The Passionists of Holy Cross Province

The Love that Compels

Nicholas Divine, CP, Ordination to the Diaconate

On Saturday, September 26, 2020, Nicholas Divine, C.P., and four Franciscan Brothers were ordained to the diaconate by Auxiliary Bishop Mark Bartosic of Chicago, Illinois. The ordination ceremony was held at St Clare of Montefalco Chapel of St. Rita of Cascia Parish in Chicago.

Nicholas Divine, C.P., makes the diaconate promises to Bishop Bartosic.

Bishop Bartosic’s laying on of hands over Nicholas Divine.
Nicholas is dressed in the deacon’s vestments by Father Alfredo Ocampo, C.P., Director of Students for CRUC.
Nicholas receives the Gospels from Bishop Bartosic.
Father Alfredo Ocampo, C.P., and Nicholas Divine, C.P.
Nicholas with other Passionist students studying at Catholic Theological Union (CTU). (l-r): Soohoon Hur, Conor Quinn, C.P.,(PATR); Phillip Donlan, C.P.; Nicholas Divine, C.P., and Cristian Martinez Montalvo, C.P., (PAUL).
Some of the members of St. Vincent Strambi Community.  (l-r, ascending stairs): Father John Schork, C.P., Vocation Director; Ms. Lissa Romell, Community Administrator; Father Alfredo Ocampo, C.P.; Phillip Donlan, C.P.; David Colhour, C.P., Local Superior; Conor Quinn, C.P. (PATR); Cristian Martinez Montalvo, C.P. (PAUL); Nicholas Divine, C.P.; Father John Auram, C.P. (SPIR); and Soohoon Hur.
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.”