St. Paul of The Cross Monastery
Updated:
January 10, 2003
Sesquicentennial Celebration,
Philadelphia, PA
WE ARE THE PASSIONISTS!
Continuing 150 Years of Passionist
Ministry as the Journey Continues
After two
years of preparation by the Sesquicentennial Planning Committee, the dream
that the Passionist family could come together to celebrate the history
of 150 years of ministry came to fruition in Philadelphia, PA from August
30-September 2, 2002. Due to the tremendous desire for so many to share
this special event, we filled one hotel to capacity and overflowed into
another. Attending were over 550 lay men and women and nearly 250 Passionist
priests, brothers, and sisters coming from various Passionist houses, including
40 states and seven countries.
.
The first
Passionists received an invitation to come to Pittsburgh by Bishop Michael
O'Connor. On their way to Pittsburgh, they docked in Philadelphia and stayed
for several weeks. They continued their journey by stagecoach arriving
in Pittsburgh on December 7, 1852. As these four Passionists responded
to their invitation, we, too, responded coming from North, South, East,
and West to come together as one Passionist family in Philadelphia. Many
Pittsburghers were privileged to share in this historic event.
.
The opening
ritual included a prayer service and the blessing of water that was brought
by participants from all areas and joined together uniting us all as one.
The evening concluded with old friendships being renewed and new friendships
beginning. As a Passionist family, we gathered for mass each morning at
a local church and began our day at the hotel with Morning Prayer. There
were over thirty presentations to choose from on Saturday and Sunday ranging
from the Passion in scripture, to the Passionist history, to the contemporary
Passion in our life today.
.
Saturday
afternoon was free, and many of us attended the tours offered to the Colonial
Churches of the area, Valley Forge, and a historic Philadelphia tour including
the Liberty Bell. Others toured the city on their own, went shopping, or
met and shared memories.
.
"All decked
out and ready to go" many others joined us for the Jubilee Banquet Saturday
evening as we celebrated the Passionists ministry in North America and
beyond. The ballroom was an elegant background for a delectable dinner.
A surprise entrance by the Philadelphia Mummers began the entertainment
for the evening. Many of us had seen them on television, but were thrilled
to see them perform in person in their extravagant costumes.
.
The Eucharistic
Liturgy of Thanksgiving was held on Sunday at the Cathedral -- Basilica
of Saints Peter and Paul. Cardinal Archbishop of Philadelphia, Anthony
Bevilacqua, was the principal celebrant. Most Reverend Ottaviano D'Egidio,
Superior General of the Passionist Community, concelebrated with Passionist
Bishops, Auxiliary Bishops, General Consultors, and Provincials. The liturgy
was graced by the beautiful music we had experienced all weekend. A reception
at the Academy of Natural Sciences followed the mass.
.
The closing
ritual was Monday morning during which time the Sesquicentennial Cross
was blessed. This cross will be received by the Passionist Communities
throughout the year. The time spent together was an opportunity to
celebrate, share stories and to renew our commitment to the Passion of
Jesus Christ.
.
In closing,
to quote Bishop Norbert Dorsey, CP "You are God's holy and beautiful people.
You are the ones who put into practice the Compassion of Christ as your
journey continues."
WE ARE THE PASSIONISTS!
2002: Another
Historical Milestone
150th Anniversary
of the Passionists in the United States
.
Jubilee Theme.
."The
ComPassion of Christ: The Journey Continues..."
.
Updated
April 23, 2002
.
The Passionists
in the United States are celebrating a special jubilee this year. It was
150 years ago that four Passionists traveled from Rome to Pittsburgh to
establish the first Passionist foundation in North America.
A national celebration is scheduled for Labor Day Weekend, August 30 -
September 2, in Philadelphia. Some Passionist communities throughout the
United States have scheduled a local celebration. More information on the
national event is in the current issue of Province Perspectives, our community
newsletter.
The Planning Committee for the Philadelphia event chose the theme: "The
ComPassion of Christ: The Journey Continues..." Passionists commit themselves
to keep alive the passion of Christ in the hearts of Christians. This is
more than preaching the passion and death of Christ. It is also pointing
out the passion of Christ for life. The evangelists chose a special word
to express this passion for life, as they wrote of the compassion of Christ.
Often the evangelists use this unique word when crowds of people were assembled.
Jesus is moved with compassion when he sees the people hungry and faint.
He provides loaves and fishes to feed them. Or Jesus is moved with compassion
when he sees the throng of sick people around him, and he begins to heal
their infirmities. Another time the multitudes moved the Lord to compassion
because he saw them as sheep without a shepherd; he taught them as a guide
leading people into the light. The blind, the bereaved, the leper, the
unfortunate all draw the attention and action of Jesus.
"Compassion" in the Gospels is more than a feeling of sorrow. Rather, it
indicates that a person not is moved from the heart by the suffering or
of another but also is willing to be to be with the suffering person, to
ex pain of the other, to be in solidarity with Compassion means that one
is alleviate the pain and suffering through acts of and kindness.
To illustrate the theme, Bro. Michael Moran, C.P., artist in St. Paul of
the Cross Province, placed the Sign, the symbol of the Passionist Community
and of Christ's overwhelming love, in a landscape. "The Sign is superimposed
on the rising sun, symbolizing our presence in life and ministry over the
past 150 years and today," said Bro. Moran.
From the Sign, that is, from Christ through the Passionist Community, a
river of compassion flows. This river is both life giving and redeeming,
refreshing and reconciling. A road leading off into the horizon suggests
that the journey does indeed continue. The border of the logo points in
all four directions, indicating that the Passionist ministry and charism
reach out to all the world.
The Beginnings
- 1852 From Rome to Pittsburgh.....
October
10, Sunday
Bishop
Michael O'Connor of Pittsburgh leaves Rome by stage, accompanied by the
four Passionists chosen to go to the new world:
-
Fr. Anthony
Calandri, age 35
-
Fr. Albinus
Magno, age 37
-
Fr. Stanislaus
Parzyk, age 37
-
Bro. Lawrence
DiGiacomo, age 26
October
11-17
After spending
the night at Civitavecchia near Rome, they boarded ship for Toulon, France.
They traveled by land through Avignon and Lyon, arriving in Pads on October
17. The bishop had business to take care of in Ireland, so he parted from
the Passionists, who were waiting for a Passionist from Tomay, for whom
they had a packet of letters from the general superior and some relics.
It was agreed that the Passionists would meet the bishop in Liverpool,
England, by October 27.
October
24-26
The four
Passionists arrived in London from Calais and were met by Passionist Ignatius
Spencer.
The next day, Spencer traveled with the four by train to Birmingham and
from
there
to Liverpool. On October 26, Spencer arranged for a trip to Sutton so the
Italians could meet some English Passionists.
October
27-November 15
The Passionists
boarded the "City of Glasgow" and awaited the bishop. Bishop O'Connor's
late arrival from Dublin caused a delay in departure. The ship arrived
in Philadelphia, but passengers had to remain on board for a two-days quarantine.
November
15-December 7
Bishop
O'Connor introduced the Passionists to the bishop of Philadelphia, John
Neumann, who offered hospitality at the seminary. On November 19, Bishop
O'Connor, Calandri, and DiGiacomo arrived by train in Pittsburgh. The other
two arrived in early December.
.
Sesquicentennial Logo
Desisned by Bro. Michael Moran,
C.P.
The ComPassion of Christ ---
The Journey Continues ...
"To illustrate the theme of
the Passionist Sesquicentennial Celebration, I placed the Sign, the symbol
of the Passionist Community and of Christ's overwhelming love, in a landscape.
.
The Sign is superimposed
on the rising sun, symbolizing our presence in life and ministry over the
past 150 years and today.
.
From the Sign, specifically
from Christ through the Passionist Community, a river of compassion flows.
This river is both life giving and redeeming, refreshing and reconciling.
A road leading off into the horizon suggests that the journey does indeed
continue. The border of the logo points in all four directions indicating
that the ministry of the Congregation and Charism has gone out to all the
world.'
.
--Michael Moran, C.P.
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