Our 2022 Advent vocation retreat was such a success that we decided to make it an annual tradition! This year, we were blessed with the presence of three wonderful young women who came to explore and experience Passionist life in the light of the coming Advent season.
Read MoreHe is coming! This refrain re-echoes in the Church’s liturgy throughout the Advent season, but during this final week before Christmas, the expectant Bride of Christ redoubles her enthusiastic expectation. The readings for this Sunday focused in a special way on the First Coming of Christ – the Incarnation – and how God prepared the way for His Son to enter into human history.
Read MoreA picture is worth a thousand words, isn’t it? From November 25-27, the Lord blessed us with the company of nine young women interested in exploring Passionist life! This unusually large group brought an extra infusion of joy and enthusiasm as we shared prayer, reflection, and recreation with them.
Read MoreToday Holy Mother Church begins a new liturgical year as she always does: crying, “Come, Lord Jesus!” We pray that this Advent season will be a time of deep renewal for you in your own walk with the Lord.
Read MoreThe Visitation is the sudden manifestation of the Spirit’s hidden work in the lives of Mary and Elizabeth, and the vibrant joy of this moment echoes down even to our own day.
Read MorePassionists often refer to our unique religious habit as the “garment of mourning and penance,” so what are we to make of Our Lord’s command to “take off the garb of mourning?” Isn’t it He Who called us to wear this garb in the first place? The answer lies in the deeper mystery of what it means to be a Passionist.
Read MoreOn Thanksgiving weekend, three wonderful young women joined us for our final vocation retreat of the year. Clare, Ashlyn, and Mary spent a packed 48 hours learning about discernment, contemplative life, and the Passionist charism — along with sharing prayer and recreation with the Sisters.
Read More“Let us make ourselves as children with Jesus … let us be humble and simple as children by an exact obedience, by purity of heart, by love of holy poverty …”
Read MoreIn the season of Advent, we are called to enter mystically into the faithful Jews’ experience of waiting and trusting in God’s faithfulness. This applies not only to our preparation for Christmas, but most especially to our anticipation of the Second Coming of Christ, the ultimate hope of our faith.
Read MoreOur whole life as Christians could be described as “already, but not yet” – of rejoicing in salvation already wrought, while still looking expectantly for its completion. And while sorrow is an inescapable reality in this life, the comfort that God so joyously proclaims through Isaiah truly does penetrate even the darkest hour.
Read MoreOur sharing this Sunday began with a question about our Gospel reading. A Sister noted that only one person in the “mini-parable” of the man on a journey is actually commanded to watch, and that person is the gatekeeper. So, the question naturally arises: who is the gatekeeper?
Read MoreThis Sunday, it’s as if the Church can’t help herself – she’s so excited about the coming of her Lord that she is already giving us readings about Christmas day!
Read MoreThis Sunday, the Church calls on all of her children to rejoice (Gaudete), for the coming of the Lord is near!
Read MoreThis Sunday the Church presented us with a beautiful selection of readings, all pointing towards the imminent hope of the coming Messiah.
Read MoreAs we begin a new liturgical year, we here at St. Joseph’s invite you to join us as we revive our Scripture sharing blog posts!
Read MoreAs we move with the Church through the liturgical year, each mystery she sets before our eyes sheds fresh light upon the fundamentals of Passionist life. The beautiful season of Advent now beginning is no exception.
Read MoreLo! A new liturgical season has descended upon the monastery!
Read MoreThis neighborhood is really starting to go downhill…we were once again the victims of street artists on a chalking spree!
Read MoreAs we enter the last few days of Advent, the spotlight shines on Mary, the privileged daughter of God who was first to receive the Son at His coming into this world. Among the Gospels read at Mass this week, we hear the story of the Annunciation to Mary, her Visitation to her elderly cousin, Elizabeth, and Our Lady's hymn of God's glory, the Magnificat.
Read MoreAs the season of Advent progresses, it draws us not only into silence, but into a spirit of wonder. There is a certain natural wonder we encounter, even among those who approach Christmas in a more secularized manner. Think of the amazement and delight so evident in children as they admire the trappings of the season.
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