Provincial Chapter 1944 — Convocatory Letter

--- Page 1 --- is to express to Almighty God our deepest gratitude for his Divine aid and Titus of St. Paul of the Cross , Superior General of the Congregation , we It is but fitting that this , our Sixth Provincial Chapter , should take place In reviewing the events of the past three years , in so far as they have Gerald of the most sacred heart of Jesus , Presuming that permission will be grusted by the West Reverend Father the protests , students , and lay-brothers of the said province of the grace and blessing in the Lord . the Opening of the Chapter . In a work of such importance , we feel assured Solem Tridum and Preliminary Nestings , previous to the Opening of the Chapter . Retreat , Mount Argus , Dublin . We request the Capitular Fathers to be present combination of the most Holy cross and passion of our Lord Jesus Christ's during the month of June , dedicated in a special manner to the Divine Heart of hereby appoint the Feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus , 10th of June , as the affected the material and spiritual conditions of the Province , our first duty Friday of every month in every President Retreat , we have chosen , upcoming the Jesus . Placing our confidence in the traditional belief of the Congregation , Provincial of St. Patrick's province ate of the Opening of the Sixth Provincial Chapter , to be held at St. Paul's s expressed in the official Act of Conservation , which we make on the first present of the Most Reverend Father General , the Feast of the Sacred Heart for that the Capitular Fathers will have the assistance of the Divine Heart of Jesus . the very revered patterns consultations , restores , master of motives , and to all the said Retreat , not later than the 12th of June , so as to take part in 0. to --- Page 2 --- the obedience they have given to me , and the seal and care with which they have difficulties and often exposed to grave dangers , the conduct of our religious has work of the Congregation has to contend with many difficulties , owing to war protection . In the midst of the present universal war which is causing such fidelity and obedience , in keeping with the spirit of the Congregation . appalling destruction to life and property , we are happy to state that the and material , of the Province since the last Chapter . Though not what we would have desired under normal conditions , the progress has been on the whole The Confraternity of the Cross and Passion , attached to our Churches , carried the most successful missioners in this country . the work done by the auxiliary societies established in the Parishes , and our Churches . The spiritual necessities of the people have been faithfully No less satisfactory is the work of the Fathers , in the Purishes attached to Mahoga , Private , and Superiors of Religious Congregations , we are convinced that , To all our Brethren , - Private , Students and Brothers , we feel grateful for especially the assistance given to the young through the introduction of Youth deserve special mention . Judging from the favourable reports , received from owing to the sealous efforts of our Missionary Fathers , we are at present amongst Province of St Patrick has not suffered any serious loss . Heating with great attended to " as can be seen from the numbers who have approached the Sacramento , conditions . However , it is gratifying to know that , in all our churches , the We feel grateful , also , to Divine Providence for the progress , both spiritual been worthy of the highest praise . They have carried out their duties with Confraternity continues to make steady progress . organisations . on the President Apostolate in a most deserving manner . At present , this special satisfactory . Reviewing the external work of the Province , our missions and retire --- Page 3 --- The history of Religious Orders clearly shows that the spiritual welfare of the would be untrue to state that there is no room for spiritual improvement . As fulfilled the duties , imposed upon them by their Superiors . berees , we have the Holy Rule and Regulations to guide us . The most important Though our Province has been blessed by God during the past three years , it equally to those who are to be elected in the coming chapter for the next three pan Superiors . Our Holy Palo reminds us that " the soundness of the members Pennacitan to erect a new canonical foundation . We are happy to state that the have been impossible . meetings is to correct abuses which may have arisen to form decrees for the preserve the true Religious Spirit . In the correction of abuses and the making of the Diocese of Ashemy . Permission having been obtained from the Lord Bishop of the communities and the happiness of the individual religious depend to a great extent Retreat . To the Most Rev. Dr. Norricree , the Province of St. Patrick duty of the Chapter , therefore , is to elect Superiors for the coming three years . individuals and communities , we have failed in many ways . Holy tale , therefore , depends on the head . Hence in electing Superiors , the Capitular Fathers are asked As you are more , the Provincial Curla has recently secured a new Foundation is as widely ordained the conversation of Provincial Chapters . The purpose of such Diocese , the Holy sea granted through the West Reverend Father General the Apostolic refer to the election of the one who is to rule the entire congregation , they apply to strive with the utmost earnestness to disregard all human considerations and indebted . Without his co-operation , the establishment of this new foundation would - property , required in the Diocese of Ashenry , is ideal in many ways for a Passion shoose the most worthy and best qualified . " Though these words of the Holy Hal remotion of real and forvour ; and to elect Superlors who by word and example 1940 --- Page 4 --- petition a necessary condition by which the results of human enterprise are also the greater perfection of the entire Congregation . " working out of His Divine plan . It is thus that he has made the prayer of moral evils which surround us . The future , therefore , will demand greater places upon the Capitular's very serious responsibilities . While gladly determined , He leaves it for the most part to secondary causes to see to the chapter we should lift up our minds and souls to the God of all gifts for light uncertainty of the future , is of the utmost importance . obtained . " It is imperative , therefore , that for the success of the coming personal experience , will be able to form a judgment as to the fitness of these Capitular Fathers , from mutual exchange of opinions and knowledge gained from have the following wise counsels " On the right and prudent conduct of the Rector , " In a work of this kind both human and divine aid must be sought . The chapter , on account of the extraordinary conditions of the present time , and the of Almighty God . Hence the necessity of earnest prayer for the coming Chapter . nine are to be accomplished will depend upon these elected to rule the Province of vigilance in the keeping of our Holy rule , a more intense love of prayer , and a The present Provincial Chapter , owing to the disturbed conditions of the time , Though the course of events , fixed by God's presidential decrees , is in ' allible years . The mind of our Holy founder in this matter is well known . In a letter , he wrote , " depends not only the right and prudent government of the Portreat , but are constant putting in practice of the spirit of the Congregation . How these acknowledging the deep spiritual life of our Province , we cannot ignore the many St. Patrick for the coming three years . It is evident , therefore , that the present lish he wrote to all the Superiors of the Congregation , dated 4th May 1961 , we eligible for office . But such assistance would be of little avail without the help