“…welcome you. We also hope you’ll experience our website as a place where you can find a bit of spiritual support, read a prayer that will uplift you today, or learn more about the wonderful ways in which the Passion of Christ has moved people to do good works. Perhaps you’ll also discover ways in which you’d like to partner with us.

However the Spirit moves you, we hope you’ll visit our website often. May the Passion of Jesus Christ Be Always in Our Hearts!”

Sharing Our Stories

What ministries have you been about since you have been a Passionist?

I’ve done itinerant preaching. I’ve done mainly retreat house preaching, and internally, have had leadership roles and formation ministry.

What has been life-giving for you in terms of these ministries?

I enjoy leadership roles because I am trying to help lead a community, trying to help a community be healthy, manage different relationships going on in the community life. That is all life-giving because I am doing something for other people. But just as valuable, is retreat ministry. I really liked it because I was working very directly with people on weekends. I was listening to their stories, which can be very exemplary for my own life. And itinerant preaching is life-giving. When I feel like I have something to say to people that can be helpful to them, and when they seem to respond through comments.

Tell us a little bit about what it is like for you when you sit with someone in the midst of their suffering, after having been so many hours yourself in prayer before the crucifix.

When I sit with someone, I get the real story. And it comes in all kinds of forms, whether it is people who come to see me, in confession, counseling, or just everyday conversation, it comes out. I hear the real suffering and the frustration and the sacrifices they are making. I simply try to encourage a healthy attitude towards it by means of Passionist spirituality. I would articulate it as, “All suffering can be redemptive”. Suffering can be of value even if we do not see it. We can accept suffering rather than becoming bitter about it. And it is not that I have answers. I just try to direct people to bring their suffering to the Cross and let Christ speak to it. I don’t try to give them pat answers.

What is it like for you to preach on Christ crucified?

I enjoy it. Now I don’t take the approach of giving a physical description of the Passion. I talk more about the inner workings of the Passion. That is, that Christ accepted his Passion and death. Even though he struggled with it, there was a sense of faith that in some way, some day, it would have meaning and value.