The Passionists of Holy Cross Province

The Love that Compels

Vocations Articles

First Profession of Vows ~ Phillip Donlan

On Wednesday, July 11, our Passionist Family gathered to witness the First Profession of Passionist Vows by our newest brother, Phillip Donlan. The celebration was held St. Paul of the Cross Passionist Retreat and Conference Center in Detroit, Michigan.

Phillip spent the last year as a novice at Cristo Rey Province in Mexico, under the guidance of Novice Master, Rafael Vivanco Perez, CP. Phillip now resides at St. Vincent Strambi Community in Chicago to continue his seminary studies for priestly ordination at Catholic Theological Union.

Ministry in Birmingham Inspires Passionist Vocations

Meet Sam Divine and Juan GonzalezSam Divine-Vestition

A few years ago Sam Divine left Massachusetts to take a campus ministry position with a Catholic school 1,200 miles away in Birmingham, Ala., called Holy Family Cristo Rey Catholic High School.

“It was the Holy Spirit doing all the work. I had never heard of the Passionists until I arrived at Holy Family Cristo Rey Catholic High School. I was interviewed on the feast of St. Maria Goretti, a Passionist saint. I was hired.

“After working with Father Alex Steinmiller, C.P., and Father Bob Crossmyer, C.P.,  I had a living example of what it meant to be a Passionist. I’d see it every day and every day my heart began to say, ‘wow, I want to be like that!’” shares Sam.

Juan Gonzalez attended a silent retreat several years ago at Holy Name Passionist Retreat Center in Houston, Texas.Juan Gonzalez

“I was invited to a silent retreat at Holy Name Retreat Center. I didn’t know anything about the Passionists at that point. I met Father Peter Berendt, C.P., and he became my spiritual director. He started inviting me to community meals. I saw some of the work they were doing. I found the charism very attractive. I enjoyed the community. It was a very happy community, very welcoming. I decided to join them,” explains Juan, who is studying for the Passionist priesthood in Chicago, Ill.

Both Sam and Juan have committed to deepen their vocations with the Passionists after being inspired by the ministry they performed in Ensley, a neighborhood in Birmingham, Ala.

According to Juan, “When you are working in Ensley with the Hispanic and African American community, you have moments of being very humble. You go there to serve, but you see their open arms and their welcoming.  Through them, I started see some of that mercy God speaks of.

“Our charism is carried in our hearts. We express the love and mercy God has for the people. It was life-giving while I was there because I was able to give myself fully. I learned it is very life-giving to serve.”

Inspired by witnessing God’s mercy at work in the lives of the students, staff, and families at Holy Family Cristo Rey Catholic High School, Sam entered formation as a novice in August at Christ the King Community in Citrus Heights, Calif.

“The young people taught me what perfect joy is all about.  Whether they knew it or not, they were living the joy of the Gospel in a very simple and real sort of way.

“To understand God’s mercy is definitely being able to recognize there is a need amongst the other. Mercy has a lot to do with being with someone else, realizing there is a need, and being able to take care of the need humbly, without the other actually knowing that you are cooperating with the Lord. I was able to be a small part of that on a daily basis,” shares Sam.

As Juan and Sam continue their Passionist journey, their lived experiences in Birmingham motivate them to reach deeper in their Catholic faith to open the door of God’s mercy toward others.

Organization of the Worldwide Passionist Congregation

Joachim Rego

As all Institutions, the Passionists are organized into an orderly structure. The Superior General, with his consultors from different parts of the world are the governing body. Our General Superior resides in our Mother House which is located in Rome. Our present Superior General is Rev. Joachim Rego, CP from Australia. His term of office, and the consultors’ terms are for six years.

At present, We Passionists are in 61 countries around the world.

When a foundation in a country is established, it is called a Mission. As the Passionists develop in that area of the world and are able to have their own leadership, it becomes a Vicariate. When it becomes almost self-sufficient, it becomes a Vice-Province and finally when it is self sufficient, it becomes a Province. For better solidarity among Passionists, regarding personnel, education and finances, our Congregation is divided into five configurations. In the United States, there are two Provinces: Holy Cross Province (us) from the Ohio River west to the Pacific and St Paul of the Cross Province, east of the Ohio River. Our Configuration is called Christ Crucified as is composed of the following countries: Canada, USA, Mexico, Jamaica, Haiti, Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Mozambique (a mission of the Calvary Province of Brazil).

Our Provincial Superior is elected every four years. In June 2023, Father David Colhour, CP, was elected Provincial Superior of Holy Cross Province. Father David serves as the head of our Province Leadership Team, advised by four vowed Passionist consultors and three lay advisors.

Take a Risk to Change the World

Take a Risk to Change the World

Passionist priest Rev. Alex Steinmiller, C.P. is the first and current president of Holy Family Cristo Rey Catholic High School in Birmingham, AL. The high school is part of the nationwide Cristo Rey network of schools in which high school students spend one day per week working in a corporate setting which helps to defray the cost of their tuition.

“My passion has always been to provide access to the tools that enable young people to reach their highest potential.  The Cristo Rey model will offer young people in the Birmingham area an opportunity to discover the key that can open a door to their greatness,” Fr. Alex said upon the school’s launch in 2007.

Fr. Alex assumed the presidency at Holy Family after decades of facilitating programs that motivate and inspire young people to mature into productive, responsible adults. He was involved for some 32 years with “Life Directions,” a national program which successfully partners at-risk young adults with their higher achieving peers. His commitment to nurture the promise of young people emerged from his witness of the violence that destroyed many Detroit teens in the early 1970’s.  Since then he has remained active in ministry to young adults and to those who are marginalized either through poverty or discrimination.

Click here to read the full text of his speech to the young Passionists at World Youth Day 2011:
Living the Passionist Charism for the Transformation of the World

Click here to learn more about Holy Family Cristo Rey High School.

Scroll down to see a few images from World Youth Day 2011:

Discernment and different stages of Formation

Fr. Christopher Gibson, CP,  gives an overview of different aspects of vocational discernment.

What can I expect when I inquire about becoming a religious in the Passionist Community?

Discernment.

Discernment begins when you seek help from a Passionist in your vocational journey to inquire and ask to be accompanied as you discern your vocation which includes the possibility of becoming a vowed Passionist among other possible choices. The first obligation of the Province Vocation Director is to assist you to discover the direction in which the Spirit is leading you.  Our first desire is to get to know you, who you are, and what life has been about for you up until now. It is also a time for you to get a greater insight into who the Passionists are. When it is clear that you and the Passionist community want to further this vocation journey, then you will be given a vocation mentor who will be willing to walk with you on your vocation discernment journey: to clarify and challenge, to confront and comfort, to purify and affirm your calling. When you come to a level of readiness to enter residency, the process of admission is begun (A list of documents will be required of you including an application form). After this is completed, a request for passage from discernment to residency is processed by the Province Admissions Board and then approved by the Passionist Provincial Superior.

Residency.

If you show all the signs of a Passionist vocation, the Passionist Vocation Director will welcome you into one of our communities so you are introduced into living in community; this is fundamental to Religious Life. This usually last about a year but could be extended if needed. During this time you may need to complete studies required to start Theology later on.

Novitiate

The next step is a year-long preparation for making vows as a Passionist. This is basically a time for laying down the foundations of a Passionist lifestyle which will culminate in the taking of vows of Chastity, Obedience, Poverty and in committing oneself to keep alive in himself and others the Memory of the Passion of Christ. These are for three years, after which they are done perpetually unless some circumstances call for an extension of temporarily vows.

After Novitiate, the candidate becomes a vowed member of the Passionist Community and begins studies at Catholic Theological Union (CTU) in Chicago in preparation for ministry. Both brothers and candidates for the priesthood require theological studies. Candidates for the priesthood are required also to have studies in Philosophy before studying Theology. Brothers will receive studies that are in line with what they need later on to serve as a brother based on their  gifts and needs of the Community.

In the meantime: 

  • Be active within a faith community, such as your parish.
  • Find a good spiritual director. It is important that you have good direction at this time.
  • Take time to pray and journal. Look for prayer experiences that nourish you.
  • Get to know Passionists. Make plans to visit Passionist Communities and Passionist ministries.
  • Read as much as you can about discernment and about our Passionist way of life. Ask your spiritual director for recommendations or visit our web site.
  • Be faithful to your own spiritual journey and to your prayer life.
Organization of the Worldwide Passionist Congregation
Organization of the Worldwide Passionist Congregation

As all Institutions, the Passionists are organized into an orderly structure. The Superior General, with his consultors from different parts of the world are the governing body. Our General Superior resides in our Mother House which is located in Rome. Our present Superior General is Rev. Joachim Rego, CP from Australia. His term of office, and the consultors' terms are for six years.Joachim Rego

At present, We Passionists are in 61 countries around the world.

When a foundation in a country is established, it is called a Mission. As the Passionists develop in that area of the world and are able to have their own leadership, it becomes a Vicariate. When it becomes almost self-sufficient, it becomes a Vice-Province and finally when it is self sufficient, it becomes a Province. For better solidarity among Passionists, regarding personnel, education and finances, our Congregation is divided into five configurations. In the United States, there are two Provinces: Holy Cross Province (us) from the Ohio River west to the Pacific and St Paul of the Cross Province, east of the Ohio River. Our Configuration is called Christ Crucified as is composed of the following countries: Canada, USA, Mexico, Jamaica, Haiti, Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Mozambique (a mission of the Calvary Province of Brazil).

Joe MoonsOur Provincial Superior is elected every four years. In June 2015, Father Joe Moons, CP, was elected Provincial Superior of Holy Cross Province. Father Joe was born in Holland, but raised in the United States. He serves as the head of our Provincial Council, advised by four consultors.

Passionist Community Vocation Directory

Lives of Fulfillment

What Do Passionists Do?

As preachers and missionaries, spiritual guides and chaplains, teachers and men of prayer, the road we travel as Passionists is enriching and challenging.

Passionists encourage the people of God to allow the Passion of Jesus to be in their hearts as they seek union with God, especially when they suffer.

In the United States, vowed Passionists preach parish missions and renewals. We welcome those who seek spiritual renewal in Passionist retreat centers; we comfort and console the sick and afflicted in hospitals. Some Passionists provide pastoral care in parishes; others teach and minister in universities. The Passionists are a diverse community, and serve a diversity of people. Wherever possible, vowed Passionists work in conjunction with lay men and women in carrying out their ministries.

If you are a Catholic male, primarily between the ages of 18-50, a resident of the U.S. or Canada, and would like to learn more about the Passionists, please contact us. 

Fr. Chris Gibson, CP
St. Vincent Strambi Passionist Community
5417 S. Cornell Avenue
Chicago, IL 60615
773-324-2704
[email protected]

or

Fr. Jim Strommer, CP
Christ the King Passionist Community
6520 Van Maren Lane
Citrus Heights, CA 95621
916-723-5162
[email protected]

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