The Passionists of Holy Cross Province

The Love that Compels

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Fr. Cedric Pisegna, CP

Itinerant Preacher
Holy Name Residence,
Houston, TX
www.frcedric.org

“For me, preaching means everything. It has tremendous significance in my life. It helps motivate me to get up in the morning—that is my ministry. To preach Christ crucified means the heart of it all. Paul of the Cross and the Passionists, we are dedicated to proclaim, not just the Passion itself, but the meaning of the Passion.”

Questions and Reflections

How did you know you wanted to be a Passionist? When did you know you wanted to be a Passionist?

The key moment for me was when I went on a program and met some Passionists and actually found out about the Passionist charism, the Passionist Community. So, I looked at myself and what God was doing in me and I seemed to have a call to preach. I also had a great devotion to Jesus crucified, his love for me, and I wanted to reach out to people and make a difference in their lives. It seemed to me that those three elements of the Passionist Community, the thrust towards people, the charism of the Passion and evangelization, preaching, fit me very well. It took me a while after I met the Passionists to actually discern if I was called towards the Passionist Community. It was two or three years after I met them that I discerned a call to the Passionists.

Was there a moment when all of a sudden you said, “Yes, I am going to do this, I am going to commit myself, this is going to be my choice in life”? 

There was a moment when I decided I was going to be a priest. Choosing the Passionists took a little while longer. I was actually out jogging with a friend of mine who was involved in some lay ministry. As I was running, I talked to him and I said, “I want to be a priest, I think that’s where God is leading me.” So, I have been running the race ever since. In terms of the Passionists, can’t remember the specific moment, it was more of a process of gravitation toward knowing, since I wanted to be a priest, I had to choose a Community. I was a youth minister with the Marianists in St. Louis at the time and I was discerning with them, but, because of the charism of the cross and evangelization, I really went toward the Passionists.

You’ve spent your ordained ministry preaching missions as a Passionist priest. What does that mean for you, to preach Christ crucified?

My ministry is devoted to the proclamation of the unconditional love of God, how we can receive, and know, and experience that love in our daily lives. Not just to know about love, but really tap into it, be electrified by God’s love. So, it’s of great significance for me, giving my life meaning and purpose. When I am doing something that makes a difference in people’s lives, it really leads to joy in my innermost being. No, I do not always walk around laughing in extreme hilarity, but there is this calm delight deep within me. It is the joy of the Lord that is my strength, and it comes from being obedient to God to His call for me.

In what way is prayer a motivating fire that sustains you amidst community life and ministry? 

Motivating fire, that’s exactly what prayer is. I remember a quote from Paul the Apostle, “the love of Christ impels me or constrains me.” What that word means is that it propels me, it compels me, it impels me, it motivates me. And what prayers does, is actually helps me to plug in to God’s love, to experience that love. Prayer is a time in community when we use words, but a lot of the prayer that I use is outside of community in my own individual life. There is a tremendous emphasis in Passionist community on solitude in our own, comptemplative prayer life. That’s what I love about religious life, it affords me time to work on my prayer life. And from what I can see in our community, prayer is a major priority for every single person. So, really what I do is I go out on the road preaching and then I come back, I need time to come back to get in touch with the fire and to remember what is motivating me, because sometimes I feel really depleted and I need to recharge.

What would you say to a man inquiring about joining the Passionists? Why should he join the Passionist over the Jesuits, or the Franciscans or the Trappists? What would you tell him about the Passionists?

I would say that the Passionists are at the center of the Catholic Church. The Paschal mystery is the core of Catholic belief, and we are dedicated to proclaiming the meaning of the Cross. When I took my first vows, they used to have vows of poverty, chastity and obedience and the fourth vow was the Passion, the vow to meditate on and to proclaim the Passion. Now, for the younger guys being professed, the first vow is the Passion. In our contemporary theology, we have decided that from the Passion flows poverty, chastity and obedience. Our focus on Christ’s Passion is the center out of which everything flows. We are a community of love, a community of power, a community of passion.

Br. Carl Hund, CP

Retreat Staff
Holy Name Retreat Center, Houston, TX

“I think our Passionist charism has more meaning than ever in this day and age. It’s a great motivating force in people’s lives, and that’s what we are about—preaching that message and preaching that charism. It’s also wonderful to see that, at one time we kind of viewed the charism of the Founder as something that belonged only to the clerical state, and now we have expanded that to the laity everywhere.”

Questions and Reflections

You said that your desire to be a brother was something that you had from the very beginning, even before you joined the Passionist Community. How has the brothers’ vocation formed you as a Passionist and how has the Passionist charism impacted you and influenced you as a brother?

Well, when I began as a brother, there were a very limited number of things we could do, very traditional trades and what-have-you. Since Vatican II, though, it’s like literally the windows have opened for us too, and almost anything there is, any skill you may have, is welcomed and useful within the Church. So I have gone from being able to do a limited number of things to being asked to handle administrative jobs and vocation work. The only things I cannot do are those things which are strictly the domain of the clerical state.

I am much more aware of the power of our charism, the love of Christ exemplified in his passion and death. The Passion is a part of everybody’s life. We all carry our crosses, and to help people find some meaning in that is something the world is hungry for because, whether we like it or not, the crosses are there. What people need is some sense as to how, if suffering is accepted in the right spirit, it can lead to a fuller life and really help us to become like Christ.

I think our Passionist charism has more meaning than ever in this day and age. It’s a great motivating force in people’s lives, and that’s what we are about—preaching that message and preaching that charism. It’s also wonderful to see that, at one time we kind of viewed the charism of the Founder as something that belonged only to the clerical state, and now we have expanded that to the laity everywhere. We realize that we don’t own this charism, you know, it is wherever it’s found. This is a very rich thing that has happened in the last couple of years.

What would you say to someone who wants to be a brother within Holy Cross Province; what advice would you give that person?

I’d say enter to be a Passionist first, and in the course of time, you’re given good direction by a formation director. You are given opportunities to find out what your talents are and your preferences, your vocational skills — take a good long look at our ministry and the various ways we execute that ministry, and then decide where you can fit in, where you think you would be happy and where you would have the most effect. Then, down the road someplace, make a final decision.

It’s not a decision that you have to make first and then come to us, it’s a decision that should unfold and people around you will help you take the wrappings off the gift, okay, and over the course of time you come to see what you’ve got in that box.

Passionist Links

John SchorkPassionists serve throughout the world.  This list of links is just a sampling of U.S. and worldwide Passionist ministries and resources.

General Curia, Rome (English)

Holy Cross Province, Office of Mission Effectiveness

Passionist Blog and Resource Materials

Passionist Missions

Passionists International, the Passionist NGO at the United Nations

North American Passionist JPIC

International Passionist JPIC

Passionist Volunteers

St. Paul of the Cross Province, U.S.

St. Paul of the Cross Province, Historical Archives

Passionist Publications, Union City, New Jersey, USA.

Passionist Nuns, St. Joseph Monastery and Guest House, Whitesville, Kentucky.

The Sunday Mass, a televised Sunday Mass from New York.

Passionist International Resource Page, a listing of more links to Passionist and other religious websites.

Fr. John Schork C.P.

Fr. John Schork C.P.

Provincial Secretary
Assistant Superior, St. Vincent Strambi Community,
Chicago, Illinois

A vowed Passionist for almost 50 years, Fr. John Schork came to know the Passionists while in grade school in Louisville, Kentucky, as part of the St. John Bosco Vocation Club.  He went on to the local Passionist high school seminary, Mother of Good Counsel in Warrenton, Missouri, where his relationship with the Passionists was “cemented.”  That relationship has animated his life ever since those early days of coming to know the mission of St. Paul of the Cross.

A graduate of Bellarmine University, Fr. John went on to the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and was ordained to the priesthood in 1976.  He currently serves as the assistant local superior of the community in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood.  He also serves as the Secretary for the Provincial Council.

Throughout his vocation as a Passionist, Fr. John has shared in a variety of duties throughout Holy Cross Province including retreat ministry and parish missions.  Fr. John also sits on the board of the Holy Cross Province Health and Aging Advisory Board and the Intercommunity Retirement Network for Clergy and Religious.

No doubt, to ponder and live the Passion of Jesus Christ has added true meaning to his everyday life.   Fr. John is a living witness to the love of Christ by preaching, performing Sacramental ministries and serving others with true feeling and enthusiasm for his mission.

St. Paul of the Cross, Military Chaplain

St Paul paintingThe first Passionist Military Chaplain 

Paul Daneo was born on January 3, 1694, in Ovada, Italy. Even as a young person, Paul felt strongly connected to God and moved by the passion of Christ.  At the age of 19, Paul’s father wanted him to become a merchant like himself. Marriage was a possibility looming in the future. At times Paul dreamed of becoming a soldier, and even enlisted in the Venetian army when volunteers were requested by the Pope.

But he soon realized that neither the adventure of a military career, the financial promise of the business world, nor the joys and sorrows of marriage were to be his life’s journey. He heard the voice of God calling him to a life of the spirit and a path of spiritual rigor.

Father Paul Francis Daneo, St. Paul of the Cross, as he is known today, was a unique chaplain in the armed services in that he served both sides.  He started a great and honorable tradition for his followers.  Since his time, Passionists have served as military chaplains and ministered in the camps and on the battlefields of the world’s never-ending wars.

While times have changed and wars have grown increasingly brutal, the work of the armed services chaplain has remained basically the same. Men and women removed from civilian life, away from their families, fighting and hoping to make it another day are especially in need of spiritual nourishment.  It is the chaplain’s duty to counsel and give encouragement to the soldiers; to preach the Word of God, administer the Sacraments and celebrate the Eucharist.

Passionist Wartime Chaplains

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Passionists of Holy Cross Province who have served as Chaplains in the Armed Services

St. Paul of the Cross

World War I

Fr. Raphael Grashoff, CP
Fr. Alexander Kilgour, CP
Fr. Edwin Ronan, CP

World War II

Fr. Bartholomew Adler, CP
Fr. Leonard Barthelemy, CP
Fr. Fidelis Benedik, CP
Fr. Julius Busse, CP
Fr. Thomas Carter, CP
Fr. Damien Cragen, CP
Fr. Vincent Ehinger, CP
Fr. Cyril Jablonovski, CP
Fr. Denis M. Keating, CP
Fr. Kenny Lynch, CP
Fr. Brian Mahedy, CP
Fr. Owen Monaghan, CP
Fr. Noel Pechulis, CP
Fr. Xavier Praino

Korea 

Fr. Kenny Lynch, CP
Gail Robinson

Viet Nam

Gail Robinson

Commander Brian Mahedy, CP, USNR

Brian MahedyMany Passionists of Holy Cross Province have served as chaplains in the armed forces.  One of these courageous men who served during World War II is Commander Brian Mahedy, CP, United States Navy Reserve.

Fr. Brian Mahedy, CP, was a native of Des Moines, Iowa.  After completing his seminary training, he was ordained a Passionist priest in 1933.  With a profound desire to serve his country and with permission of his superiors, Fr. Brian entered the Navy in June 1943.

He received his basic training in Chaplain School at William and Mary College, Williamsburg, Virginia.  His first assignment was to the U.S. Naval Hospital in Corona, California.  In 1944, while assigned on the hospital ship, the USS Hope, then Lt. Mahedy had his baptism of fire during the battles of Leyte, Luzon, Okinawa and in the Borneo invasion.  He entered Japan with the United States forces and helped establish the Army Hospital in Kyoto.

For his work in evacuating the wounded from the Philippines and Okinawa, Fr. Brian received the Letter of Commendation. He was also awarded the Bronze Star for “meritorious service in connection with military
operations against an enemy of the United States in the Southwest Pacific and Central Pacific areas.”

After World War II, Fr. Brian served at naval air stations in San Diego and Jacksonville, and the naval station in Guam.  When the Korean War started, Fr. Brian still serving active duty, was based at naval stations on Adak and Kodiak Islands in Alaska.  He completed his active duty in 1953.

Upon being separated from active duty service, Fr. Brian immediately entered the Active Reserve.  He was promoted to the rank of Commander in 1956 and continued serving as a reserve officer until 1969.  From 1969 to 1991, Father Brian was a chaplain for hospitals in San Francisco, San Pedro and Long Beach, California.

Fr. Brian Mahedy, CP, passed away at the age of 93 on January 5, 2002 in Chicago.  Fr. Donald Webber, CP, said of Fr. Brian “He was just a very positive, encouraging-type person.”