Provincial Chapter 1929 — Convocatory Letter

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SEBASTIAN OF THE IMAGULATE CONCEPTION, PROVINCIAL OF ST. PATRICK'S PROVINCE, 6/1/1/1 To the Very Revv. Pathers-Consultors, Rectors, Master of Novices, and to all the Priests, students, and Lay-Brothers of the said Province of the Congregation of the Most Holy Cross and Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ - Peace and Blessing in the Lord. Having obtained the requisite permission of the Most Rev. Pr. General we have now to announce to you the convocation of the first Provincial Chapter of our Province. All will rejoice to learn that it is Pr. General's intention to preside at our Chapter, and thus afford us the necessary guidance and help that he alone can give. All the brothren will, we feel considerably, pray God through the intercession of our Holy Founder, that nothing unforeseen may arise to prevent his Paternity being with us. The Chapter will be held at St. Paul's Retreat, Mount Argus, Dublin, towards the latter half of June. On learning from Pr. General the definite date that will suit his Paternity, we shall notify you. This being our figst Provincial chapter, it would be difficult to exaggerate its importance, or to measure by any human norm its far-reaching effects. Our Province is only in its infancy. We are as yet but laying the foundations; and each and all know how essential it is that those foundations be laid and fashioned on the pattern given us by our Holy Founder in the Holy Rules, which he wrote under the special inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Our Province, built on any other foundation, must come to naught as far as we Passionists are concerned. Now just as on the strength and soundness of the foundation a material structure depends for its future stability; and any defect in the foundation tells in time on the whole building or superstructure, no less so is it with a spiritual structure, as is a Province of the Congregation. "It cannot indeed be doubted that while Religious Orders are governed by a special and paternal Providence of God, it is none the the less true that in the ordinary exercise of that Providence,