CONGREGATION TIMELINE

1820

 Elizabeth Prout was born in Shrewsbury in Shropshire, England on September 2nd . She was the only child of Edward and Anne Prout and she was baptised an Anglican in the Church of St Julian in Shrewsbury on September 17th 1820. Her father worked as a cooper in a local brewery.

1841

 Elizabeth’s family were recorded in the census as living  to Stone in Staffordshire where again her father gained employment in Joule’s brewery.

1842

 On 18th February Dominic Barberi opened the first Passionist monastery in England at Aston Hall, about 2 miles from the Prout family home. On July 22nd that year he was joined by Fr Gaudentius Rossi. He preached missions and celebrated Mass locally and would have influenced the young Elizabeth.

1848

 Elizabeth became a Catholic some time between 1842 and 1848 and later on the advice of Fr Gaudentius, decided to enter a religious order, the Sisters of the Infant Jesus, in Northampton. In 1849 she was sent home as she had developed tuberculosis of the knee. This was a big disappointment for Elizabeth but her mother, pleased to have her home, nursed her back to health and all was well until Elizabeth wanted to get back to the regular practice of her faith.

1849

 Life at home became very difficult for Elizabeth, and on the advice of Fr Gaudentius Rossi CP, went to Manchester. He found her a teaching post in St Chad’s Catholic School. She was unprepared for the reality she experienced in Manchester in the 1850’s. Living conditions were worse than she could have imagined with a teeming population growing daily with famine stricken Irish immigrants. Working conditions in the factories were sub-human with long working days in airless factories with high temperatures and moist conditions. She began teaching, feeding and sheltering the most needy. Soon she was joined by other young women.

1849

 Dominic Barberi died on August 27th 1849

1852

 On August 15th 1851 Elizabeth and two companions moved into 69 Stock Street and then on November 21st 1852 Elizabeth and six companions received a religious dress at a ceremony in St Chad’s Church conducted by Fr Gaudentius.
They were to be called Catholic Sisters of the Holy Family. It was a time of great anti-Catholic feelings but Elizabeth Prout, now Mother Mary Joseph of Jesus, was not daunted by physical risks. Many of the priests and nuns were critical of this new religious institute who were working to earn their own living, did not ask candidates for a dowry, all ideas that were revolutionary at the time.

1853

 One of the Sisters caught typhoid fever which was to spell disaster for the community who could not work and so they were destitute. Elizabeth, herself frail, nursed the sisters. Fr Gaudentius, was not always understanding and had unrealistic expectations of the sisters

1854

 Elizabeth Prout made her first vows on November 21st

1854

 Fr Bernardine Carosi, C.P  the Rector of St Anne’s in Sutton invited Elizabeth to take charge of St Anne’s girls school. It was a s sign to Elizabeth that her congregation had a special affinity with the sons of St Paul of the Cross. This led to the opening of other schools in St Helen’s at Blackbrook, Peasley Cross and it began a tradition of direct partnership with the Passionist Congregation.

1855

 Fr Gaudentius Rossi was sent to work in America and another Passionist Fr Ignatius Spencer took over as the spiritual guide of the Institute. He, like Elizabeth, was a convert to Catholicism.

1855

 The community ran into great financial difficulties. A sister died of TB. There was a lot of spiteful talk about the Institute which the clergy listened to and which led to an investigation by a commission of enquiry set up by the Bishop. Fortunately, the enquiry was satisfied and the Institute was allowed to continue.

1857

 The rule written by Fr Gaudentius was taken to Rome by Fr Ignatius Spencer CP

1857

 Sr Clare who had never really accepted Elizabeth’s leadership caused immense problems by plunging the congregation into serious debt and then she left and others followed. Elizabeth’s response was to repeat the words of Paul of the Cross and Dominic Barberi:  ‘Few and good’; few and good!

1858

 Former sisters spread false accusations about the sisters which were listened to by many of the clergy and there was a plan to suppress the congregation which came to light when Fr Bernard O’Loughlin CP went to see Provost Crosskell for faculties for the retreat he was giving to the sisters in Levenshulme and receive the vows of the four novices. It seemed one of the reasons was that they were not self-supporting and there were other changes too such as sisters using public transport, working in factories, of low economic status. Bishop Turner appointed four canons to conduct an investigation and invited Fr Bernard to sit in on the interviews with the sisters. When Fr Bernard went to see Bishop Turner he was given the good news that the Canons were happy with their investigation. The congregation could continue and he was to convey the good news to the sisters. Elizabeth communicated her joyous relief with Fr Salvian Nardocci CP, novice Master in Broadway. ‘Now we are as firm as any modern order in the Church thanks to good Father Bernard.

1863

 The, now revised Rule of Life, based on the rule of St Paul of the Cross,  was presented for approval in Rome- this was the rule which Ignatius and Elizabeth had written together. In July news of the approval of the rule by Pope Pius IX (the same Pope who canonised St Paul of the Cross in 1867) was received and In August 1863 Bishop Turner canonically established the Congregation in a ceremony in Levenshulme and the first General Chapter of the Congregation took place in October 1863. Elizabeth Prout was elected Superior General. Elizabeth’s health was declining and she received the last rites in December from Fr Joseph Gasparani CP who was vice-rector in Sutton. On Christmas Day she called the sisters and spoke to each sister individually and as they stood together around her she encouraged her sisters to perseverance in their vocation. In In December 1863 she received Jane Durie, an accomplished teacher into the Novitiate  and in January 1864 she appointed her to take charge of the school at St Joseph’s, Peasley Cross.  Fr Ignatius was now Rector in Sutton and on January 9th he celebrated the sacrament of reconciliation with Elizabeth and was present with Elizabeth before her death.

1864

 Elizabeth Prout, aged 43, died peacefully  in Sutton, St Helens on January 11th with the Sisters and Fr Ignatius at her bedside.
Elizabeth Prout always knew she wanted to devote her life to God and to helping others. During her life she faced many challenges and she had to overcome many obstacles. Throughout these challenges her love of and trust in God was constant. Elizabeth had a great love and concern for the poor, those who lived in terrible conditions and deprived of education. We can see how she followed the example of Jesus. Fr Ignatius Spencer, Elizabeth’s great friend and confidante also died in October 1864 at Carstairs in Scotland. His body was brought back to Sutton where he was buried in the Crypt of the Church with Blessed Dominic Barberi.

1864

 Mother Winefride Lynch, aged 25 and first councillor was to become Superior General and very soon she responded to an invitation for the Sisters to make a foundation in Bolton

1864

 The Passionist Father General Fr Peter Paul Cayro on a visit to Sutton invited the Sisters to be aggregated to the Passionist Congregation under the name ‘Sisters of the Cross and Passion’. Because of restrictions in Rome due to the war of Italian Unification, this could not be accomplished until 1874.

1867

 Mother Winefride Lynch died on Christmas Day 1867 at the age of 28. Earlier Mother Mary Margaret Chambers had been elected as Superior General at the General Chapter
The mother house was transferred to Bolton and this also created a shift in the Congregation from living in small family homes as Mother Mary Margaret Chambers aspired to build a bigger community house with privacy for the sisters and space for solitude. This was to come to fruition in 1882

1868

 Mother Mary Margaret now gave her attention to the final revision of the Rules under the new title of Cross and Passion.
It was she who requested the Passionist Father General to wear the Passionist sign. Her request was granted in November 1874.

1873

 The first overseas venture, a foundation in Bulgaria under the leadership of Sr Agatha Kenny. The Passionist Provincial Fr Ignatius Paoli, was as keen as Fr Peter Paul Cayro on the aggregation to the Passionist Congregation. He appointed Fr Eugene Martorelli CP, a former Provincial, as the Sisters’ Director. It then fell to Fr Eugene to negotiate with the authorities in Rome for both aggregation and approbation. Fr Dominic Giacchini wrote to Mother Mary Margaret: ‘I have come to understand that among the pious practices and holy exercises prescribed by the Rule for the Sisters, there is assigned a distinct place for salutary meditation on the sorrowful mysteries of the Passion of our Divine Redeemer, joined to a special study to awaken in the hearts of others also a pious and grateful memory of the same. The Congregation of the Sisters of the Most Holy Cross and Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ is already in possession of the first place in my heart after that which is due to the sons and daughters of St Paul of the Cross.’ Mother Mary Margaret’s wrote in reply: ‘No words can express the joy which your Paternity’s letter and the beautiful and holy badge of the Passion which it accompanied has brought to my heart and the hearts of all the Sisters of the Most Holy Cross and Passion. We can only offer the feeble expression simple words can convey of the imperishable gratitude in which we shall ever hold in memory the favour you have done in assigning us our place as children of St Paul of the Cross.’

1875

 Fr Alphonsus O’Neill, a delegate of Fr Dominic Giacchini, the Superior General,  presented the sisters with the Passionist sign, a formal acknowledgement of the Congregation becoming affiliated with the Congregation of the Passion founded by St Paul of the Cross. The congregation founded by Elizabeth Prout attained its true identity as part of the Passionist Congregation.

1875

 The first foundation in Dewsbury, Yorkshire

1878

 The foundation in Kilcullen, Co Kildare, Ireland

1887

 Final approbation of the Congregation and its constitutions by Pope Leo XIII
Present at the celebration of Mass by Fr Alphonsus O’Neill was Provost Croskell, who like Mother Paul Taylor could look back at the anguished years of the infant Congregation. (He returned in 1893 and died in 1894 in Mount Argus, Dublin)
At the end of the celebration Fr Alphonsus announced that he had been appointed to open the first Passionist mission in Australia. He had been a much-loved brother who had accompanied the Congregation through to final approbation.

1894

 Foundation in Scotland

1900

 Foundation in  Belfast, N Ireland

1902

 The beginning of High School Education -Bolton

1908

 St Joseph’s College, Bradford

1912

 Foundation in Chile in collaboration with Hermanas de la Santa Cruz

1914

 World War 1 followed by the Black Death

1920

 St Gabriel’s Hall, Manchester – a residence for students – new hall opened in 1923

1921

 Irvine, Scotland

1923

 Ballycastle, Co Antrim, N Ireland

1924

 USA foundation

1925

 Exploratory mission in Spain

1926

 Foundation Argentina

1928

 A second Novitiate was opened in Kilcullen, Ireland

1930

 Drumalis Retreat, Larne, N Ireland

1930

 Decision to open a Novitiate in USA which opened in 1932

1939

 World War 2

1939

 Maryfield, Dublin

1945

 Botswana

1952

 The Briery Retreat, Ilkley, Yorkshire, England

1962

 Vatican 2 opened

1965

 Vatican 2 completed -a time of radical change in the Church and Religious Life began. A re-examination of the early history and charism- led to experimentation and revision of the rule with the assistance of Fr Hubert Condon CP which finally led us to have a number of drafts until the Covenant of the Passion was finalised in and approved in 1986

1968

 First Extraordinary General Chapter to respond to Vatican 2

1968

 Foundation in Wales

1968

 Foundation in Birmingham, England

1969

 Second Extraordinary General Chapter

1973

 The exhumation of the remains of Elizabeth Prout and her reinterment in the Shrine in Sutton with Blessed Dominic Barberi and Ignatius Spencer

1975

 Foundation in Sweden

1977

 Foundation in Peru

1978

 St Gemma’s Hospice, Leeds, England

1980’s

 Tallaght, Co Dublin and Clare Road, Drumcondra, Dublin

1980

 Sister on mission Papua New Guinea

1985

 Mission in Jamaica – an outreach from USA

1997

 Outreach to Romania and Lunca de Sus

1998

 Bosnia Hercegovina Palliative Care Project

2007

 Melbourne, Australia

2012

 Request from Passionists to consider Vietnam

2015

 Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

2023

 Dong Nai, Vietnam