About Us

The History of The Passionists

The following links will direct you to informational Passionist websites throughout the Internet. The links are arranged by general topics.

The Passionist Historical Archives

go to archives

Fr. Viktor Koch, C.P.

The Very Reverend Fr. Viktor Koch (1873-1955) was a Passionist missionary who left Pittsburgh in 1922 to co-found a new province of the Order in Germany and Austria. While struggling to lead the new German-Austrian Foundation through the chaos of Nazi rule, Fr. Koch became the revered spiritual leader to citizens of the devout Catholic town of Schwarzenfeld. His influence and presence in the Bavarian town proved especially vital in the final days of World War II, when American forces discovered a mass grave on Schwarzenfeld’s border and threatened reprisals against the townspeople. Fr. Viktor’s story is being researched by his great nephew Gary Koch and his great grandneice Katherine Koch. A historical fiction novel about Fr. Viktor’s travails in Nazi Germany is in progress. Learn more about the book and research project at the website here.

See and hear Katherine Koch present Fr. Victor Koch’s story in Germany

Passionist Research: Reverend Thomas Foley

Passionist Saints

This page provides links to pages and websites devoted to Passionist saints of the Catholic Church.

St.Paul of the Cross
St. Gemma Galgani
St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows (nee Francis Possenti)

Prayer to our Passionist Saints

St. Paul of the Cross, St. Gabriel, and St. Gemma, intercede for us!

You lived the Passion of Jesus and the Sorrows of Mary each in your own special way.

St. Paul, by your example of prayer, penance and preaching the Passion and Resurrection, teach us how to keep alive the memory of the sufferings, death and glory of Jesus in our hearts, and to help others to do the same.

St. Gabriel, by the way you did ordinary things with extraordinary fidelity to God, show us how to respond compassionately to the crucified of today who live all around us.

St. Gemma, marked with the wounds of Christ in your own body, lead us by our own acceptance of personal and family sufferings “to fill up what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ for the sake of his body, the church.”

Saints of the Passion, thank you for the tremendous encouragement you give us by inspiring us to follow Christ more prayerfully and willingly. Relying on your friendship and intercessory power, we place these petitions in your loving hands.

St. Paul of the Cross, St. Gabriel and St. Gemma, pray for us!