The Passionists of Holy Cross Province

The Love that Compels

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.

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  1. Dear Phillip,

    Thank you for the gift of yourself as you continue to follow God’s call.

    I was blessed with joy when I watched your First Profession of Vows on this video.

    Thank you to the Passionists of Holy Cross Province for making this video and sharing it with us.

    Being able to witness the joy and love your parents have for you and the hugs you received from the vowed Passionists present was a huge gift for me.

    I will remember you in ongoing prayer as your formation continues.

    May the Passion of Jesus Christ be always in your heart!

    Cam Thornton
    Glendale, California

  3. It was great that we could share with you Phillip in your profession, accompanied also by your parents whom I was happy to meet once again. It was great also to be able to visit with you during the novitiate in Queretaro, Mexico, along with your 8 companions as well. I was also happy to be able to share with you all classes on the International character of the Passionist Congregation, based on my experience as Mission Secretary and other missionary experiences around the world. You looked so happy and I was inspired with your great companionship in the novitiate and you intense life of prayer. Congratulations Phillip! I accompany you in prayer as you start your classes of Theology in Chicago.

Ash Wednesday

On March 2, the Church celebrates Ash Wednesday. 

Most of us learned early in our Catholic lives that Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent, and that is a time of special sacrifice in preparation for the Easter celebration of Jesus’ Resurrection.

Dear brothers and sisters, every moment of our lives is a time for believing, hoping and loving…. These words of Pope Francis, taken from his Lenten Message of last year, 2021, and echoing the virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity, can still inspire our answer to the question: “What am I giving up for Lent?” 

We can draw our Lenten sacrifices out of our daily life: 

Share our faith in God’s presence by sharing in prayer with our family or with those in our parish community.
Share our hope in God’s promises by encouraging positive and respectful dialogue in our family circle and among our friends. 
Share the charity God has bestowed on us in the Passion of Jesus, with those whose sufferings are ignored or aggravated.

Let us pray for one another as we enter the season of Lent. Our Passionist “motto” can be our daily prayer during Lent, “May the Passion of Jesus Christ be always in our hearts.”