From Behind Monastery Walls to A World View: Passionist Bulletin 1943-1947 A Historical Analysis and Reflection
by Father Rob Carbonneau, C.P.
The first five issues of the Passionist Bulletin stored at the Passionist Historical Archives in Union City, New Jersey reveal a publication trying to get on its feet in that they were mimeographed and approximately 25 pages in length. Issues 6-28 are more professional. Paper quality and graphics are better. Publication of photos begins in issue 7. The devotional integrity of Passionist monastic life in that era is obvious in that the masthead of each issue prints the date of publication, the liturgical feast and publication number. Generally speaking-editorial tweaking aside-every issue offered news on various topics.
Passionist History, Spirituality and Culture: One section concentrated on some aspect of Passionist spirituality or life style as expressed in the hierarchy of canonical legislation on religious life. Warren Womack, Roger Mercurio and other Passionist students of the day offered thoughts on the Passionist past. In some cases more detective work is needed to determine authors since it was customary for religious to use their religious titles rather than their family names.
News of Holy Cross Province: From the start the publication promoted life and ministry in foundations of the western province. In many respects this second area was the heart and soul of the publication since it offered news summaries from every Passionist foundation in Holy Cross Province. In a real sense this allowed the Passionist readers to go behind the monastery walls so as to be part of the daily rhythms of life and prayer of their confreres The Chronicle section of each issue offered news from Immaculate Conception Retreat, Chicago, Illinois; Sacred Heart Retreat, Louisville, Kentucky; Our Lady of Good Counsel Retreat, St. Louis, Missouri; Holy Cross Monastery, Cincinnati, Ohio; Mater Delorosa Retreat, Sierra Madre, California; St. Paul Monastery, Detroit, Michigan; St. Francis De Hieronymo Novitiate Retreat, St. Paul, Kansas; St. Gabriel Retreat, Des Moines, Iowa; and the Colored or Negro Missions-as they were known at the time-in Fairfield and Ensley, Alabama. Eventually, readers learned of the new Passionist retreats begun in Sacramento, California and Houston, Texas.
News of Military Chaplains: During World War II, any Passionist international news snippets were welcome. For instance, particular attention was given to the Passionist military chaplains of Holy Cross Province. For example, in June 1944, the names and addresses of the 17 Passionists of the western province who were miliary chaplains was published in the journal. Each issue carried summaries of their world travels from 1943 until 1946-almost a year after the end of World War II. Notable is the fact that Father Edwin Ronan, C.P. was American internee No. 424 at Saitama Camp, Tokyo. Also Father Owen Monaghan, C.P. was the only American Passionist military chaplain killed during WWII.
Passionists International: After 1945 it became common to publish short summaries of decisions made by Passionist leaders in Rome. Summaries of news from other Passionist provinces became a regular feature. As expected, there was always a summary about activities in St. Paul of the Cross Province, the eastern province based in Union City, New Jersey and the China missions.
The advent of post-war peace allowed for greater communication among Passionists. Increased attention was given to Passionists in post-war Europe such as the Province of St. Joseph (England), Province of St. Patrick (Ireland), Provinces of St. Gabriel and Mother of Hope (Belgium and Holland), Province of St. Michael (France), the German Commissariate, and Polish Commissariate, as well as Bulgaria and Spain. Some of the Italian provinces were Presentation Province, Province of Sorrowful Mother, and the Province of the Pieta. News of Holy Ghost Province (Australia) as well as Passionists in Immaculate Conception Province (Argentina), Calvary Province (Brazil), and Mexico City, Mexico.
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