Passionist Sisters
The Congregation of the Sisters of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ (popularly known as the Passionist Sisters) is a semi-contemplative religious community dedicated to keeping the memory of Christ’s Passion alive through prayer, community life, and active apostolic service.
Founded in 1918 in Poland by the Venerable Servant of God, Mother Josepha Halacinska, the Congregation emerged from a deep spiritual desire to contemplate the Crucified Christ and minister to those in need. Driven by their unique charism, the Passionist Sisters look to soothe the wounds of the Crucified Lord by serving the “crucified” people of yesterday and today through diverse works of mercy.
Our Charism and Global Mission
The center of life for a Passionist Sister is the Memoria Passionis—the continuous, prayerful remembrance of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ as the ultimate sign of God’s boundless love. As a semi-contemplative order, the Sisters beautifully balance intense contemplative prayer with vital global ministries. Today, over 220 Passionist Sisters serve the Catholic Church across the world, including foundations in:
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- Poland
- Canada
- Cameroun
- Germany
- Italy
The Congregation responds flexibly to the needs of the universal Church, stepping forward wherever assistance is required. Their global apostolates span Catholic education, health care, and foreign missionary endeavours.
Pastoral Ministry in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Peterborough
The Passionist Sisters share a deeply cherished history with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Peterborough. Fondly remembered by local parishioners and clergy as “the Polish Sisters,“ they first arrived in the diocese in 1977.
For nearly four decades, spanning from 1978 until 2015, the Sisters carried out a vibrant and multi-faceted apostolate that left an indelible mark on the spiritual and operational life of the local Church. Their dedicated service inside the diocese included:
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- Diocesan Administration: The Sisters provided invaluable administrative support by working directly at the Diocesan Pastoral Center.
- Hospitality and Care: They maintained the Bishop’s Residence, providing a welcoming environment of prayer and community for diocesan leadership.
- Ethnic Ministry: The Sisters provided essential, dedicated pastoral ministry and spiritual accompaniment to the active Polish Catholic community in the region, preserving cultural faith traditions and building strong parish bonds.
A Lasting Legacy of Prayer
Following the eventual closure of their local convent in Peterborough, the Passionist Sisters officially concluded their active presence in the diocese. The remaining Sisters are retired in Montreal—which stands as their sole remaining religious house in Canada—and in their native Poland.
Though they are no longer physically present in local city parishes, the priests, religious, and lay faithful of the Diocese of Peterborough remain profoundly grateful for their decades of joyful service. We invite our community to join together in prayers of thanksgiving for the gift of their ministry, and we pray that new vocations will continue to carry Mother Josepha Halacinska’s prophetic charism forward into the future.
Congregation of the Sisters of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ – Jubilee 2018
