Friday, July 30, 2010 November 21 Presentation Sisters Feast Day A young Irish woman named Nano Nagle founded the Presentation Sisters in Ireland in 1776. The formal name of the congregation that she founded is Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. (PBVM). The feast day of the congregation is celebrated on November 21. Four pioneering Irish women among Nano’s followers, Sisters Bernard Kirwin, Magdalen O’Shaughnessy, Xavier Maloney and Xaverius Lynch, carried her vision and spirit to the shores of Newfoundland in 1833. They came at the invitation of Bishop Michael Fleming to establish a school that would offer improved educational opportunity for girls and young women in St. John’s. Since 1833 the Presentation Sisters in Newfoundland have continued to respond to this call. Academic learning, spiritual development/religious education and a deep appreciation for the arts and music were central to their education ministry among students, teachers and parents. 175th Anniversary Celebration On Sunday, September 21, 2008 the Presentation Sisters and Associates gathered at their Motherhouse, Cathedral Square in St. John’s to begin a year of jubilee celebrations to mark the 175th anniversary of the arrival of the first four sisters from Ireland to Newfoundland in 1833. Throughout the coming year there will be celebrations throughout the three dioceses n Newfoundland and Labrador to provide an opportunity for the Presentation Sisters to remember, to celebrate and give thanks with and among the people to whom they have ministered over the years. THE FEAST OF THE PRESENTATION OF MARY The feast of the Presentation of Mary is not based on a Biblical event, but rather an incident mentioned in the Infancy Narrative of James. After Mary was born to Joachim and Anne, her parents dedicated her to the service of the Temple. And when she was 3 years old, she walked unaided up fifteen steps to where Zachary, the High priest, awaited her. When Mary was presented to the High Priest, he took her into the sanctuary, which was called the "Holy of Holies", where she was allowed once a year. Mary studied and served in the temple until the age of 14. Recommended Reading: Not Words But Deeds, Sister Corona Wyse, pbvm. For more information on this and other related subjects contact the Archives of the R.C. Archdiocese. www.stjohnsarchdiocese.nf.ca Other “Archival Moments” will be posted at this site on a regular weekly basis. If you have friends or colleagues who would like to receive these "archival moments" please send us their e mail address or forward this moment to them from your desk!! Larry Dohey Archives of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. John’s P.O. Box 1363 St. John’s, NL A1C 5M3 709-726-3660 E-mail: archives@nf.aibn.com We hope that you have enjoyed this archival moment.