“We have at the heart of our spirituality a loving memory of the Crucified Christ, by which is meant meditation on the love and mercy of God. God so loved the world that he sent his only Son, not just to be among us but to take the form of a slave and die a brutal death at the hands of the Roman Empire.
From St Joseph’s Province (England and Wales) Vision Statement
It is this passionate love which is the glory of God, and it is this same love, revealed in the life and passion of Jesus, which gives us hope. The apostolic outlook of a Passionist is very much to see the Crucified God in His Crucified Ones – that is, to see the face of the suffering Christ wherever humanity or God’s created earth suffers, and to respond in love and mercy.”
The Congregation of the Passion is a Religious Order of men in the Catholic Church with mission to “keep alive the memory of the Passion of Jesus Christ”. The heart of the Passion of Jesus is God’s passionate love for all people and all creation, so we find many ways to speak of and witness to this Love and Passion.
We witness to this Love in our daily work with and on behalf of the crucified of today: those who are poor, oppressed and suffering in many ways: hosting refugees and asylum seekers: through community involvement, presence and advocacy in areas of social deprivation: through helping those in anguish of mind and heart: through campaigning for justice, peace and creation on behalf of the Crucified People and the Crucified Earth: through hospital and prison chaplaincy: through pastoral care in retreat houses, parishes and schools.
Speaking and preaching is a significant part of our life and work. We do this in many different ways and places: We are invited to speak to groups in the church and in the wider community. We speak to justice and peace groups, priests and religious, students and others. We share our message through writing and publishing, on paper and on the web. We speak and preach at retreats and in parishes. Some of us take part in public vigils and protests, and are interviewed for magazines, newspapers, websites, radio or television.
St Paul of the Cross saw the sign of the Cross on the forehead of the poor. In recent years, our Province has sought to move beyond traditional church based ministries, to seek out a deeper solidarity with the poor, powerless and ‘crucified’ of today. This new way of reaching out has been deepened particularly in inner city contexts, areas of social deprivation, and ‘sites of suffering’. It is in such contexts that, like Mary our Mother, we have been able to ‘stand at the foot of the cross’, contemplate the continuing crucifixion of Christ in our sisters and brothers and the earth, and act in the confident hope of Resurrection.
The Passionist Order has a presence in 61 countries worldwide. To find out more from the Congregation in the UK (St Joseph’s Province) see our latest news and reflections, and go to our vocations pages to enquire about joining us or volunteering opportunities.
Passionists in England and Wales
Below, you can watch interviews with two members of the Passionist Order in England and Wales – known as St. Joseph’s Province – Fr Martin Newell, and Fr Nicholas Postlethwaite, speaking about their backgrounds, what attracted them to Passionist life, and what that life looks like.
More About Life as a Passionist
Read more about the experiences of Passionists in England and Wales. See all articles and videos here.
Find out more about the varied communities that have grown within the UK Passionist family.
Passionists in England and Wales see the crucified God in the crucified people of this age, and the crucified Earth. Read more about what this means.
The Passionists are a Catholic Religious Order, as well as a worldwide family who dedicate themselves to Passionist principles.
At the heart of Passionist spirituality is contemplation of the Passion the suffering and the Cross - of Jesus Christ. Our spirituality is simple but very, very deep.