Monastic Congregation of the Nuns of the Passion of Jesus Christ

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Just over three years ago, in 2015, the superiors of Passionist Nuns monasteries from around the world met in Rome and discerned the need to form a juridical structure of communion. This structure of communion was intended to respect the autonomy of the individual monasteries, while facilitating mutual assistance and unity of spirit, strengthening the precious charism entrusted to us by the Holy Spirit through the heart of our founder, St. Paul of the Cross.

These three years of much prayer, work, and dialog on this important work in the revitalization of the Passionist Nuns, have borne their first fruits: On June 29, 2018, the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life formally erected the structure of communion, called a “Monastic Congregation,” approving its statutes.

Starting in 2015, the Holy See helped us establish a juridic structure of communion among our various monasteries, the Monastic Congregation of the Nuns of the Passion of Jesus Christ, and in 2018 its statutes were officially approved. We held our first General Chapter in Rome in January 2019 and elected our Mother President and General Council to guide and assist our monasteries throughout the world. We look forward to this new opportunity to build stronger bonds of charity among us, and to strengthen and support each other in living out our Passionist charism.

We are also delighted to give our love and support to our new Mother President, who happens to be our monastery’s very own Mother Catherine Marie Schuhmann!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prayers for the Second General Chapter

It’s hard to believe it has been 6 years since our first General Chapter of Passionist Nuns - yet here we are, beginning our second! And what a fitting day to begin: May 3rd, the anniversary of the foundation of our proto-monastery in Corneto (now Tarquinia), Italy.

Our own Mother John Mary and Sr. Cecilia Maria are overseas, representing our community as delegates at the Chapter these next few weeks. They and other Superiors and delegates from Passionist monasteries worldwide will pray and deliberate about the steps the Lord wishes our Congregation to take over the next 6 years.

Among their most important decisions to make: the election of a new Mother President and General Council! Our own Mother Catherine Marie has worked tirelessly in this role since 2019, and she has laid a firm foundation upon which the next general leadership of the Congregation can build.

Please join us in praying for our Sisters, and for all the Capitulars, that they may be open to the guidance and inspiration of the Holy Spirit at this crucial moment!

 

 

 

 

Based on the Nuns constitutions before Vatican II, the Superior of the monastery of Nuns is called Mother President.

Now, Mother President is the Superior of the Monastic Congregation of Passionist Nuns.

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Of the Decree of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life

On May 3, 1771, with the investiture of the Venerable Mother Maria Crocifissa, born Faustina Geltrude Costantini, and her first companions, and with the erection of the Protomonastery of Tarquinia, St. Paul of the Cross saw the fulfillment of the impulse of the Holy Spirit to begin, alongside the male religious institute of the Discalced Clerics of the Most Holy Cross and Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, today called the Congregation of the Passion of Jesus Christ (Passionists), also a female branch of cloistered nuns who, “ad instar monialium”, in silence and prayer, would resemble in every way “the Passionate Jesus and the Most Holy Mary of Sorrows” (Regulations and Constitutions, Chapter I), and with their life of prayer, concealment, solitude and penance, would soothe the wounds of the Crucifix, but also of so many crucified people of yesterday and today.
 

Over time, as a testimony to the richness and fruitfulness of the Passionist charism, with the grace of the Holy Spirit and the approval of the competent Authority of the Church, several sui iuris monasteries have arisen in various continents. Professing the same Rules and Constitutions approved by the Apostolic See, the Passionist Religious have always lived in close communion of life and intent among themselves and in close bond with the Religious of the Congregation of the Passion of Jesus Christ.

After a journey of reflection and study of the common charismatic heritage and verification of the structures of life and government, conducted under the guidance of the Rev. Sr. Fernanda Barbiero, smsd, General Delegate of the Apostolic See, and in light of the current circumstances and the different conditions in which the monasteries find themselves, located in different geographical, cultural and ecclesial contexts, the conviction has matured of the opportunity and convenience of having a structure of life and government that, without prejudice to the autonomy of each monastery sui iuris, contributes to implementing the common charismatic belonging and the mission entrusted by the Church.

Therefore, after prolonged and broad consultation with the monasteries concerned, having seen the request presented by the Rev. General Delegate on 25 January 2018, taking into account what is indicated in the Apostolic Constitution Vultum Dei quaerere on the contemplative life, of the Supreme Pontiff Francis, with particular reference to nn. 28-30, this Dicastery with the present decree erects the

CONGREGATION
OF THE NUNS OF THE PASSION OF JESUS CHRIST

composed of all the sui iuris monasteries which profess the Rule and Constitutions of the Founder, St. Paul of the Cross, and the Declarations drawn up according to the faculty granted by the Holy See to the same monasteries, dated 26 May 1977.

Furthermore, it approves and confirms the General Statutes that govern it, according to the Italian-language copy, kept in its archives.

The same Decree also authorizes the Reverend General Delegate of the Apostolic See to convene and preside over the first General Chapter, in accordance with the aforementioned General Statutes.

Hoping that the new structure of life and communion will contribute to promoting and increasing the Passionist charism and to safeguarding the genuine contemplative cloistered spirit, we express the most sincere hope that, faithful to the intentions of the Founder, Saint Paul of the Cross, the Passionist Nuns will continue to be in the Church and for the Church, through prayer and the offering of themselves in union with the Crucified Love, a testimony for the world of the richness and beauty of a life entirely dedicated to God.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary.

From the Vatican, 29 June 2018, Solemnity of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul.

Dom João Braz Card. Aviz – Prefect

Dom José Rodríguez Carballo, OFM – Archbishop Secretary

 

 

 

Council 2019 – 2025

Mother Catherine Marie Schuhmann, CP
Mother President (United States)

Mother Gertrude Poggio, CP

Vicar, Bursar (Italy\France)

Sr. Luzia Daniela Almeida Prado, CP 

Counselor, secretary (Brazil)

Mother Maria Martina Naiman, CP

Counsellor (Indonesia)

Mother Ana Maria Cabañas, CP

Councilor (Mexico)

Edited 15 hours ago by graciandelamadrededios