Introduction
The following account is drawn from the primary documents preserved in the Provincial Archive and published in In Diebus Illis, the Province's historical newsletter. Where documents are quoted verbatim, sources are given.
The work of re-organizing and cataloguing the Archives of the Province inevitably brings to light interesting, and instructive items from our past. Being justly proud of our heritage, no one would wish it to remain, as it were, "locked up" in musty documents.
Ignatius C.P., In Diebus Illis No. 1 (2 April 1977)
The First Foundation, 1842
The Passionists came to England through the initiative of Dr Nicholas Wiseman. Blessed Dominic Barberi, writing his own account of the English foundations before his death, recorded:
"Our Congregation is bound by a tie of eternal gratitude to the Right Rev. Dr. Wiseman, who was the instrument chosen by God for introducing us into England. No sooner was he consecrated Bishop of Melipotamus in partibus, and appointed coadjutor to Dr. Walsh in the central District of England, than he invited us to it, and after many difficulties which had to be overcome, put us in possession of our first house in this kingdom situated at Aston, near Stone, Staffordshire."
Blessed Dominic left Italy for North West Europe in 1840 with three companions — Fr. Seraphim Giammaria, Fr. Peter Magganotto, and Brother Crispin Cotta — establishing the first Passionist monastery outside Italy at Ere in Belgium. From Ere the English mission was launched, and the first Passionist house in England was established at Aston Hall, Staffordshire, in 1842.
Source: passionistarchives.ie
The Anglo-Hibernian Province
The 50th anniversary in 1977 of the division of the Anglo-Hibernian Province was the occasion for the first issue of In Diebus Illis. The Province of St Joseph — as it exists today in England and Wales — was formed in 1927, when the Anglo-Hibernian Province was divided into two: St Joseph's Province (England) and St Patrick's Province (Ireland). The primary documents recording that division are preserved in the Provincial Archive.
Source: In Diebus Illis No. 1 (2 April 1977)
The Division of the Province, 1920–1927
The following passages are quoted verbatim from the Acts of the Provincial Chapters, from letters of the Superior General, and from the decrees of the Holy See. Source throughout: In Diebus Illis No. 1 (2 April 1977), citing Provincial Archives, Highgate, class no. 225, and Mt. Argus Archives.
The first official record of the proposal to divide the Province appears in the Acts of the 22nd Provincial Chapter, 8th–16th August, 1920:
"Sixth Session: At this meeting which began at 4 p.m., the Capitular Fathers considered at length a suggestion to divide the Province and to form an English and Irish Province, and unanimously adopted the following direction: The Venerable Chapter desires to express its opinion that time is approaching when the Province will have to be divided, and directs the Provincial and his Consultors to prepare a report on the matter for the next Provincial Chapter."
Three years later at the 23rd Provincial Chapter, 24th–29th June 1923, it was stated that:
"The Capitulars considered the report regarding the division of the Province ordered by last Provincial Chapter, and from particulars given it was decided by a majority that the time was not yet opportune for such a division."
By the time of the 24th Provincial Chapter, 1st–8th June 1926, the situation had altered completely. After full discussion, the vote was taken:
"The vote of the Chapter was accordingly taken on three propositions, viz: on the division of the Province; on the inclusion of the Glasgow house in the Irish Province; and on the immediate division of the Province. The first proposition was carried by a majority of nine to five; the second was carried by a majority of thirteen to one; and the third was carried unanimously."
The closing address of the Superior General at the 1926 Chapter set out the hope for the new Province:
"It was probably the last Chapter of the Anglo-Hibernian Province. Three years hence — if the decision they had come to should receive the approbation of Rome — there would be two Provinces and two Provincial Chapters, one in England and one in Ireland. This would lead to greater efficiency and would promote order and discipline all round. Then too the English Province could more easily and effectively specialize in the conversion of England — a work so dear to the heart of 'Venerable Dominic.' But above all he hoped the division would tend to preserve the spirit of St. Paul of the Cross in both Provinces."
In his reply the Provincial, Fr. Alban Kennedy, said:
"It was a momentous Chapter because we had taken the decision to divide the Province — an event which when completed will change the characteristics of the Province of St. Joseph as those around the table knew it; and this decision too will create a new Province distinctly Irish which in time will have its own history and characteristics, by no means the least but the most important perhaps in the whole Congregation."
Letter of the Superior General, 19 March 1927
The announcement of the approval of the Holy See for the division of the Province was made by Fr. General Leo Kierkels in a letter dated 19th March, 1927:
"To the Superiors and all the Brethren of the Province of St. Joseph:
As the Church compared by our divine Lord to a mustard tree has reached such a growth that human souls flitting through life like birds of passage in a strange country can rest securely in it, so Religious Orders from very humble beginnings grow under the purifying frost of trial and the beneficent rain and sunshine of God's Providence and spread their boughs wide over the earth. So happily has it been with our Congregation whose branches reached the British shores eighty five years ago and bridged St. George's Channel fourteen years later. Terrible and arduous were those years of growth, but glorious the promises of the future — promises warranted by the prophetic vision of our Holy Founder. Venerable Dominic sowed in tears; we reap in jubilation by adding a new Province to our beloved Congregation.
In the development of our Congregation, as in the growth of the Church, there has been need from time to time of dividing and sub-dividing the territory into which the Congregation has penetrated. As a Province grows in the number of Retreats and in the number of Religious it finally reaches a point where to ensure more intense care on the part of Superiors it is well to divide the responsibility of government by dividing the Province.
This is at present the case with the Province of St. Joseph. The latest Provincial Chapter after mature deliberation came to the conclusion published in the Acts, and now we are happy to inform you that the Holy See has decreed the division of the Province of St. Joseph and the erection of a new Province under the patronage of St. Patrick. This new Province will comprise permanently the three Retreats in Ireland and the Retreat of Glasgow in Scotland, for a period of nine years, that is until nineteen hundred and thirty five.
Imploring on you all our divine Lord's choicest blessing,
Leo a S.C.J.
Rome, Feast of St. Joseph, nineteen hundred and twenty seven."
The Petition to the Holy See and Its Reply
"Most Holy Father, the General of the Congregation of the Passion Jesus, kneeling at the feet of Your Holiness, humbly requests the faculty to divide the Anglo-Hibernian Province of St. Joseph into two Provinces; to the first of which will be assigned the seven houses existing in England, viz: London, Broadway, Sutton, Harborne, Carmarthen, Herne Bay, Ilkley, together with the hospice in Paris; to the other, the three Irish houses: Dublin, Belfast, Enniskillen, and temporarily at least — until 1935 — the Retreat in Glasgow in Scotland; with all the rights and privileges, in accordance with law and the Constitutions, enjoyed by the other Provinces of the Congregation."
"By virtue of the faculties granted to us by our Holy Father, the S. Congr. for Religious, having considered the above petition, willingly approves everything iuxta preces, servandis ceteris de jure servandis; everything to the contrary notwithstanding.
Given at Rome, 2nd day of February 1927.
C. Card. Laurenti, Prefect
Vincentius La Puma, Secretary"
Canonical Establishment of the Two Provinces, 28 April 1927
"J.X.P. Gladly using the power entrusted to us, we canonically establish, iuxta preces, the Irish Province of St. Patrick; and with the unanimous consent of our Council we choose and declare elected as Provincial: V.Rev. Fr. Sebastian of the Immac. First Consultor: V.Rev. Fr. Cyprian of the Prec. Blood. Second Consultor: V.Rev. Fr. Boniface of S. Joseph.
It is our will that all these be held as legitimate Superiors with the same rights and duties as if they had been elected in Provincial Chapter.
Rome, from the Retreat of SS John and Paul, on the feast of our Holy Father, 28 April 1927.
Leo a S.C.J. Praep. Gen."