vows and 4novices. The great dream of those who at

various points in time desired andattempted to make the Passionistcharism present in India became areality. Fr. Walter Kaelin, who hadworked so diligently and so loving-ly in India is now part of the heav-enly communion of saints whileever remaining an example of areligious who was dedicated to theCongregation and who was charac-terized by a great spirit of humancompassion. In one of his articlesentitled, “Life for Life: Paul of theCross and the world of India.” Fr.Walter wrote: “Paul wanted tomake himself all things to all peo-ple that ‘I might win them forChrist’. He would do it by preach-ing the Passion, in word and deed.We must never lose that vision”.And he added: “One of the reasonswhy we are in India is becauseMother Teresa urged us to come

and preach the Passion in aCountry where there is so much suf-fering. In particular, she made thisappeal: ‘Help my Sisters to praythe Passion, so that they can eversee the Suffering Jesus in theCrucified they serve. Else, theymight lose their vocations’. Ourfinal thought is from a 1751 letter

of St. Paul of the Cross: ‘Christ’sPassion is the greatest and mostastounding work of Divine Love’.Life for Life. His Life for ourLife.”

_____________________1. AGCP, Fondazioni trattate, Asia .2. AGCP, Consultas 1946-58, f.111-112.3. AGCP, THOM, Foundation 1952-81.4. AGCP, THOM, Foundation 1952-81.5. AGCP, THOM, Foundation 1952-

81.6. AGCP, Consultas 1946-58, f. 136,141.7. AGCP, Consultas 1946-58, f. 173.8. AGCP, Consultas 1946-58, f. 176-177; cf anche THOM, Foundation 1952-81.9. AGCP, THOM, Proposed foundationin Ceylon 1946-1964.10. AGCP, THOM, foundation 1957-60.AGCP, PATR, Letters 1957-60.11. AGCP, Gen. Consultas 1976-1988,f. 1812. AGCP, THOM, Correspondence1977-1979.13. AGCP, THOM, Correspondence1977-1979.14. AGCP, Consultas gen 1976-88, f.40. BIP 5/78, p. 4. Acts of the Synod1978, p. 80-81.15. AGCP, Consultas gen 1976-88, f. 6116. AGCP, Consultas gen 1976-88, f.78.17. BIP 1/80, p. 36-39.18. AGCP, Consultas gen 1976-1988, f.89. BIP 4/80, p. 67-68.19. BIP 10/81, p. 85.20. BIP 1991, p. 40; 54-55.21. BIP 1992, p. 166-167.22. BIP 1993, p.39-40, 52, 82.23. Statisticae Congregationis 2004.24. AGCP, THOM, Foundation 1952-81

•

Bishop Joseph Kureethara, Fr. Walter Kaelin and student.


____________________March 2006 PIB N. 10____________________52

The following article was written by BrotherLaurence M. Finn, C.P. (CRUC) describingthe work of the Korean Catholic AIDSAssociation. Brother Laurence, a professedPassionist since 1968, was employed in thefield of nursing prior to entering theCongregation. He has been a missionary inthe Province of the Korean Martyrs(MACOR) for more than 30 years. While hewas secretary to the then Superior General,Fr. José Agustín Orbegozo, the Vice-Provincial in Korea, Fr. Richard Thompson,suggested the idea of AIDS ministry toBrother Laurence. When he completed histerm in Rome, he returned to Korea where, inaddition to ministry in the province as supe-rior, director of formation and ProvincialConsultor, Bro. Laurence collaborated in thisAssociation in various dimensions of organi-zational projects which included on-goingeducation to correct errors of misinformation and igno-rance about HIV/AIDS. Then, for ten years (1995-2005)he served as President of the Association. Within the con-text of Korea, he asked the question: Who are the cruci-fied of today, in Korea? He discovered an answer to thequestion through this ministry.

This association was formed in 1995, before therewas any formal commitment to hospice care forthose in the terminal stages of the AIDS complexanywhere in the Republic of Korea. Due to the rela-tively limited numbers of patients, there was no par-ticular need or urgency to do so. This organizationwas originally an organization created under the aus-pices of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Seoul,under the umbrella of the Social ServicesDepartment of the Archdiocese.

Sister Miriam Cousins, a Columban Missionary,began a comprehensive programme of study andpreparation for this work after she had taken in sev-eral dying young men who had no place to go. Theywere in the terminal stages of the disease process.Sister Miriam had been working until then with girlswho were coming out of prostitution – she provideda shelter for them and education so that they couldhave new skills for the work place in a less danger-ous way of life.

These first AIDS patients were homosexual menwho had become infected through the sexual prac-tices found in this sub-culture in Korea. Within a few

years, it was obvious thatthese individuals who hadbecome infected with theHIV virus and were AIDSpatients suffered fromsevere discrimination inhealth care facilities aroundthe country – being movedfrom one public hospital tothe other with little or nophysical care for them.While medications are pro-vided, there was no placefor them towards the end oftheir lives where they couldbe given proper medicalcare and be allowed with acertain human dignity.

From 1998 on, the organi-zation of the Korean Catholic Aids Associationassumed a different nature – from being a meeting ofthose interested in the AIDS issue to an organizationconcerned with the development of facilities for thecare of those who were either in crisis or in the laststages of the disease. Being a national organization,the Constitutions of the Association were draftedagain, reflecting the broader nature of the organiza-tion.

The first facility, for men with AIDS, opened in April1999 in the city of Seoul under the direction of SisterMiriam. Hospitals that were connected with the careof our patients became interested in our meetingsand have sent representatives to all of our meetingssince that time. Since 1999, another seven hospiceshave opened around the country – in Kwangju,Wonju, Incheon, Umsong, and a second one in Seoulfor women with AIDS which has been in servicesince 2002. The only other institutions for AIDSpatients in the country are: one in Pusan directed bythe Salvation Army and a new one (recently openedin December, 2005) in Taegu – which is owned bythe Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Pohang, but beingadministered by a government agency. These twolast institutions do not currently form part of theAssociation.

TThhee KKoorreeaann CCaatthhoolliicc AAiiddssAAssssoocciiaattiioonn

Br. Laurence M. Finn, C.P. (CRUC)

WWIITTNNEESSSSEESS

_____________________March 2006 PIB N. 10_____________________ 53

Each of our hospices is under the direct control of aparticular Religious community of Sisters orBrothers – and each sends a representative to themonthly meetings of the Association. The purpose ofthe meetings centres on patient planning and move-ment – so that the care our institutions offer is mostappropriate for the individual patient’s needs. All ofour institutions receive, to various degrees, govern-mental subsidies for food and housing, medicationand physical therapy. Each institution is also active-ly seeking funds through various efforts. Our attemptis to spread the financial commitment around to amaximum number of organizations so that no oneorganization is overly burdened. On any given day,approximately 50 to 60 individuals are housed in ourhospices around the country. Upon improvement oftheir conditions, individuals are encouraged to re-enter the marketplace and live as normal a life aspossible. For those who enter the final stages of thedisease, full care is given from the time of admit-tance to our facilities until their death. Upon theirdeath, dignified care of the body is given, a memori-al service is held with as many as possible in atten-dance. It is particularly important for those who aresuffering from this disease to know that they have aplace to go as the disease process continues, and thatthey will be taken care of with as much human dig-nity as possible – even to the care of their bodiesafter death.Recently, the Association has begun an outreach pro-gramme to Foreign Labourers in Korea, providingfree, anonymous seral testing for AIDS and provid-

ing after-care for those who are HIV positive. Thispart of the organizations outreach is still in its infan-cy stage, but as several of the patients to whom wehave given care in recent years are foreign labourers,we felt that we should begin this service. We are ableto enter into the foreign labour market more freelythan any governmental organization – this for a widevariety of cultural and legal reasons. Structurally, the Association consists of a President,a Vice President, a Treasurer, and a representativefrom each of the hospices and hospitals who areinvolved in patient care. From 1995 until 2002,Sister Miriam served as co-President along withDoctor Joseph Sohn-U of St. Joseph’s Clinic. From2002 until 2005, Brother Laurence Finn served asPresident, and currently Father Benedict Jong-Il Kimhas just recently been elected to be the President ofthe Association for a two year term.

Having recently attended the Kobe Conference onHIV and AIDS for Asia and the Pacific, I am wellaware of the need not only for our efforts here inKorea, but also for the need to coordinate and widenthe discussion on these vital issues around Asia. Wecan only help one another, at least by offering sup-port and understanding when oftentimes it feels ourefforts are futile and unproductive. This disease canbe stopped, and it will be stopped, but only if wework together.

The newly formed community in Bethany, theHoly Land: L-R: Fr. Sebastian Walak (ASSUM).Fr.. Juan Llorente (SANG). Fr.. Gianni Scregna(CORM). Fr. Jean Marie Mbungu (SALV). Bro.Aurelio A. Miranda (DOL - VICT).

Recently, the Holy Father received in a private audi-ence Fr. Giovanni Alberti (PRAES) together with theNational Director of the movement, “Renewal in theHoly Spirit” and the secretariat of the organization.He is one of the nine members of the national com-mittee that directs this organization of over 250,000members. The Holy Father has been meeting withthose who are responsible fot the major religiousmovements in the Church.

•

WWIITTNNEESSSSEESS -- NNEEWW PPRREESSEENNCCEE

On 21 July, the nuns confirmed the news of the approvalof the Decree of the Constitution of the Federation ofMonasteries, and that the Statutes were also approved.Mother Agnese D’Amato, the superior of the Vignanellomonsastery (VT) was named as President of theFederation. This is great news because finally this newentity of a union among these monasteries has become areality.

This Federation that has been named, “Motherof Holy Hope”, is beginning with three monasteries, butthere is great hope that other monasteries of ourCongregation will also choose to join. The invitation isopen to all.

From 6-9 October the first election assemblytook place: the Superior and Delegate of the respectivemonasteries of Vignanello (Italy) and Maumere(Indonesia) were elected. Fr. Fabiano Giorgini, C.P. waspresent and, by FAX, Archbishop Piergiorgio SilvanoNesti, C.P., Secretary of the Congregation for Religious,expressed his satisfaction and joy over what had justtaken place. The local bishop, Piergiorgio Micchiardiwas also present,

There were two days of intense work, sharing ofexperiences, reflections and dialog with the goal ofdeveloping a program of study and norms for the forma-

tion of postulants, novices and juniors.During this Assembly, the election of the Federal

Councilor and Formation personnel were elected. Therewas unanimous approval for establishing in eachmonastery a “Formation Center” with an establishedprogram. Consequently, Maumere will be the site of theNovitiate of the Federation; in Ovada, the first threeyears of formation and the juniorate; and in Vignanello,the final three years of formation.

FEDERATION OF PASSIONIST NUNS

Monastery of the Passionist Nuns in Ovada (Italy).

A novice makes her profession in the hands

of the Superior

The entrance of the novices inthe monastery church

The bishop questions the novices and invests them with the black veil and other Passionists symbols

PROFESSION OF PASSIONIST NUNS IN OVADA - ITALY October 30 - 2005

PPAASSSSIIOONNIISSTT SSIISSTTEERRSS AANNDD NNUUNNSS

_____________________March 2006 PIB N. 10_____________________54

_____________________March 2006 PIB N. 10_____________________ 55

PRIESTLY ORDINATIONS

On 17 October 2005, John Jairo Villalobos was ordained in the FIDVice-province of Colombia. On 19 November 2005, José ValentínDuerto Reyna of the FAM province was ordained to the priesthood.In the SALV Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on20 November 2005, Pierre Malongo Ndjeka and Caliste MbeloloMbanzulu were ordained. And in the PASS Province of thePhilippines, Rogie Castellano was ordained on 10 December 2005.And on 21 January, 2006, in Campina Grande, Brazil, Leonildo PedroDos Santos (CALV) was ordained to the priesthood. Fr. Pierre Malongo

and Fr. CalizteMbelolo. SALV

Lukas Stefan Temme. VULN

DIACONATE ORDINATIONS

On 17 October 2005, Carlos Armando Hernández Córdoba of the FIDVice-Province was ordained to the diaconate. In the PIET Provinceof Italy, Marco Cola was ordained a deacon on 3 December 2005; andon the same day in the VULN province of Germany, Lukas StefanFranz Temme was also ordained. Matteo Donini of the ItalianCORM Province was ordained deacon on 8 December 2005 and theCFIXI Province of Sicily, on 28 December 2005, Francesco DiMariano was also ordained to the diaconate. On 14 January 2006, inthe CORM- CARLW Vicariate of Kenya, the following religiouswere ordained deacons: Francis Oguda Owano, Alfred Orwa Bwanaand Bernard Mbugua Maguta. Vincenzo Di Clerico, of the PIETProvince of Italy was ordained a deacon at the Shrine of Bl. BernardSilvestrelli in Morricone, on 18 February 2006. And on 26 February,Maurizio Cino was ordained to the diaconate in the LAT Province ofItaly.

Marco Cola. PIETFrancesco Di

Mariano. CFIXIVincenzo Di

Clerico. PIET.

Mateo Nonini. CORM

PPRROOFFEESSSSIIOONNSS AANNDD OORRDDIINNAATTIIOONNSS

PROFESSION OF PERPETUAL VOWSMario Adolfo Brenes of the FAM Province of Spain, professes Perpetual Vows on 1 October 2005 and on thefollowing day, 02 October, Bruno Dinis Moreira da Silva of the FAT Province of Portugal also professedVows. On 15 October in the FID Vicariate of Colombia, Fernando Beltrán Soto professed Perpetual Vows.In the CORI-RES Vicariate of Peru, on 19 October, the following religious professed Final Vows: CarlosReátegui Chumbe and Raúl Romero Ipushima. In the SANG-EXAL Vicariate of Bolivia, MaximilianoBonifaz Espejo, professed vows on 17 November 2005 and Ramiro López Quispe, on 3 December 2005.Also on 3 December, in the SANG Province of Spain, Edíson Gregorio Arreaga Arce and Cléber GuillermoChacha Chamorro professed Perpetual Vows. On 8 December 2005, Luis Alfredo Parra Carvajal professedfinal vows in the FID Vicariate of Colombia. In the CORM-CARLW Vicariate of Kenya, the following reli-gious professed Final Vows on 17 December: Francis Oguda Owano, Alfred Orwa Bwana, and BernardMbugua Maguta. Maurizio Cino, of the LAT Province of Italy, professed final vows on 6 January 2006. OnJanuary 22, 2006 at Campina Grande (PB), Brazil, Edilberto lins de Menezes and Paulo Antonio Da Silvamade perpetual profession and, also of the CALV Province of Brazil, these three religious professed finalvows: Alan Hildeu Felicio, Gesner José Coube and Sidnei Da Silva on 4 February 2006. In the DOL-VICTProvince of Brazil, Alex Antonio Favarato and Luiz Cláudio Alvez Diniz professed vows on 05 February2006. On 11 February 2006, in the presence of the Superior General, Jorge Luis Yuyarima Yahuarcani andJonny Martínez Vásquez of the CORI-RES Vicariate of Peru, professed Perpetual Vows. Finally, in theMACOR Province of Korea, on 26 February, these three religious professed Perpetual Vows: Dominic JinJeon, Simon Jin-Wook Choi and Daniel Myoung-Il Chang.

PROFESSION OF FIRST VOWS

On 1 November 2005, Evan Esmade of the PASSProvince of the Philippines, professed First Vows. In theCORI-RES Vicariate of Peru, the following religiousprofessed First Vows on 7 January 2006: Pedro PabloGuerrero; Cleber Lobani; Carlos Geovanni Siguencia;Javier Montalvo; Sebastián Elí Sotomayor; Juan CarlosCardozo; and Alexander Alexis Castillo. On 22 January,2006, Henrique Evangelista and Paulo Sergio Ribeiro ofthe DOL-VICT Vicariate of Brazil, professed temporaryvows. And in the MACOR Province of Korea, Bro.Damian Gi-Shik Yu professed First Vows on 27February 2006.

Alan Hildeu Felicio, Gesner José Coube

and Sidnei Da Silva.CALV

Henrique Evangelista deOliveira and Paulo Sérgio

Ribeiro Sabino. DOL-VICT.

Edilberto Lins DeMenezes and Paulo

Aantonio Da Silva. CALV

Pedro Pablo Guerrero; Cleber Lobani; Carlos GeovanniSiguencia; Javier Montalvo; Sebastián Elí Sotomayor;Juan Carlos Cardozo; and Alexander Alexis Castillo.

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Kunii, A., THE MASS: IN ORDER TOREMEMBER JESUS. In Japenses, 2005, pp. 88.

Kunii, A., LA LITURGIA DE LA VIDA Y LAINCULTURACION DE LA VIDA RELIGIOSA.Printed in VIDA RELIGIOSA, Vol. 64, Numero6, 1 noviembre 1988, pp. 474-476.

Martinelli, G., MEMORIA PASSIONIS.Intuizione e Dinamica della FormazioneSpirituale Passionista. Edizioni SegreteriaProvinciale CORM, Basella (BG), ottobre 2005,pp. 102.

O’Brien, G., LET YOUR HEARTS BE BRO-KEN. A Journey Through The Sundays of LentIn Preparation For Easter, Year A., TheColumbia Press, 2004, pp. 74.

O’Brien, G. JESUS – TEACHER OF GOD’SWAY. A Journey Through the Sundays (A) ofOrdinary Time (12-22), pp. 112.

Plet, P., PRIER 15 JOURS AVEC SAINT PAULDE LA CROIX, Fondateur des Passionistes.Nouvelle cité, 2005, pp. 125.

Artola, A., e Alvarez Gila, O., SIERVO DEDIOS, MONS. MARTIN ELORZA, C.P.,Segunda edicion, Lima – 2005, pp. 73.

Artola, A., HUMILDAD Y SERVICIO A LOSHERMANOS, Ven H. Gerardo Sagarduy, C.P.(1881-1962), 3a Edicion, San Isidro, Lima – 2005,pp. 65.

Artola, A., CURSO BASICO DE FORMACIONPASIONISTA. Segunda edicion, NoviciadoPasionista, Chosica – 2005, pp. 78.

Artola, A., CURSO DE PASIOLOGIA,Noviciado de Chosica – Curso 2005, pp. 225.

Artola, A., DE LA PALABRA DE DIOS,Introduccion teologica al estudio de la SagradaEscritura, 4ª edicion, Redemptoris Mater, ElCallao, Lima – 2005, pp. 216.

Artola, A., DOMINGO DE SOTO, PIONERODE LA PROPEDÉUTICA BIBLICA, Separatade CIENCIA TOMISTA, Mayo-Agosto, 2005, pp.265-294.

Artola, A., EL “CREDO MARIANO” DESAN GABRIEL DE LA DOLOROSA. PRINCI-PIOS METODOLOGICOS PARA UNA MARI-OLOGIA EXPERIENCIAL. En ALPHAOMEGA, Anno VIII, Numero 3, Settembre-Dicembre 2005, pp. 451-474.

Artola, A., LA DINAMICA DELL’ATTO ISPI-RATIVO, Dall’analisi della Scrittura stessa.Ateneo Pontificio, Regina Apostolorum, 2005, pp.32.

Artola, A., LA CRISTIFICAZIONE SECONDOSAN PAOLO, Dai testi della sua conversione.Ateneo Pontificio, Regina Apostolorum, 2005, pp.24.

Artola, A., INSPIRACION, VERDAD, EXEGE-SIS, Estudios de Introduccion General a laEscritura. Lima, 2005, pp. 128.

Chiari, C., A LA SANTIDAD POR EL AMOR,La Sierva De Dios, M. Magdalena Del Ssmo.Sacramento, Lima – Peru, pp. 53.

Di Nicola, G., IL TAUMATURGO, San Gabrieledell’Addolorata, Edi – S. Maria Imbaro (Ch),aprile 2005, pp. 47.

D’Arcy, B., A LITTLE BIT OF LIFE, Boa Vista,The Baily, Galway – 2005, pp. 96.

DeAntonis, C. (Don), PADRE NATALECAVATASSI, Edigrafital SpA, 2004, pp. 86.

Bezerra, J., CONTRIBUTOS PARA UMAOUTRA ‘QUALIDADE DE VIDA’, NOAMBITO DA BIOETICA TEOLOGICA.Bezerra – Editora, 2004, pp. 295.

Sa, P., AOS PES DO CRUCIFICADO. EdicoesPassionistas, 2005, pp. 383.

De Monte, A., SAVA E I MISSIONARI PAS-SIONISTI. Tipolitografia R. Gnisci & Figli snc,2005, pp. 74.Cortesi, G., VIENI A SALVARCI, SIGNORE! Il“territorio” siamo noi. Novena di Natale 2005,pp. 60.

Pereira, J.C., DEVOCOES MARGINAIS,Interfaces do immaginario religioso. EditoraZOUK, 2005, pp. 127.

Odorissio, M., SALMOS E CANTICOS INSPI-RADOS, Volumes II, III, IV. Palavra & Prece,2005, pp.264 (II), 284 (III), 191 (IV).Cempanari, M., SANT’ANGELO SUL MONTEFOGLIANO. Dal “Cenobio” Benedettino Al“Ritiro” Passionista Di Vetralla. Agnesotti –Viterbo, 2005, pp. 182.

Gnesotto, G., UN MESE CON PAOLO DELLACROCE. Per una presenza profetica della comu-nità passionista sul territorio. CORM, 2005, pp.35.Rodriguez Condado, E., DON JARIANO JOSEDE IBARGUENGOITIA Y ZULOAGA.Ediciones Mensajero, Bilbao, 2004, pp. 246. Cfr.Pp. 130-133: El Retiro Pasionista de Deusto.

Mathieu, A., AND JESUS WEPT. John 11:35 ASpirituality Of Grieving. Passionist Press, UnionCity, NJ, 2005, pp. 72.

Dieguez, A.M., L’ARCHIVIO PARTICOLAREDI PIO X. Cenni Storici E Inventario (manyPassionists are mentioned). Città Del Vaticano,2003, pp. 503.

Artola, A.M., EL BTO. DOMINGO BARBERIPASIONISTA, Apóstol de la Uniòn de lasIglesias. Comunidad Pasionista, San Isidro,Lima, 2006, pp. 135.

Artola, A.M., ADORACION. Siete prácticas parafomentar la oración de Adoraciòn. ParroquiaDel Pilar, San Isidro, Lima, Segunda edición,2006, pp. 67.

González, O., EN CONFIANZA, Una ManeraDe Vivir El “Mes Morado”. Lima, 2005, pp. 91.

González, O., LA SANTIDAD ES JOVEN, P.Erasmo Barrena, cp amigo de Dios para los hom-bres. Lima, 2006, pp. 71.

González, O., JOVENES CON CORAZON,...pasionistas para el mundo.... NoviciadoPasionista Interamericano, Chosica (Lima, Perú),2006, pp. 56.

García, M. P., El camino de la Cruz. Doce VíaCrucis para la comunidad. Ediciones San Pablo,Madrid, 2006, pp. 205.

Piélagos, F., PROVINCIA DE LA SAGRADAFAMILIA, 100 Anos de Historia. Zaragoza, 2005,pp. 827.

Pallotta, A., UN’OBBEDIENZA E UN MANDA-TO AL SANTUARIO DI SANTA GEMMA:CONFESSORE ED ESORCISTA. Santuario“Santa Gemma” – Lucca, 2005, pp. 234.

Pallotta, A., UN ESORCISTA SI CONFESSA.Edizione fuori commercio, 2005, pp. 306.

Mirra, P., SE IL CHICCO DI GRANO…SuorGemma Menditto, Monaca Passionista, (1912-1938). Edizioni Monastero delle PassionisteNapoli, 2005, pp. 63.

AA.VV., PERCORSI ARTISTICI 2004-2005,Annali Fondazione Stauros Italiana Onlus VI, acura di Carlo Chenis. Edizioni Stauros, 2005, pp.607.

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Usque ad diem 28 februarii 2006, acceptae

DIE OBDORMIVIT PROVINCIA NATUS VOTA

IN DOMINO NUNCUPAVERAT

03 octobris 2005 Sac. Fulgêncio Piacentini CALV 1916 16 decembris 1933

12 octobris 2005 Fra. Marcellino Granziera CORM 1913 28 octobris 1935

09 novembris 2005 Sac. Wilfred Van Reeth GABR 1917 03 septembris 1934

13 novembris 2005 Sac. Ernest Hotz PAUL 1916 15 augusti 1938

14 decembris 2005 Sac. Leandro García Monje SANG 1912 08 septembris 1928

18 decembris 2005 Fra. Andrzej Sobiech ASSUM 1929 16 augusti 1948

20 decembris 2005 Sac. William Browning CRUC 1921 17 iulii 1942

27 decembris 2005 Fra. Gabriel Moran IOS 1915 17 iunii 1939

MONIALES ET SORORES

12 septembris 2005 Sr. Maria Vittoria di S. Luigi Inst. S.P.S. Paulo a Cruce (Signa) 1936 21 martii 1965

13 septembris 2005 Sr. Mariangela di S. Giuseppe Inst. S.P.S. Paulo a Cruce (Signa) 1917 18 octobris 1933

21 septembris 2005 Sr. Maria Regina del Paradiso Inst. S.P.S Paulo a Cruce (Signa) 1933 24 martii 1956

30 octobris 2005 Sr. Margaret Mary Hanley Inst. Crucis et Passionis (Anglia) 1920 07 aprilis 1954

13 novembris 2005 Sr. Maria Antonia di Gesù Inst.S.P.S. Paulo a Cruce (Signa) 1936 25 maii 1965

18 novembris 2005 Sr. Adele del Ss.mo Crocifisso Inst. S.P.S. Paulo a Cruce (Signa) 1910 11 novembris 1932

24 novembris 2005 Sr. Antonietta de S. Giuseppe Inst. S.P.S Paulo a Cruce (Signa) 1921 15 septembris 1948

25 novembris 2005 Sr. Conceição do Espirito S. Inst. S.P.S Paulo a Cruce (Signa) 1928 15 septembris 1947

15 decembris 2005 Sr. Consolazione di Gesù Mon. Napoli 1940 21 novembris 1996

26 decembris 2005 Sr. Gabriel Costine Inst. Crucis et Passionis (Anglia) 1909 09 maii 1939

NOTITIAE OBITUS

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“We Passionists make the Paschal Mystery the centre of our lives.

This entails a loving commitment to follow Jesus Crucified,

and a generous resolve to proclaim His Passionand death with faith and love.

His Passion and death are no mere historical events.

They are ever-present realities to people in the world of today,

«crucified» as they are by injustice, by the lack of deep respect for human life,and by a hungry yearning for peace, truth,

and the fullness of human existence.”(Const. N. 65)

Documents

Passionist International Bulletin - PASSIOCHRISTI