Celebrating 250 years

Nano and her First three Companions

On the 20th December 2025 in Cork, Ireland, the Presentation Sisters launched a year of celebrating the 250th anniversary of the founding of the Presentation Congregation by Nano Nagle. The following extract is a good reminder of how small acorns can become giant oaks.

On Christmas Eve in the year 1775 Nano Nagle and three companions opened a new chapter in a sacred story. Two of Nano’s companions, Elizabeth Burke and Mary Fouhy, trained by her as co-workers, had been teaching for some time in her cabin schools. The third companion, Mary Ann, had been known to her in some capacity and Nano waited almost a year until Mary Ann was ready to join the group. Christmas Eve was chosen as the appropriate date for establishing on a sure footing the inspired project begun in Cork city some two decades previously. All four women took up residence in Nano’s humble cabin in Cove Lane (now Douglas Street) on 24 December 1775, to begin a new journey as a religious community. They did not have a convent or a title or a rule of life until later. Nano was happy to refer to the little group as a Society. So begins the story of the Congregation of the Presentation Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary!

written by Sr Mary T O’Brien PBVM

cf https://pbvm.org/250th-anniversary-of-the-founding-of-the-presentation-congregation

BIDDING PRAYER: For Presentation Sisters as they celebrate the birth of their Congregation 250 years ago at this time. May the flames of Nano Nagle’s lantern of love and peace continue to be spread by the Sisters among those with whom they live and minister. (Pause) Lord in your mercy.