N° 36 - New Series, 1-2015 Supplement to L’Eco of Saint Gabriel, July-August 2015 Sped. in a.p. -45% art.2 comma 20/c legge 662/96 THE PASSIONIST: “a living portrait of the Crucified” (St. Paul of the Cross) CONTENTS Passionist International Bulletin N. 36 - New Series - 1-2015 CIRCULAR LETTER ON COMMUNITY LIFE Supplement to L’Eco of Saint Gabriel, July-August 2015 Some Thoughts and Reflections Fr. Joachim Rego, C.P. Superior General . pag. 3 Editor General Curia NEWS FROM THE GENERAL CONSULTA MEETINGS of the Congregation of the Passion February 2-11 and April, 27-30, 2015 . » 6 JPIC WORKSHOP: Creating a Network General Consultor for Communications of Passionist solidarity . » 8 Fr. Denis Travers, C.P. THE NEW HISTORICAL COMMISSION Fr. Alessandro Ciciliani, (MAPRAES) . » 10 Editing and Translation of Texts Alessandro Foppoli, CP THE HOMILETIC DIRECTORY Lawrence Rywalt, CP AND THE PASSIONIST CHARISM Miguel Ángel Villanueva, CP Fr. Aldo Ferrari, (MAPRAES) . » 12 THE CRUCIFIX THAT PREACHED Photographs TO ST. PAUL OF THE CROSS Lawrence Rywalt, CP Fr. Lawrence Rywalt, (PAUL) . » 15 Stanley Baldon, CP PASSIONIST LIFE Address News from the Configurations and the Provinces Ufficio Comunicazioni Curia Generalizia THE REPAC PROVINCIAL CHAPTER Piazza Ss. Giovanni e Paolo 13 IN INDONESIA . » 17 00184 Roma - Italy THE FOURTH VICE-PROVINCIAL CONGRESS Tel. 06.77.27.11 IN JAPAN Fax. 06.700.84.54 Bro. Laurence Finn (PASPAC President) . » 19 Web Page: http://www.passiochristi.org e-mail: [email protected] SCOR PROVINCE FORMATION MEETING IN INDONESIA . » 21 Graphics 150 YEARS OF PASSIONIST PRESENCE IN MEXICO . » 22 Florideo D’Ignazio - Editoriale Eco srl ASSEMBLY OF THE CONFIGURATION Cover Logo OF JESUS CRUCIFIED . » 24 Loretta Lynch PASSIONIST SISTERS AND NUNS Cover photo “Ad nonam”, Bishop Molloy Passionist THE SISTERS OF ST. PAUL OF THE CROSS: Retreat House, Jamaica, New York BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATIONS . » 25 Final page photo SPECIAL EVENTS Detail of the Holy Shroud, A PASSIONIST IN THE PRESENCE OF THE graphic by Andrea Marzolla, CP (MAPRAES) HOLY SHROUD: “A LIVING PORTRAIT OF THE CRUCIFIED” . » 26 Printing Editoriale Eco s.r.l. PROFESSIONS AND ORDINATIONS . » 29 Località San Gabriele - Colledara NEW PUBLICATIONS . » 30 64045 San Gabriele (Teramo) - Italy Tel. 0861.975924 - Fax 0861.975655 NOTITIAE OBITUS . » 31 E-mail: [email protected] 2 BIP n. 36 - 1-2015 THE CURIA INFORMS CONGREGAZIONE DELLA PASSIONE DI GESÙ CRISTO P.ZA SS. GIOVANNI E PAOLO, 13 - 00184 ROMA - ITALIA TEL: (39)-06.77.27.11 – FAX: (39)-06.700.8454 The Superior General CIRCULAR LETTER ON COMMUNITY LIFE Some Thoughts and Reflections Fr. Joachim Rego, C.P. Superior General [Editor’s Note: Below are some excerpts from the Superior General’s Circular Letter on community life. To read the complete text, please go to the website www.passiochristi.org] February 18, 2015 Retreat of Sts. John and Paul Dear Brothers, INTRODUCTION In this letter, I wish to cast some random thoughts on the subject of community life. This is also in response to the proposal from the last General Chapter, which asked that the Superior General would undertake a specific pastoral action (catech- esis) on the communitarian dimension of our life. I aim to share some reflections on community life from selected authors, but especially from Pope Francis – which I encourage you to use for your personal reflection, but also urge you to share as brothers in “It is in the lived experience, more than anywhere else, community. where we can identify both the fruitful and evangelical There is never a time when the subject of commu- community life, and also the challenges and sufferings nity life is not an issue to talk about. We have done, encountered in community.” and continue to do, a lot of talking, sharing and dis- cussing about community life; there is also a vast amount of material written on this subject. I ask tening to the brothers’ experience of the fraternal life, myself: “What more can I say? Is there anything new I sense a yearning for companionship, acceptance, that I can add?” Perhaps a place to begin is the lived respect, harmony and working together on the one experience, because it is in the lived experience, more hand; but I also see and hear about loneliness, isola- than anywhere else, where we can identify both the tion, individualism, independence and excessive pri- fruitful and evangelical community life, and also the vacy on the other. challenges and sufferings encountered in community. In some instances, our communities are compared to ‘boarding houses’ – bodies living, praying, eating COMMUNITY LIFE: Thoughts & Reflections together, going out to work and returning to sleep. I believe that much of the cry to hear more about There is no communion! In fact some religious have this area of community life is in relation to the re-defined “common life” in such a way that it may be human-relational dimension, and not so much about understood to include religious who live alone for the the theological-spiritual dimension of which we can sake of their ministry but come together regularly for find lots of material, more especially some clear, mutual support. They claim to find more sincere com- beautiful and challenging thoughts expressed in our munion with their brothers and sisters in this way. Is Rule and Constitutions. it a case of “absence makes the heart grow fonder?” From my own experience in living the common Pope Francis emphasises the ‘spirituality of com- life, and from my visits to the communities and lis- munion’ as “a way of being” for religious and to be ➥ BIP n. 36 - 1-2015 3 THE CURIA INFORMS lived in community life: Communion is lived first and fore- most within the respective communi- ties of each Institute. To this end, I would ask you to think about my fre- quent comments about criticism, gossip, envy, jealousy, hostility as ways of acting which have no place in our houses. This being the case, the path of charity open before us is almost infinite, since it entails mutu- al acceptance and concern, practic- ing a communion of goods both material and spiritual, fraternal correction and respect for those who are weak … it is the “mystique of living together” which makes our life “a sacred pilgrimage”. We need to ask ourselves about the way we “We must not underestimate the witness value of our community life.” relate to persons from different cul- tures, as our communities become increasingly international. How can we enable each ing in community together with those whom we did member to say freely what he or she thinks, to be not choose, can be a witness to the values of unity, accepted with his or her particular gifts, and to difference, harmony, acceptance, inclusion and coop- become fully co-responsible? (Apostolic Letter to eration for a common purpose. We bear witness to Consecrated People, No.3) “the Christian community founded on the love of In an address at a symposium on Apostolic Christ, who by His Cross, ‘tore down the wall of sep- Religious Life, Sr Sara Butler of the Missionary aration’ and made all one people.” (Const. #26) Servants of the Most Blessed Trinity said: “Common Pope Francis encourages us: “In these days when life is prescribed not simply for reasons of conven- fragmentation justifies widespread sterile individual- ience and economy, nor even for mutual support in ism and when the weakness of relationships breaks ministry, but because it manifests our communion in up and ruins the care of the human person, we are Christ. By our consecration, we share the same tra- invited to humanize community relationships, to ditions, spirituality, apostolic purpose, resources, encourage communion of heart and spirit in the and constitutions. Our sisterly or brotherly commun- Gospel sense, because “there is a communion of life ion announces that persons who love God are able to among all those who belong to Christ. It is a com- love and sustain each other, accept one another’s munion that is born of faith” that makes “the Church, gifts and limitations, share joys and sorrows – in her most profound truth, communion with God, despite differences in age, race, language, nationali- intimacy with God, a communion of love with Christ ty, culture, temperament, and ministerial compe- and with the Father in the Holy Spirit, which extends tence. Because the asceticism of community life to brotherly communion”. (Rejoice!, No. 9) demands love, forgiveness, patience, and mutual self- As it is our vocation and call “to live the fullness giving, it contributes to growth in holiness. Vowed of Christian love in an evangelical community” life, in fact, has serious consequences chiefly for (Const. #25), we reflect on the invitation of Pope those who live together. In an age of exaggerated Francis that this be characterised by ‘joy’, which is individualism, community life is truly a prophetic confirmed in the experience of community life: sign. By living together, even at great cost, religious “Since we are witnesses of a communion beyond our are able to bear striking witness to the Trinitarian vision and our limits, we are called to wear God’s mystery of self-emptying love.” (“Apostolic smile. Community is the first and most believable Religious Life: A Public, Ecclesial Vocation”, gospel that we can preach. We are asked to humanise Stonehill College, 27 September 2008). our community. “Build friendship between your- We must not underestimate the witness value of selves, family life, love among you. May the our community life. Religious are asked to be wit- monastery not be a Purgatory but a family. There are nesses of the humanising power of the Gospel and there will be problems but like in a family, with through a life of brotherhood.