Contents

Cause of
Bl. Charles

Healing of
Mr. Dormans

Gold Jubilee
of profession

"Get-Together"

Dedication of
Littlepace Chapel

Report
Vocations

News of

Ardoyne
Mount Argus
The Graan

Spirituality

The Joy of
Christmas

 

Report - Vocations Weekends,
Crossgar.

Two "Passionist Religious Life" weekends (for young men interested in our way of life) have been held this year in Crossgar, led by Charles, Paul Francis and Victor. The first of these vocation retreats was in July, and the second in October. Five young men, aged from 18 to 33 took part in the first weekend; others joined the second weekend, bringing the number of enquirers to eight. Mass was celebrated on each of the three days and Morning Prayer on Saturday and Sunday. There was also a time of Eucharistic adoration. The first retreat focussed on prayer and our relationship with Christ. On the second retreat, we looked at the evangelical counsels as the following of Christ and also the history of religious life.

The young people who came on these weekends did so because they had been invited by a Passionist. Two of those who took part are from Tyrone, two from County Down and four from Glasgow. They were interested in taking part because they have already been in contact with our communities and know some Passionists. It is not easy to invite a young person to join our province today, especially with our aged structure and after the various scandals in the Church. Many men have said that they would not invite their nephews or grand-nephews to become Passionists. However, at the Provincial Chapter last year, we took the courageous step of including among our aims the promotion of the vocation to the Passionist Life.

All of us have a part to play in this, no matter what age we are or what state of health we are in. One of the problems we face is that so few of us come into regular contact with young people (-by "young people", I don't mean fifty-year-olds!). However, if you do know a young person who might be open to a Passionist vocation, you might consider letting him know about the next weekend which will be held in Crossgar from Friday, 10 February to Sunday, 12 February 2006, beginning with supper at 6.00 p.m. on Friday and ending with lunch on Sunday at 1.00 p.m. A word of warning: only healthy and sensible people, please!

If you are not in contact with young people, you can be part of this ministry by praying for vocations, both individually and in community. Consider including a petition for Passionist vocations in the intercessions at Morning or Evening Prayer in your community. Communities might also think of having a time of Eucharistic adoration for vocations once a month. You might also discuss how your community would feel about welcoming a young person for a week or a month's experience of community life.

A couple of years ago, I brought the Saint Mungo's Youth Group to Mount Argus for a weekend retreat. The thing which really impressed them, and which they enjoyed most about the retreat, was the welcome they received from the older Passionists in Mount Argus and the interest the community showed in what they were doing. What draws young people to religious life today is the desire for community and the desire for prayer, and all of us are capable of sharing in that.

On behalf of the young men who took part in the "Passionist Religious Life" weekends, I wish to thank to Dermot and the Crossgar community for making us welcome during these vocation retreats, and also to Martin and Kenneth for taking part in the first retreat and supporting the initiative.
Father Paul Francis cp.