The Passionists
A Brief History ~ 1720 to .....

  by John Pearce CP

 
The Passionists in Holy Spirit Province, Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, are part of an international community of 2700 men working in 58 countries. We strive to live according to the spirit and vision of our founder St. Paul of The Cross. We live in apostolic communities, so as to be available to proclaim the Word of the Cross to a world in need of hope, so as to minister the compassion and mercy of God to those who are open to receive.

EARLY BEGINNINGS IN 1720:

 
 

The Passionists are an international religious community, officially called "The Congregation Of The Passion Of Our Lord Jesus Christ", founded by St. Paul of the Cross in 1720 in Italy. Our foundation came as a response to the needs of the time, where many people had experienced alienation from God and the Church, due in part to the political, social and religious upheavals of the time. Paul was a courageous man who proclaimed the gospel of the compassion and mercy of God.
 

In time, he was joined by other young men who desired to live together in Apostolic Community so as to share in this important mission to the People of God. Paul called his houses "retreats", simply meaning a place apart from others, so that the religious could find in solitude the power of God to return to their mission.
 

When Paul died in 1775, there were about 150 brothers and priests, living in 12 communities within Central Italy, although Paul dearly wanted to move into other parts of Italy, to other countries, and also to reclaim those who had been lost to the Church in England due to the Reformation.

THE SUPPRESSION OF 1810:

In the years after the death of the founder, the Passionists have shared in the joys and sufferings of God's People. In 1810 with the Napoleonic suppression of religious orders, 242 Passionists had to go home. Two months after the death of Napoleon in 1814, Pope Pius VII authorised the restoration of the Passionists. Not all returned.

THE EXPANSION OF THE 1840's AND 1850's:

1840 saw the first expansion of the Passionists outside Italy. New foundations were established in Belgium (1840), England (1842), Australia (1842), USA(1852), France (1854) and Ireland (1856).

THE MISSION TO THE AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINES IN 1842:

In May 1993, we celebrated the 150th anniversary of the first Australian foundation, for though seen as a failure to many, there still stands today a small but proud group of Aboriginal Catholics who trace their faith back to these men. Several were seen at Alice Springs in 1987 at the arrival of Pope John Paul 11 with their banner held high: "We were the First Catholics".

This mission to the Aborigines was short lived, abandoned in less than three years. Fr. Fabiano Giorgini CP writes the following in his book of1988, "A Brief History of the Congregation of the Passion of Jesus":

"In the summer of 1842, four Passionists left for Australia with the Benedictine Bishop John Bede Polding, Bishop of Sydney, to dedicate themselves to the Aborigines of the Stradbroke and Moreton Islands (near Brisbane). Misunderstandings arose between the Bishop and the Prefect Apostolic,Fr. Raymond Vaccari CP, and in 1846 the mission was abandoned, because of the lack of means for livelihood. Two of the religious left Australia, while two others remained, working in the dioceses until their deaths."

In fact three of these left by ship for Perth on the instructions of the Superior General. However, for lack of funds, they left the ship in Adelaide in September 1846, 10 years after the founding of the Colony. Fr.Maurice Lencioni CP worked in Adelaide and Morphetvale, and died there in1864. Fr. Joseph Snell CP worked at Morphetvale, but died in Carrisbrook Victoria while away for a rest. Fr. Luigi Pesciaroli CP returned to Italy 1849, and died in Corneto in 1874. Fr. Raymond Vaccari died in Peru.

SHARING IN THE PASSION:

The wars of Europe in the 19th and 20th centuries have affected the life of our communities in a profound way. Men were drafted into armies, communities were closed and men were martyred for their faith and apostolate.

In 1936, Passionists were martyred in the Spanish Civil War. The are called the martyrs of Daimiel. In 1948, our first Palestinian Passionist, Fr. John Salah CP, aged 48, was killed by a sniper at Bethany near Jerusalem. In 1951, the American Passionist Missionaries in China were imprisoned and tortured by the new Communist Government. They are called "The Dry Martyrs of China" - people who the enemies of the Church would attempt to crush almost to the point of death, but not to death. In 1952, Bishop Eugene Bossilkov CP, aged 52, was shot dead in Bulgaria, accused of being an American spy. In 1988, the American Fr. Carl Schmitz CP, aged 51, was murdered at his Mission in the Philippines, by a man he had trained.

AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND, PAPUA NEW GUINEA:

The present foundation in Australia began in Marrickville NSW on November21, 1887, as part of the Anglo-Hibernian Province of St. Joseph. Other Communities were soon established in Goulburn NSW (1891-1972), New Town Tas. (1893-1895)and Glen Osmond SA (1896). In 1922 the Province of the Holy Spirit was established in Australia. Today it includes Passionist Communities in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, as well as a student community in Irian Jaya in Indonesia.

Since 1926, other communities have opened, and some have closed. These are: St. lves NSW (1935), Geelong Vic (1946-1982), St.Kilda Vic (1951-1965),Oxley Qld (1955). Hobart (1956), Templestowe Vic (1965), Lae PNG (1955-61) then Vanimo PNG (1961), Hamilton NZ (1956-88), Terry Hills Parish NSW (1972), Botany NSW (1982-85), Port Augusta SA (1981), Elsternwick Vic (1982-95), Jaya Pura INDONESIA (1992).

Today, Passionist Communities are located at Glen Osmond SA, Hobart Tas, Marrickville NSW, Oxley Qld, Port Augusta SA, St. Ives NSW, Templestowe Vic,and those in the Diocese of Vanimo PNG. While the residence in New Zealand was closed in 1988, the apostolic work of the Passionists continues in that country with men returning from Australia to conduct retreats and missions, and to work with the Passionist Family Group Movement.

Since we live in Apostolic Communities, many of our men are on the move, according to the requirements of their mission. These men are involved in retreats, missions and family group ministry throughout the country, as well as supplying services in parishes while the pastors are on holidays or long service leave. The Passionist Family Group Movement that started in Terrey Hills Parish in 1972, has now expanded since 1982 to cover 180 Parishes in Australia and 55 in New Zealand.

On the local front we have men who work in parishes, as well as the chaplaincy services to hospitals, industry and schools. Some of our men are involved in the educational ministries and teach in seminaries and universities. Our senior men continue to add to the lives of their communities and to the needs of the local church in ways that they are able. In assigning men, we try to match the talents and skills of each man with the needs of the time.

We see ourselves today as modern apostles like St. Paul of the Cross. We go where the need is greatest, with the resources that are available. While the needs of people are increasing, what stops us is shortage of manpower. Please pray for and call to Mission those you believe could be part of our Passionist Community in this present era.

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Last modified: March 27, 2008