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There are more than two thousand Passionists in 52 nations in the five continents. They are led by the superior general who is elected every six years. He is assisted in the government of the congregation by 4 consultors from the around the world. The present superior general is Father Ottaviano D'Egidio from Italy. The Vicar General, his second in charge, is Fr. Denis Travers from Australia.
The congregation is divided into provinces, vice-provinces and vicariates. Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea make up the Province of the Holy Spirit. This province consists of 6 communities, St. Brigid's Marrickville in Sydney, St. Paul's "The Monastery" in Glen Osmond, Adelaide; St. Mary's, Oxley in Brisbane; St. Joseph's in Hobart City Centre; Holy Cross in Templestowe and the Passionist Community in Endeavour Hills, Melbourne.
The Congregational Leader of our Province, the Provincial, is Fr. Denis Travers whose offices are at St. Brigid's in Marrickville, Sydney. However the Passionists see the many women and men who share their love for Jesus Crucified and the spirit of Paul of the Cross as an integral part of their Family.
There are hundreds of family, friends, benefactors, members of Passionists parishes & Passionist Family Groups who with the Passionist priests & brothers and the Passionist Sisters & Nuns make up the Passionist family in this Province. For more information about the Passionists, nationally and internationally, see the website of the Holy Spirit Province of the Passionists.
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 The
special insignia of every Passionist is the "Sign", the
heart-shaped emblem you see on this page.It catches, in an image, the
meaning of Passionist life. It can be found throughout of Church
of St. Brigid's, in the windows, the mosaics, the shrines. And, of course, it is worn by the Passionist religious
themselves.
In
the middle of the emblem are the Words, Jesu
XPI Passio. Written in Greek and Latin, the languages of the early
Church. Those words mean: "the Passion of Jesus Christ," (The
three nails at the bottom and the cross at the top remind us
symbolically of His suffering and death.)
Every
Passionist takes a special vow, a solemn promise, to spend his energies
in promoting remembrance of the sufferings of Jesus. This vow defines
the purpose of the Passionist community. We pledge to keep deep in our
hearts the memory of the cross and to do what is in our power to remind
others of it.
Why
promise to do something like this? The answer lies with the meaning of
the cross and death of Jesus Christ for the world.
First,
the death of Jesus was no mere brutal execution of an extraordinary
Jewish teacher and prophet long ago. His death was an event that changed
human history. Jesus died that others might live. God so loved the world
that he allowed his only Son to give his very life for us. The cross
becomes the symbol telling us God's love is stronger than death.
Passionists want to tell the world about that love.
But
there are other reasons for the Passionist vow. Jesus' death on the
cross was a death in the cause of justice. He was executed because he
challenged accepted values. He sided with the poor and the outcasts. He
condemned oppressive structures. Jesus was a prophet and prophets meet
strong opposition.
His
cross reminds us that Christians must listen to the cries of the poor.
We are in solidarity with those whom society may forget or even exploit.
The cross is a sign of justice. To remind the world about the cross is
to challenge the world for its injustice and neglect. Passionists are
pledged to that challenge.
Finally,
remembering the cross means remembering those in the world who bear the
cross today: the disabled, the sick, the dying, the grieving, those
isolated and alone -- all who bear the burden of pain. Jesus identified
himself with the "least". He shared their burdens and brought
them hope. He, too, bore the cross.
Christians
who believe in Jesus find strength in the memory of his Passion. Jesus
knew pain and death. He also tasted the victory of everlasting life.
Death is not the final word for those who believe. This , too, is part
of the Resurrection message Passionists proclaim to the world.
The special sign we wear is meant to symbolize a
solemn commitment to proclaim God's great love made known through the
cross of Jesus. We nourish that memory in our hearts through prayer. We
share that good news with all the world. We proclaim it through
preaching, in our parishes and retreat centres, through radio and television, and by our
presence in hospitals, classrooms, campuses, missions and those
ministries of service to the community.
--
Don Senior, C.P. |
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