Congratulations to our Passionist brother, Phillip Donlan, CP, who professed his Final Vows
on Sunday, July 11, 2021!
Mass was held at St. Paul of the Cross Passionist Retreat & Conference Center in Detroit, Michigan.
Fr. Joe Moons, CP, Provincial Superior of Holy Cross Province, was the celebrant.. Fr. Pat Brennan, CP, and Fr. Alfredo Ocampo, CP, were the concelebrants.
Watch the video and scroll down to see pictures from the celebration.
On July 9, the Passionists around the world commemorate the feast of Our Lady of Holy Hope. She is an example and model to us of perseverance in the face of great struggles and hopelessness in life. She continually offers us her Son Jesus as the source of her Hope, and as the source of our Hope.
At the foot of the cross Mary showed us that from sorrow comes compassion, and from compassion comes the sensitivity to the problems that we will all encounter at some point on our journey along life’s pathways. Compassion can lead to hope because the most compassionate moment in the life of Jesus and Mary, a moment they shared on Calvary, did not end in death. It ended in Resurrection.
On June 20, 202o, the Vatican informed the world that Pope Francis had added the title “Mother of Hope” to the Litany of Loretto, and at an earlier talk in 2013, Pope Francis related Mary’s hope to the Passion of Jesus: At the foot of the cross, she is the woman of sorrow and at the same time of vigilant waiting of a mystery, greater than the sorrow, which is about to take place. (Nov. 21, 2013)
That is the core of the Passionist Charism, the special insight into the mystery of God’s saving love that inspired St. Paul of the Cross as a founder. May Mary fill our lives with Holy Hope, so that we may serve one another with life-giving compassion.
Thank you for being a part of our Passionist Family. We will keep you in our prayers and include whatever your special intentions may be.
Dear Friend,
For St. Paul of the Cross, the founder of the Passionists, meditation on the Passion of Jesus was the door by which one entered a deeper relationship with God.
As I have reflected on the Cross and its relevance to the times in which we live, I have grown to understand that meditation on the Passion of Jesus is also the door by which we enter a deeper understanding of ourselves as loved by God and a deeper understanding of others as children of God. This is such an important lesson for our world today!
I am happy to let you know that we have several new cards available which express your relationship with the people closest to you. They cover occasions of all kinds, from expressing sympathy in times of grief, to expressing joy and congratulations in times of blessing. Each card carries with it the promise of your prayer and that of our Passionist Community for the person mentioned.
Click here to view the All Occasion cards that are available. As you use the cards, please send us the names of the people you especially want remembered in our daily prayers.
We also invite you to consider making a donation when you send the names to be remembered in our prayers. Your generosity helps make possible our Passionist life and mission in the years ahead. When we fulfill our mission of proclaiming the Passion of Jesus, we help people remember how much they are loved by God.
May God continue to bless you and yours. We ask that you continue to pray for us as we pray for you.
In Jesus Crucified,
Fr. Michael Higgins, C.P.
Spiritual Director
Inspired by prophets - Paul listens for God's message of hope
Enjoy Paul Wadell's extended interview for our Spring 2021 issue of The Passionists magazine. The interview was conducted by Ms. Mary Kay McPartlin, Faith Catholic Publishing, Lansing, Michigan.
Love - Father Victor preaches an age-old message in a modern world
Enjoy Father Victor's extended interview for our Spring 2021 issue of The Passionists magazine. The interview was conducted by Ms. Mary Kay McPartlin, Faith Catholic Publishing, Lansing, Michigan.
The Jubilee Committee and the Passionist Generalate in Rome have produced a new video celebrating our 300th Jubilee.
Visit their websites:
Dear Friend,
I recently received an update from Fr. Hugo Esparza-Pérez, CP, on the programs that are growing in our mission in Haiti. I would like to share his updates with you:
San Pastoral Pasyonis Haiti (SPPHaiti)
January 2021
SPPHaiti is a non-profit initiative of the Passionist Community in Haiti. Our vision is to become many hands and one-heart as we carry out our mission to create local alternatives to SERVE, UPLIFT and EMPOWER our neighbors in Port-au-Prince.
This work began in 2017. Through relationship building with our neighbors, a few of their needs were addressed. We began helping people better the quality of their homes by sharing building materials with them. We also began to address the needs of the sick in the community. Through this work, other possibilities were addressed like the lack of toilets or latrines, easy access to water and the fact that the majority of children are not in school because of the lack of money. This prompted us to open a physical space for the community in order to carry out our initiatives. Hence, SPPHaiti was created. You can learn more about our work through our webpage.
These programs and initiatives include:
Pi Pre Fanmi (Prepared Families): This is our food solidarity program. Every month, we share food with 100 vulnerable families. Each family is asked for a small donation. This donation is used to buy building materials to help some of these same families better their houses. So far, we have been able to fundraise enough money to continue this program until May 2021. We need $3,000 USD per month to keep our program going.
Konbit Pierre Toussaint: This is a yearlong internship for Haitian University Students. Through a monthly stipend, training and community building with these interns help our weekly Adult Academy and our Children’s’ Program, Little Stones. Our goal for 2021-2022, is to be able to have 10 interns to help us serve. We need to fundraise $1,500 USD per intern.
Little Stones Program: We strive to create a weekly space for our children (6 to 17 years old) through human and religious formation. We offer breakfast every week for over 100 children and for 25 adult volunteers. The cost for our program is of $300 USD per week to keep our program going.
Akademy SPP: This is our Adult Academy for men and women learning basic academic skills. We serve 25 adults in different levels. We also have a basic computer skills class. Our goal is to have 20 laptops to continue our service to our youth and adults (so far, we have 7 laptops).
Menm Kontre (Lazed Hands): This initiative is for entrepreneurs. After formation in basic business planning, a total of 5 workshops, we seed $400 USD for our participants to start or continue their business. We ask for a return of 25% of our seed money. So far, we had 6 women go through our pilot program. Our goal for 2020-2021 is to work with 5 entrepreneurs.
Kay Sen Gabriel Ospitalite: Our hospitality house is an initiative that will begin in February 2021. We will open our Ex-seminarians’ house for young women who are studying or working in our area. We have a safe and dignified space for at least 10 young women. We will offer a living space in exchange for 5 hours of work per week.
Konminote Rit-Naomi: This is a support group for young women. In the spirit of Ruth and Naomi, from the Bible, our young women help each other develop a dream and reach it for their life. Our commitment is to help these young women secure scholarships to further their academic life.
Kominote Ebe-Nassi (from Slaves to Princes): This is a support group for young men who are searching for masculinity that is life giving for all. Our commitment is to help these young men with scholarships to further their academic life.
Father Hugo Esparza-Pérez, CP
Haiti, January 2021
Let us all pray for Father Hugo, the people of Haiti, and for success and continued blessings on the important work he is doing in Haiti.
If you would like to contribute to Father Hugo’s work, click here to donate and select Haiti – General Fund.
Yours in Christ's love,
Father Michael Higgins, CP
Spiritual Director
