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Emily Shaffer, Extended Interview
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Fr. Giuseppe Adobati Carrara, CP, Extended Interview
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Solemn Commemoration of the Passion
Provincial’s Message
Turning off the electronics tonight, I need some quiet. I long for true silence.
We have had too much noise lately.
Everywhere I turn, there is more noise—voices, shouting, accusations, confusion and fear. Why do some believe that raising their voices louder will make them heard? The question is not who can be the loudest when so few are listening. And here we sit at the door of Lent. Tonight, I sit in silence, thinking about St. Paul of the Cross, and in my silence, I realize that Pope Francis’ time with us is now limited.
St. Paul of the Cross petitioned the Holy See to extend to the global Church a day to remember the glorious Passion of Jesus and to raise this event to the level of a Solemnity. Going back to Paul’s letters, his hope was for this day to be September 16.[i] Sadly, Paul did not live to see this promulgated for the universal Church. It was only after his death that Pope Clement XIV added the Solemnity, placing it before Lent rather than in September.
As Passionists, we continue to honor the Church’s tradition of celebrating the Solemn Commemoration of the Passion on the Friday before Ash Wednesday, as a doorway leading us into the Lenten Season.
For most of us, this is not the first time down this path. Yet, isn’t it different this year? Personally, I seem more attuned to a restlessness, a unique uneasiness within people, balancing on the uncertainties and questions the tomorrows may bring. Sometimes, it feels like we are stepping on perpetually shifting sands, longing for some solid rock to support the next step of our sojourn.
Those elements of life which provided an assuredness and security for so many years, namely politics, economics and religion, all suddenly feel unstable. Where can we find solid ground to stand on? Various individuals are gazing into their crystal balls projecting out uncertainties which only escalate and spiral anxieties and fear.
As Passionists, we are called to share in the suffering of our sisters and brothers worldwide. They struggle with violence and war, and their lives are shaken by political oppression. They strive for justice and a share of the basic goods of the Earth, as they deal with natural disasters including earthquakes, floods, fires and mudslides. Undoubtedly, we live in a global village filled with suffering. But how is this good news? Beyond these big global issues, are we willing to help bear the cross of a person’s sickness or loneliness? Even the simplest things have become confusing. For example, have you tried to buy eggs this past week?
A few months back, The Passionist Province of St. Paul of the Cross hosted a Charism Day, inviting Sr. Maria Pascuzzi, CSJ, to reflect on the Passionist charism. In the third section of her presentation, she asked a simple question: “What do the people of God need from the Passionists today?” In an enjoyable manner, she commented on Paul the Apostle: “Preaching Christ crucified was already a hard sell in Paul’s day. Preaching Christ crucified as the greatest work of God’s love may be an even more difficult sell today.”
She explored how the majority of believers, whether churchgoers or not, can find the benevolence and love of God in the awesomeness, beauty and majesty of creation in a multiplicity of forms. What people struggle to make sense of is how a good God can be present in all the suffering we see around us today. And her challenge to us was this: Is Jesus Christ Crucified even relevant to the crucified of today? Just like Paul the Apostle, we know this truth is relevant. Yet, that certainly does not make the challenge easier.
Pope Francis’s most urgent and persistent request through his entire pontificate has emphatically called us to go to the poor. Be with the poor! We are not asked to be agents of humanitarian aid. Rather, we are asked to be agents of God! We are not asked to proselytize the poor, nor shall we have any attitude of advantage or superiority. We are asked to move against the direction of our natural inclinations of safety, security and comfort. In doing so, we discover grace, a grace that does not come from us but from God. Intuitively, it moves us out of our comfort zones, forcing us to stretch and trust. Jesus’ Passion moved contrary to the direction others thought he should go. Even Peter advised him not to go that way. From Jesus’ stepping into the unsafe and uncomfortable, the Church receives grace and salvation.
Back in my theology days, one of my favorite teachers used the phrase “Mission-in-Reverse.” A truly reflective person or group of people will discover that it is not what you are doing but how you are being changed by doing it. This is the catalyst for transformation. It is a purely incarnational moment of change when we meet Christ where we were not expecting because we stepped away from our false securities, surrendering ourselves, only to find that Christ is holding our hand. At that moment, the churchy word “Salvation” becomes more personal. I believe this has been the deepest teaching Pope Francis has tried to encourage us. And it is our invitation as we pass through the celebration of this Solemnity into the season of Lent.
God is not here to help us achieve our personal achievements. Lent is not here for us to set a list of goals for the next forty days. St. Paul of the Cross would come home for Lent after preaching many missions. It was a time for him to experience deeper listening and deeper contemplation.
As we celebrate this Solemnity, do your spirit a favor. In your personal prayer over the next four weeks, take time to read and pray through each of the four Passion narratives in the Gospels. This is part of Paul’s expectations for each of us as we journey down the Passionist Way.
Wishing you a very blessed Solemnity on the occasion of our Passionist titular feast.
In the Passion of Christ,
V. Rev. David Colhour, C.P.
Provincial Superior
P.S. I welcome your thoughts and reflections.
[i]Paul of the Cross, Letters of Paul of the Cross, ed. Mercurio-Sucher, no. 1165, Letter to John Mary Cioni of Saint Ignatius (San Angelo, September 27, 1758). Note, September 14th is the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. September 15th is the Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows. Adding a Solemnity on the 16th would create a trilogy of days for the Passion of Christ.
Holy Cross Province Provincial Leadership Team
Position Description:
Lay Councilors
February 2025
The Holy Cross Province (HCP) Provincial Leadership Team (PLT) is composed of:
- Elected vowed members (Provincial and Provincial Consultors).
- Appointed Province Director of Finance.
- Appointed two (2) Lay Councilors.
The PLT:
- Maintains oversight of the ministries and organizations of HCP.
- Conducts strategic and organizational planning.
- Ensures strong fiduciary oversight and fiscal management.
- Directs Province fundraising, resource stewardship and resource development.
- Approves and monitors Province ministries, programs and internal services.
- Safeguards and promotes the Province’s public image.
- Assesses its own performance as the governing body of HCP.
Responsibilities of Lay Councilors:
- Participate in prayer, discernment and formation to encourage stewardship and growth in Province life and ministries.
- Engage in ongoing dialogue with members of the Passionist Family.
- Participate in monthly PLT meetings.
- PLT meetings are usually two consecutive days via Zoom during normal business hours.
- May and December PLT meetings are usually four consecutive weekdays (one day of travel and 3 days of meetings) in person at the Province Offices in Park Ridge, Illinois. Travel is required.
- Understand that they are entrusted with the sacred care of HCP.
- Commit to fully engage in this leadership position for their agreed-upon term of service.
- Embrace the Passionist Charism in their lives, with the help of “The Passionist Way”.
- Stay informed regarding the activities and programs of HCP and the larger Passionist Congregation.
- Understand the Province’s mission, ministries, organizational structure, policies, internal programs and needs.
- Prepare for and conscientiously participate in meetings of the PLT, including participation at the annual Province Assembly or Provincial Chapter.
- Participate as necessary in the committees and projects addressed by the PLT.
- Understand the financial position and activities of HCP.
- Use one’s personal gifts for the advancement of the mission of HCP, as well as calling forth the gifts of other members of the Passionist Family.
- Maintain confidentiality regarding the internal matters of the PLT and Province.
Skills and Experience preferred for Lay Councilors:
- Understanding of the Province’s mission, ministries, organizational structure, policies, internal programs and needs.
- Embrace the Passionist Charism in their lives.
- Minimum 5 years active participation in Province life, including attendance to at least one Province Assembly or Provincial Chapter.
- Prayerful manner of discerning, discussing and addressing Province issues.
- Collaborative work style.
- Active, synodal listening.
- Strategic and analytic thinking, with mindfulness.
- Creativity and vision.
- A member of a faith community
- Leadership skills.
- Verbal, written and basic electronic communication skills.
Statement from Passionist Leadership Regarding Current United States Immigration Policies
As leaders of the Passionist Congregation, we are deeply committed to keeping alive the memory of the Passion of Jesus Christ. In this spirit, we are compelled to respond to the new United States administration’s executive orders on immigration. While we affirm the importance of secure borders and condemn the violence committed by any member of our society, we call for policies that reflect the mercy, compassion, and justice of Christ, welcoming the stranger and upholding the inherent dignity of every human person.
Christ’s passion and death are not simply historical events. They become ever-present realities for those who are “crucified” today by injustice, aggression, and a lack of respect for human life. The vast majority of migrants are here simply to flee poverty and oppression, to find safety for themselves and their families, to work, and to survive. These same migrants now are experiencing families torn apart, cancellations of legitimate asylum cases, no pathways to citizenship, constant fear of deportation, and at greater risk of becoming victims of human trafficking. The ‘American Dream’ has now become a cruel nightmare.
As Catholics, we are called to be in solidarity with Pope Francis and our bishops in their challenge to accompany these brothers and sisters on their journey seeking security and survival. St. Paul of the Cross, founder of the Passionists, assured us that ‘love is ingenious’. Despite the complexities and challenges of this moment, we must respond with a creative love that finds a way to welcome the victims of global crisis.
We, as leaders of the Passionist Congregation, representing our various leadership teams and tens of thousands of people of goodwill, call upon all members of the Passionist Family, including vowed members, parishioners and retreatants, board members, benefactors, school students and parents, teachers and administrators, team and staff members, and volunteers, to stand with us and our brothers and sisters, and collectively raise our voices to our elected leaders. There are many ways to respond:
- Organize a collective response in your parish, retreat center, school or group.
- Meet a migrant or refugee and listen to their story, or find an online story and reflect on it.
- Write a letter to your elected representative expressing your concerns.
- Attend a peaceful protest or rally.
- Donate to a charity supporting migrants and refugees in your community.
If you like, you can use this sample letter:
Click here to find your U.S. Representative.
May the memory of Christ’s Passion compel us to stand in solidarity with the crucified of today.
Sincerely in the Passion of Christ,
Fr. David Colhour, CP
Provincial Superior
Holy Cross Province
Fr. Jim O,Shea, CP
Provincial Superior
St. Paul of the Cross Province
Fr. Angél Perez , CP
Provincial Superior
Cristo Rey Province
Sr. Maria Virginia Alfaro, CFP
General Superior
Daughters of the Passion of Jesus Christ and Our Mother of Sorrows
Declaración de los líderes pasionistas sobre las actuales políticas de imigración de Estados Unidos
Nosotros, líderes en la Congregación Pasionista, estamos profundamente comprometidos a mantener viva la memoria de la Pasión de Jesucristo. Según este compromiso, nos vemos obligados a responder a las órdenes ejecutivas de la nueva administración de los Estados Unidos de América en materia de inmigración. Aunque afirmamos la importancia de fronteras seguras y condenamos la violencia cometida por cualquier miembro de nuestra sociedad, queremos políticas que reflejen la misericordia, la compasión y la justicia de Cristo, acogiendo al extranjero y defendiendo la dignidad inherente a toda persona humana.
La pasión y muerte de Cristo no son simplemente acontecimientos históricos. Es una realidad siempre presente para quienes hoy son «crucificados» por la injusticia, la agresión y por la falta de respeto por la vida humana. La inmensa mayoría de los migrantes están aquí simplemente para huir de la pobreza y la opresión, para encontrar seguridad para ellos y sus familias, para trabajar y sobrevivir. Esos mismos migrantes sufren ahora la desintegración de sus familias, la anulación de sus casos legítimos de asilo, la falta de vías para obtener la ciudadanía, el miedo constante a la deportación y un mayor riesgo de convertirse en víctimas de la trata de seres humanos. ‘El Sueño Americano’ se ha convertido ahora en una cruel pesadilla.
Como católicos, estamos llamados a solidarizarnos con el Papa Francisco y nuestros obispos en el reto de acompañar a estos hermanas y hermanos nuestros en su viaje en busca de seguridad y sobrevivencia. San Pablo de la Cruz, fundador de los Pasionistas, nos aseguró que «el amor es ingenioso». A pesar de las complejidades y desafíos de este momento, debemos responder con un amor creativo que encuentre la manera de acoger a las víctimas de esta crisis global.
Nosotros, como líderes en la Congregación Pasionista, en representación de nuestros diversos equipos de gobierno y decenas de miles de personas de buena voluntad, hacemos un llamado a todos los miembros de la familia pasionista, la cual incluye miembros profesos, feligreses parroquiales y ejercitantes, miembros de las mesas directivas, bienhechores, estudiantes y padres de colegios, profesores y administradores, miembros del equipo y del personal, y voluntarios - para que se unan a nosotros y a nuestros hermanas y hermanos, y alcemos colectivamente nuestras voces a nuestros líderes electos.
Hay varias maneras de responder:
- Organiza una respuesta colectiva en tu parroquia, centro de retiros, escuela o grupo.
- Reúnete con un inmigrante o refugiado y escucha su historia, o busca una historia en Internet y reflexiona sobre ella.
- Escribe una carta a tu representante electo expresando tus preocupaciones.
- Asiste a una protesta pacífica.
- Haz un donativo a una organización benéfica que apoye a migrantes y refugiados en tu comunidad.
Si quieres, puedes utilizar la carta de muestra (haga clic en el enlace) que encontrarás en https://passionistshcp.wildapricot.org/resources/Email%20attachments/2025/02.MigrationSt atement/ESP%20Sample%20letter%20to%20government%20officials.docx
Que la memoria de la Pasión de Cristo nos impulse a solidarizarnos con los crucificados de hoy. Atentamente en la Pasión de Cristo,
P. David Colhour, CP
Superior provincial
Provincia de la Santa Cruz
P. Jim O,Shea, CP
Superior provincial
Provincia de San Pablo de la Cruz
P. Angél Perez , CP
Superior provincial
Provincia de Cristo Rey
Hna. Maria Virginia Alfaro, CFP
Superiora General
Hijas de la Pasión de Jesú Cristo y María Dolorosa
