The start of Passionist Family Groups in New Zealand in 1988
I discovered last week while in New Zealand, that most people did not know how the PFG’s got started in NZ, and especially about the experience in Otara described below which some might see as having been a nudge from God.

Fr Peter McGrath, the founder of the Passionist Family Group Movement was Provincial when he appointed my brother Paul and myself to our community in Oxley, Brisbane in 1985. Peter asked us to assist with the slowly developing PFGM in Brisbane. Many parishes were asking: ‘How can we go about building

Double Good news for Br John Baptist Cao Anh Phi:
Not long after getting his licence, Phi was approved to take his final vows on 11th of August. Fr Tom our Provincial wrote. “Phi will make his final profession in Vietnam with not only the three brothers (Danh, Vinh and TJ) but also with the novices who will be ready at that time to make their temporary profession”
This is special news for Phi because he had taken an extra year of discernment for his final vows even though this decision meant that he had to witness his classmates progress to being professed and they will be ordained as deacons next week.
Phi chose the photo above when I asked him to choose one for the newsletter. I asked him why this photo and he said two things. (1) It’s the most recent one; (2) it shows my brothers in the background. Without my brothers, there would be no final vows”. Congratulations Phi, we are eagerly waiting for the party time after your final profession.

It would be nice to say “I’m back”, but the truth is that I was, and now I’ve gone again (yesterday) to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Passionist Family Groups in New Zealand. There will be special; celebrations over two weekends.

It will be quite special to celebrate in Paeroa which is about 100 kilometres south-east of Auckland this weekend. Steve McGarry and I conducted a mission there in 1979. It was a special experience for a number of reasons including that I met some wonderful couples who have become great friends. It was from that time until 1988 that Lynn Hill began to hound me about “What about these Family Groups?” Maggie (from Ballarat) and Charlie Gribble have been leaders of a PFG in Paeroa all 35 years. They just need to work a bit harder at having fun!

Welcome to June! We are halfway through 2023, Christmas is in 6 months! If I’m getting that wrong it has to do with my poor mathematical skills. Brian Traynor will be returning soon but do not hold your breath just yet -we all miss him, it’s not just you! Soon after he arrives, he will have to go away from Holy Cross again for about 10 days, for meetings and other ministries. He has provided a lot of materials for this newsletter for which I am hugely grateful but would not like to take credit. Any thankyous send to Brian as he puts a lot of work into this. I admire such exceptional work.

This weekend we celebrate Pentecost Sunday which is usually referred to as the birthday of the Church. With this in mind, happy birthday to us all. Another great excuse to celebrate.

I appreciate the response from an anonymous person who kindly wrote back last week after my apology for committing the mortal sin! Although this was obviously done in an attempt to brighten our spirits with a bit of humour, the person’s reply was to say 9 Hail Marys. After I did that, I felt much better, thank you. As you know, there was once a time when confessions were exercised publicly in our Church history, so this disclosure is not new to our mature Church. But today Conon Law would have me excommunicated today if this was done in a serious manner. Enough about that, let us look at some of this week’s happenings.

Br Jerome Dunn and the birds make it to front page

While Chris Monaghan was away teaching in Ballarat, Jerome got up on a beautiful morning of Friday to feed the birds that Chris normally feeds each morning. They had been waiting for Chris and wondered where he was. As soon as Jerome or anyone came closer, they flew closer wanting to have their daily bread. They were rather pleased that Jerome came with bread and fed them to the brim! As Jesus said “Look at the birds of the air… your Heavenly Father feeds them…(Matt 6:26)”, - it is pleasing to see that Chris and Jerome participate in the Heavenly Father’s role on earth. Jerome noticed that the stingy birds weren’t around which allowed most of the birds to feel more safe while eating. I am not sure what The Heavenly Father thinks of the stingy birds but I know that sometimes we people can be like birds.

Welcome to Holy Cross Newsletter

This week and for the following weeks until June, we will miss Brian Traynor as he is currently away. This means that we will also miss his regular efforts to find humour content to keep us smiling as well as the regular meaningful communications.

With me, learning on the job, you might be able to go through the newsletter in 2min and 17 seconds, or 5 more seconds if you are distracted.
Fortunately to help us not regret the fact that the newsletter is too short, Brian kindly left some meaningful information to share on PFGM as well as some humour. I might add something to it but will not disclose who is the editor of what – leaving this to your great minds to work it out. Enjoy your reading, remember to time it and let your neighbour know how you went! Complaints to me are welcome, I promise to read them during my Christmas holidays ☺ With all seriousness, I would appreciate constructive feedback as long as it is not only behind my back.

We had a most enjoyable lunch on Tuesday to acknowledge the 90th birthday of three generous and talented men who have been members of our Friday ‘A Team’ Joining with their spouses, other past and present ‘A Team’ members. Denis Travers founded the team which originally consisted of Gerald Wright (Denis’ uncle) and his friend Vin Molloy. They were joined soon after by Stan Wells. Noel Spinks (who was present on Tuesday) joined as did John Chubb, John Stretch, Graham Newcombe, Ed Porad and Frank Van den Boom.

Gerald is now 95 five. Jack Brolly (March), Vin Molly (April) and Neville Hackett (May 14th) have reached to 90 mark. We extend sincere Congratulations and best wishes!
In acknowledging these three men, we also wanted to thank all our ‘A’ Team members (past and present) for their wonderful assistance to us: Stan, Noel, John Chubb, John Stretch, Graham, Ed and Frank.

On Sunday May 6th, the PFGM celebrates 50 years since Passionist Family Groups began in St Anthony of the Field’s parish, Terrey Hills. The Movement became one of the most significant ministries in which professed and lay Passionists shared significant leadership roles. The first ‘Family Groups’ were such a convincing model of community that despite being a small parish, 26 groups formed in Terrey Hills parish.

Groups included people of different ages, cultires and very often a spouse of different faith, who all found a very practical way of living the gospel – not through discussion but through practical care and support of one another. Interestingly, many people in the groups became involved in parish Committees or groups and wanted more understanding of the new level of faith they were living.

Nguyen Bao Toan
Toan lived with us at Holy Cross since September last year until two weeks ago while engaged in English language studies at ELSPM. Through a process of discernment he acknowledged that while he loved Passionist life, this was not his future. He returned home to his family who live just over an hour from Saigon. Sadly on Tuesday, around 9.30pm, his parents last saw him on his laptop computer and then discovered Toan had lay down on his bed where he died.

Toan demonstrated to us great generosity and care for others and a genuine willingness to help at all times. Various visitors commented on his bright nature and generosity. In particular he was magnificent in his care of his brothers when they had COVID. He was particularly attentive to prayer and his spiritual life. He would have been 27 on April 26th, so it is a sad premature end to his life which he so conscientiously wanted to devote to God. The entire community, but especially his Vietnamese brothers at Holy Cross have been deeply affected by his sudden death.
Fr Dien in Vietnam has been supporting Toan’s family. His body was brought home from the hospital to be in his parent’s home. Dien is ensuring that Toan has a proper ‘Passionist’ burial, beginning with a blessing of the body and coffin on Wednesday afternoon. May he rest in peace.