Passionist Ministry
The primary ministry of every Passionist is to “Preach Christ Crucified”. However, this is expressed in the various ways in which the Passionists express their ministry.
The ministries of the Passionists cover a variety of fields ranging from organising and leading retreats and missions in parishes or within Passionist retreat houses, lecturing at tertiary level, running parishes as parish priests, giving spiritual direction, writing, being chaplains at hospitals and schools, being administrators and managers, working for the United Nations.... the list goes on.
In short, we believe that the particular ministry each one of us is called to, should be supported and exercised. Read about what some of the Passionists have to say about ministry!
Every Passionist takes inspiration from the Founder of the Congregation, St Paul of the Cross, who set the vision for what the Passionists are to do. This vision, although much of our ministry has changed over the centuries, still remains true to what St Paul of the Cross envisaged, and that is to be there for the weak, the poor, the suffering by reaching out with the loving compassion of Jesus Christ.
What Passionists say about their ministry
Brian Traynor, C.P.
Brian is a priest and leader of our community in Marrickville, Sydney. He is a member
of the Provincial Council and Co-
Ever since the Passionists began we have been striving to find a balance between ministry and community. We say we are called to live ‘apostolic community’ and if we forego one of these aspects, the other is diminished.
Having said that, it is clear that we do not just ‘sit in community’. We are called to engage in mission, so our ministry is vital. There are a variety of ways we do this and it’s not so important what we do, but how we do it. Our founder, St Paul of the Cross, urged Passionists to ‘exhaust every means possible to preach the message of the cross (God’s love)’. My conviction is that we must bring compassion to those we engage with. In my own case, there are wonderful opportunities for doing this by preaching parish missions and engaging in leadership training, especially with Passionist Family Groups.
Jeff Daly, C.P.
Jeff is a Passionist Brother and is the Provincial Archivist at the Provincial Office
in Sydney. Having been greatly influenced by non-
But only after I had turned 21 so I could gain some experience in the work force.
For five years I was employed by the Post Office and worked in most areas, including training as a telephone technician. At the age of 21 I began to notice the Passionists as a possibility, as several of my classmates at school, and also some members of the Young Christian Workers Movement to which I belonged, had joined the Passionists. Through visiting them and seeing the spirit of the Students and Brothers I settled on this Religious Congregation to join.
At the time I joined the work of a Brother was more or less confined to the farm, or catering, cleaning or maintaining and keeping our many places in order.
Now over forty years later, I have been a farmer, a cook, a builder, a teacher, an artist, an Amateur Radio operator, a Magician, a parish worker, an electrician and now completely home and settled in my work as the Archivist and Historian for the Passionists here in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. What lies ahead is anyone’s guess but by taking on the work of a Passionist Brother I am prepared to adapt and accept the challenge.
cpvocations.com.au -
