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The children in Passionist Sister Mary Dumond’s class at St. John the Evangelist School in Attleboro, Massachusetts took a different approach to the Stations of the Cross.

Invited Guests

Core Team

Honorary Passionists

The Passionist International Volunteer Project was launched on Friday 29th July  at the Provincial Assembly of St. Paul’s Province.  A number of prominent people from the Diocese of Leeds were invited including Bishop Arthur Roche who unfortunately was unable to be with us as he had to attend a funeral but he wanted us to know that the project had his full support.  Attached is a photo of the invited which included Professor Freda Bridge, Principal of Leeds Trinity University College, Mgr. John Wilson – Episcopal Vicar for Evangelisation, Mgr. Paul Grogan, Chaplain of L.T.U.C.,  Miss Anna Cowell – Diocesan Youth Co-ordinator. Miss Joanna Jackson a former Sister and Chaplain of St. Joseph’s College and 2 members of the Diocesan Peru Commission.

After a brief introduction from Anne explaining where the idea came from, Elaine and Sue described the project with using an excellent PowerPoint presentation which will be made available to those who wish to promote the venture.

Sue, Elaine and Joanna were made Honorary Passionist Associates by Sister Francis Cullen and the Briery Community presented each of them with a bouquet of flowers.

The Chapter formally agreed to promote the project and a number of Sisters gave generous donations.

Visit the website of the Passionist International Volunteer Project

Friday 29^th – Sunday 31^st July saw a gathering of young adults at Holy Cross Centre in Templestowe for the first weekend-long retreat for the Passionist Youth Movement (PYM) Victoria in Australia. The aim was to offer people aged 20-30 a chance to gather with like-minded people to share their story, their faith journey and the Passionist Charism. It is also important that as people of God we take time out from our busy lives to reflect and to reconnect with God, and I think that was certainly achieved this weekend.

Friday night was an opportunity to get to know a little bit about each other and to reflect on our individual gifts, the gifts of the Spirit. Saturday included sessions about our journey within the universe story and about our individual journey in a session that looked at ‘life as a pilgrimage’. We then walked a ‘labyrinth’ as we considered where we’ve come from, where we’re at, and where we’re going, and how we as individuals journey, where we are present. And the afternoon session was led by Fr Tim O’Toole CP and Sister Anne Cunningham CP as they shared about the Passionist Charism, what it means to them, and how we as young people can live it out in our everyday lives.

Saturday evening was a quiet session as we looked at how all of this fits in with the message of Jesus. This was done with a Gospel reading, meditation and time for reflection in the beautiful candle-lit Chapel. The retreat then ended with the 10:30am Parish Mass Sunday morning, celebrated with great joy and reverence by Fr Jacob CP, a wonderful way to finish.

It was a fantastic few days with quiet time, discussion, games, music, the Eucharist and social time together. We all come from different backgrounds with different life experiences, and yet we share a faith in God and a desire to know Him better. There was a lot to share, and a valuable experience was had by all.

The retreat was coordinated by Fr Kevin Hennessey CP, Sr Brigid Murphy CP, Maria-Grazia Ricchetti, Loredane Guinnea and Marita Stretch. This is the core team who bring together the monthly PYM gatherings. These evenings begin with a shared meal at 6:30pm at Holy Cross, followed by a guided session on a chosen theme, quiet time for prayer and reflection, discussion amongst the young adults, and then finishing with a cup of tea and a chat.

- Marita Stretch

Here, standing, are Angelica and Rosaleen. Sitting are associates and Shrine volunteers Betty Cain and Bernadette Daly.

Here is associate Joanne Crompton and Sisters Eileen O'Riordan and Monica Byrne.

Here are Moya and Sr. Pat Redgrave. Pat lives in Liverpool and helps with the Shrine Commission.

Today the CLT met with the members of the Shrine Commission. This is a group of women
from St  Helen Parish  in Sutton, where the shrine for Dominic Barberi, Ignatius
Spencer and our own Elizabeth Prout is located. It is this group that plans the
annual pilgrimage in honor of Elizabeth Prout, and also liturgies for the feasts
of Dominic and Ignatius. They are also associates of St. Paul’s province.

Sisters Christine Alderson, C.P., Maire O’Sullivan, C.P. and Marguerita Traynor, C.P.

When more than 600 sisters gather in Southern California Aug. 9-12 for the annual assembly of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, they will set aside discussions on strategic planning and talks about mergers and consolidations. There won’t be workshops on recruiting new members or on financing retirement. Gone will be the breakout sessions that often follow keynote addresses at their national meetings.

Instead, these leaders of the 334 congregations in the Leadership Conference will sit together in silence, discovering what God is calling forth for religious life today. They will have no expectation of a particular insight or result. Rather, they will spend time in collective contemplation to explore where religious life in the United States may be moving.

More at: http://bit.ly/mUsaRE