The Passionists Down Under From Italy to Australia
This is Our Story

INTRODUCTION

The Passionists in Holy Spirit Province, comprising the countries of Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, are part of an international community of 2500 men working in 58 countries. We strive to live according to the spirit and vision of our founder St. Paul of The Cross. We live in apostolic communities, so as to be available to proclaim the Word of the Cross to a world in need of hope, so as to minister the compassion and mercy of God to those who are open to receive.

EARLY BEGINNINGS

IN 1720 The Passionists, officially called "The Congregation of The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ", were founded by St. Paul of the Cross in 1720 in Italy. Our foundation came as a response to the needs of the time, where many people had experienced an alienation from God and the Church, due in part to the political, social and religious upheavals of the time.

Paul was a courageous man who proclaimed the gospel of the compassion and mercy of God. In time, he was joined by other young men who desired to live together in Apostolic Community so as to share in this important mission to the People of God. Paul called his houses "retreats", simply meaning a place apart from others, so that the religious could find in solitude the power of God, then to return to their mission of preaching.

When Paul died in St John & Paul’s in Rome in 1775, there were about 150 brothers and
priests, living in 12 communities within Central Italy. Paul dearly wanted to move into other parts of Italy, to other countries, and also to reclaim those who had been lost to the Church in England due to the Reformation.

THE SUPPRESSION OF 1810

In the years after the death of the Founder, the Passionists have shared in the joys and sufferings of God's People. In 1810, with the Napoleonic suppression of religious orders, 242 Passionists had to go home. Two months after the death of Napoleon in 1814, Pope Pius VII authorised the restoration of the Passionists. Not all returned.

THE EXPANSION OF THE 1840's AND 1850's

With the restoration came the challenges to re-discover the life and charism of the Community. Yet only 26 years after returning to community life, the Passionists began to
expand to other countries. From 1840 the Passionists expanded beyond Italy:

Belgium (1840) England (1842)
Australia (1843) USA (1852)
France (1854) Ireland (1856)

THE FIRST CATHOLIC MISSION TO THE AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINES IN 1842

In May 1993, we celebrated the 150th anniversary of the first Australian foundation amongst the Aboriginal People of Stradbroke Island, in Moreton Bay near Brisbane. This mission lasted only three years, and though seen as a failure to many, there still stands today a small but proud group of Aboriginal Catholics who trace their faith back to these men. The Stradbroke people were seen at Alice Springs in 1987 at the arrival of Pope John Paul II with their banner held high: "We were the First Catholics".

Fr. Fabiano Giorgini CP writes the following in his book of 1988, "A Brief History of the Congregation of the Passion of Jesus":

"In the summer of 1842, four Passionists left for Australia with the Benedictine Bishop John Bede Polding, Bishop of Sydney, to dedicate themselves to the Aborigines of the Stradbroke and Moreton Islands (off Brisbane). Misunderstandings arose between the Bishop and the Prefect Apostolic, Fr. Raymond Vaccari CP, and in 1846 the mission was abandoned, because of the lack of means for livelihood. Two of the religious left Australia, while two others remained, working in the Diocese of Adelaide until their deaths."

In fact three of these left by ship en route for Perth on the instructions of the Superior General. However, for lack of funds, they left the ship in Adelaide in September 1846, 10 years after the founding of the new Colony.

Fr. Maurice Lencioni CP worked in Adelaide and Morphett Vale, and died there in 1864. He is buroied in the grounds of St Paul's Retreat in Glen Osmond (Adelaide).

Fr. Joseph Snell CP worked at Morphett Vale, but died in Carisbrook Vic while way for a rest.

Fr. Luigi Pesciaroli CP returned to Italy in 1849, and died in Corneto in 1874.

Fr.Raymund Vaccari CP, the last to leave the mission, died in Peru at a Franciscan Friary.

Today the little Church of St of St Paul of the Cross at Dunwich stands as a reminder of the Founding Mission of these men. Their Story continues in the Stories of the Aboriginal Descendants from Stradbroke Island who proudly proclaim: “We were the First Catholics.”

RETURN TO STRADBROKE

In August 2007, four Passionists and four young people joined the Journey of the Cross and Icon to Stradbroke Island as part of the preparation for World Youth Day. The short visit was a memorable one as we remembered the first meeting of our mutual ancestors in 1843, then they brought the Cross to the Aboriginal People. One of their elders, Aunty Rose Borey, told all assembled that they had forgotten their Catholics origins until Fr John Cummins CP came there in 1964 and told the Passionist Story.

THE SECOND BEGINNING IN AUSTRALIA

The first continuous foundation in Australia began in Marrickville NSW on November 21, 1887, as part of the Anglo-Hibernian Province. Other Communities were soon established in Goulburn NSW (1891-1972), New Town Tas (1893-1895) and Glen Osmond SA (1896). In 1922 the Province of the Holy Spirit was established in Australia. Today members of the Province of the Holy Spirit work in Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, USA & Italy.

Since 1926, other communities have opened, and some have closed.

These are:
• St.Ives, NSW (1935-2002)
• Geelong, Vic (1946-1982)
• St. Kilda, Vic (1951-1965)
• Oxley, Qld (1955)
• Hobart, Tas (1956)
• Templestowe, Vic (1965)
• Lae, Papua New Guinea (1955-61)
• Vanimo, Papua New Guinea (1961)
• Hamilton, New Zealand (1956-88)
• Terry Hills, Parish NSW (1972-2004)
• Botany, NSW (1982-85)
• Port Augusta, SA (1981-2007)
• Elsternwick, Vic (1982-85)
• Jaya Pura, Indonesia (1992-94)
• Boroko, Port Moresby PNG (1995)
• Endeavour Hills, Vic (1998)
• Bourke, NSW (1998-2005).

Today Passionist Communities are located in Australia at

• Endeavour Hills Vic: Parish and Formation.
• Glen Osmond SA: Parish & Retreat Centre
• Hobart Tas: Parish.
• Marrickville NSW: Provincial Office, Parish, other ministries
• Oxley Qld: Mission House
• Templestowe Vic: Retreat Centre.

In Papua New Guinea we have missionaries in the Diocese of Vanimo in the north west of the country, serving from Australia & Indonesia. We also have a residence and parish in Boroko, Port Moresby. At times Passionists in Australia have worked part time in PNG, running retreat programmes with the religious, priests, students, & seminarians.

While the Passionist residence in New Zealand was closed in 1988, the work of the Passionists continues in that country with men commuting from Australia to conduct retreats and missions, and to work with the Passionist Family Group Movement. The lay people have a strong appreciation of their share in Passionist Charism today.

Over the past few years, we have explored new ways of Sharing the Story and Sharing the Spirit with lay people, young and old. This has led to offering formation opportunities in the Passionist Charism, and the development of groups of Passionists, lay and professed, who form groups called Passionist Companions.

Since we live in Apostolic Communities, many of our men are on the move, according to the requirements of their mission. These men are involved in parish ministry, conduct retreats and parish missions, are chaplains to hospitals and schools, teach in seminaries and universities, assist with the family group ministry throughout the country, and offer short term supply services in parishes. Of recent years, sharing of the Passionist Charism has become a key outreach with lay man and women joining some of us as Passionist Companions.

We see ourselves today as modern apostles like St. Paul of the Cross. We go where the
need is greatest, with the resources that are available. While the needs of people are increasing, what stops us is shortage of manpower, men prepared to share life and mission with us.

NEW MEMBERS OF THE ONE FAMILY

The Cross & Passion Sisters (Passionists) have been represented in this Province by Sr
Martin Joseph CP, a surgeon working in Papua New Guinea. In 2007 they established
a house in St Paul Apostle Parish Endeavour Hills (Melbourne) where late in the year they began work in the Parish. In 2008 their work will extend beyond the Parish as they extend their Community Development work.

The Passionist Sisters of St Paul of the Cross have three centres of Mission in Australia. They work with the Scalabrinian Congregation in two centres in Sydney, in St Brigid's Parish Marrickville, and in St Paul's Retreat, Glen Osmond (Adelaide).