Next Item on the Agenda:
Selected Decisions made by
the Passionist Provincial Council:
1881-1906
By Father Rob Carbonneau, C.P.
Before 1906 St. Paul of the Cross Province consisted of the entire United States Passionist ministry sites including Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (1852), Virginia City, Nevada (1863-1864), Dunkirk, New York (1860), West Hoboken, New Jersey (1861), Baltimore, Maryland (1865), Cincinnati, Ohio (1871), and Louisville, Kentucky (1879). Mexico and South America were mission territory.
Because this era of Passionist history has received limited study, the Provincial Curia Minutes of St. Paul of the Cross Province, 1881-1924 is a rich guide to leadership decisions about Passionist seminary life and ordination of priests, confirmation of rectors: religious superiors and vicars: assistant superiors, as well as reassignment of Passionist personnel: priests and brothers.
In 1906 two United States Passionist provinces were created. East of the Ohio River was St. Paul of the Cross Province. West of the Ohio River was Holy Cross Province. Examination of these selected decisions of the Provincial and his Council from 1881-1906 is a first-hand look at this understudied period.
Bear in mind, as you read, that a provincial was elected every three years at a provincial chapter attended only by rectors. Eight different provincials, (some with multiple terms) held office from 1881 to 1906. [See Passionist Provincials.] During this time, the provincial council (curia) consisted of the provincial and two consultors (advisers). The provincial council could meet as many as five times a year. Meetings in January, April and December were set in stone. Meetings of the provincial council did rotate from monastery to monastery.
The excerpts below concentrate on Passionist properties which I have classified by location. In other cases, theme is a better marker. In any sense, we get insight on Passionist finances and the decision-making process to build, not build, or rebuild, a Passionist monastery. Pay special attention to the Passionist efforts in Mexico and Argentina. Today, Passionists rarely reflect on this historic link to the Spanish-speaking world.
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