Uncategorized

February 25 is the Solemn Commemoration of the Passion

Dear Friend of the Passionists,

This Friday, February 25, is the Solemn Commemoration of the Passion.  It is the title feast of our Passionist Congregation.   In preparation for the sacred journey of Lent, we invite you to join the Passionists in prayer on Friday and share this reflection with you by Fr. John Schork, CP:

“Today we join the world in glorifying God through the vivid story of Love Personified in the Passion of Jesus. 

We Passionists follow in the footsteps of Jesus Crucified and share in the contemporary Passion so evident in our world.  We are called to share in the suffering of our sisters and brothers worldwide as they struggle with violence and war, as they strive for justice and a share of the basic goods of the earth, as they deal with natural disasters of earthquakes and floods and fires, and as they bear the cross of sickness and loneliness. 

We find meaning and a new perspective in Jesus’ “greatest love”, and pray with St. Paul of the Cross:  “…when you feel yourself on the cross, stripped of everything, gently stir up your faith in God’s presence, and abandon yourself in the immense sea of God’s love.” 

In union with Jesus Crucified, we boldly proclaim God’s Love in the Passion of Jesus.  St. Paul of the Cross speaks to our hearts:  “…the world lives unmindful of the sufferings of Jesus.  We must arouse the world from its slumber.  His Holy Spirit will teach us how.”  Amen!”

Yours in Christ’s love,
Fr. Michael Higgins, CP
Spiritual Director

February 2, 2023

Dear Friends,

I invite you to join in celebrating the 2023 World Day for Consecrated Life on Thursday, February 2, 2023.  The celebration continues in parishes the following weekend, February 4-5.

This celebrates honors the lives of consecrated women and men who are called to reflect the presence and light of Jesus to all people.  Our worldwide Passionist Family includes women and men who have consecrated their lives to Jesus, living out their call as priests, nuns, religious sisters and brothers dedicated to prayer, community life, and ministry.

May the Holy Spirit continue to inspire many women and men to generously respond to God’s call to a priestly or religious vocation, especially as Passionists.  I invite your continued prayerful support, and encourage you to join in promoting vocations to Passionist consecrated life; the following video and resources will be of assistance to you.

Vocation Resources

English
Novena
Prayer Service
Prayer card
Brochure
Poster

Spanish
Prayer Card
Brochure
Poster

Video
Meet our Seminarians

Vocation Voices
Br. Larry Finn, CP
Fr. Cedric Pisegna, CP
Fr. John Schork, CP

Thank you for being part of our Passionist Family!  I am eager to be of assistance to you as we share the vitality of our Passionist Charism.  As always, “May the Passion of Jesus Christ be always in our hearts!”

Fr. John Schork, CP
Province Vocation Director
Email:  [email protected]
Cell:  502-544-7808

Dear Friends,

Along with our Provincial, Fr. Joe Moons, CP, I invite you to join in promoting vocations to our Passionist Family during National Vocation Awareness Week, November 7 to 13, 2021.

Inaugurated by the U.S. bishops in 1976, this is an annual, week-long celebration of the Catholic Church in the United States, dedicated to promoting vocations to ordained ministry and consecrated life through prayer and education – plus renewing our prayerful support of those considering one of these special vocations.

We invite you to join us in:

• A Novena for Vocations. 
• A live-streamed celebration of Mass for Passionist Vocations on Monday, November 15, 2021, and available on YouTube broadcast at 1:00 p.m., EST.  This Mass will be celebrated in our Passionist Community chapel in Chicago.
• We have created vocation flyers, videos, prayers, vocation stories and suggested everyday activities to promote vocation awareness. Examples include reaching out to younger women and men who show a growing faith and a spirit of love and service, plus providing a word of encouragement to priests and religious you know.
• We will also promote National Vocation Awareness Week via email and social media.

Vocation Resources

English
Novena
Prayer Service
Flyer
Prayer card
Brochure
Poster

Spanish
Prayer Card
Brochure
Poster

Video
Meet our Seminarians

Vocation Voices
Br. Larry Finn, CP
Fr. Cedric Pisegna, CP
Fr. John Schork, CP

Thank you for being part of our Passionist Family!  I am eager to be of assistance to you as we share the vitality of our Passionist Charism.  As always, “May the Passion of Jesus Christ be always in our hearts!”

Fr. John Schork, CP
Province Vocation Director
Email:  [email protected]
Cell:  502-544-7808

 

 I recall assisting my mother in going through my grandmother’s things shortly after she died. 

We came across stacks of holy cards: those that are given out during funeral visitations and those that were Mass prayer cards for priests. I laid out each of those cards, edge to edge, across our large dining room table. They covered the whole surface of the table. As I looked at all those cards and read all the names of those for whom the cards were created, it hit me that prayer and our Catholic faith was my family’s legacy.

Those prayer cards connected the dots of my familial lineage, our communion of saints. Each family has its own lineage that is contained and celebrated withing the larger communion of saints, the mystical body of believers that make up the Church. 

I invite you to share the names of your family and friends who have gone before us so that we Passionists may celebrate your lineage.  Please send your intentions here. Together, we join our voices in prayer with the prayer of our communion of saints. 

Please consider supporting our Passionist life and ministries as our communities, especially our senior religious, who offer special prayer this November for your intentions.  Your support will help us celebrate the life of all our beloved who have passed from this life to the next, while also continuing to spread the Good News of Jesus Crucified in today’s world.

Thank you for your generous collaboration with the Passionists!  Be assured of our ongoing prayer for you and yours.  May God grant us all the fullness of Divine Life!

In Jesus Crucified,

Fr. Michael Higgins, C.P.
Spiritual Director