Welcome to Holy Cross Parish

The Passionist Community


What is the Passionist Community?

We are a group of Christian men, priests and brothers, who live in community and announce to the men and women of our times the Gospel of Christ. This community of apostles was founded by Paul of the Cross (Paolo Danei 1694-1775) in 1720.

The founder saw in the Passion of Jesus "the greatest work of divine Love" and the revelation of the power of the Resurrection to overcome the forces of evil. He bequeathed to his followers the task of announcing to their contemporaries the love of God for each and every person shown in the passion and death of Jesus who rose victorious on Easter day.

The Passionists make a special promise to promote the memory of the passion of Jesus by word and deed. They do this especially in preaching and various ministries among the poor, and the marginalised of every kind in whom they see the Crucified today.

Another characteristic of the Passionists is their life in community. Passionist fraternity means that everything is held in common. Time is given to community prayer and to the contemplative dimension of life. Passionists are active contemplatives who, in a creative way, unite contemplation and an active pastoral life.

There are approximately 2,500 Passionists in 55 nations across the five continents. The division of the Congregation, known as St Patrick’s Province, is responsible for Passionist community houses in Ireland, Scotland, Paris and missions in Botswana and South Africa. The Province’s headquarters is at Mount Argus, Dublin. Apart from the Provincial Administration carried on from here, the Passionists’ main work from Mount Argus involves parish work, and counseling and support to patients and families at Our Lady’s Hospice, Dublin.

Other Passionist houses in Ireland are found at Holy Cross, Ardoyne; Tobar Mhuire, Crossgar and The Graan, Enniskilen. Holy Cross, Ardoyne was founded in 1868, and was the first Catholic monastery to be opened in Ireland since the Reformation. Ministry here centres aroundf the needs of the parish, and includes pastoral care, prison chaplaincy, counseling, peace and reconciliation work; a range of social services and job and community development initiatives. The houses in The Graan, Enniskillen and Tobar Mhuire, Crossgar, are essentially centres for pastoral renewal; reconciliation; retreat and faith development. Tobar Mhuire has recently been renovated and is dedicated to play a major role in the renewal of the church and of reconciliation in the north of Ireland.

In Scotland, Passionists are similarly involved in serving communities in Glasgow and Prestonpans, East Lothian. In France, our church and small community in Paris welcomes English speaking parishoners from all walks of life. Further afield, Passionists from St Patricks Province have responsibility for parish and community development at a number of locations in Botswana; Zambia and South Africa. They also founded a hospice for those suffering from AIDS in Leratong, South Africa.