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Lismore's Presentation Sisters help St Vincent's Hospital staff after floods

Inspired by their founder's motto, "Deeds, not words", a congregation of sisters on the Northern Rivers has organised a generous donation to 64 flood-affected hospital and aged care staff.

When Lismore's Presentation Sisters heard how many staff members of St Vincent's Lismore and St Joseph's lost everything in the devastating floods, they wanted to help. They immediately launched an appeal and rallied their worldwide network of friends and supporters of the congregation.

The result was a $250 donation for each of the most-affected staff members and a personal note which said: "Our foundress, Nano Nagle, worked during challenging times. Her family motto of 'Deeds not words' inspires us still at this time. Please know our prayers are with you."

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St Vincent's CEO, Steve Brierley, said the sisters - who set up their congregation on the Northern Rivers in 1886 - had a long association with the hospital.

"They took over pastoral care at St Vincent's 42 years ago when the Sisters of Charity handed over the hospital to the Diocese of Lismore," he said.

"Although not actively involved in pastoral care today on campus, the Lismore Congregation is still keen to support the community in any way they can. They heard that many of our staff were impacted by the floods, and their leader, Sr Anne Jordan, quickly offered to help.

"We thank them for their kindness and generosity, and I know our staff are grateful for their support."

Along with the Presentation Sisters, other Catholic healthcare institutions provided substantial contributions to help St Vincent's flood-affected employees. The board of St Vincent's indicated it will supplement donations and other offers of help with in-kind and financial support as appropriate. The board already unanimously supported a special wage and salary payment to flood-affected staff.

Mr Brierley said it was important to provide meaningful and ongoing support after the floods.

"After the sudden impact of the floods, we witnessed great heroism from our flood-affected staff, and most have returned to work despite their losses," he said. "It's a testament to their dedication to patient and resident care, and their desire to reclaim a sense of normality and dignity through work.

"However, the hospital is mindful this is just one phase of a long response to collective trauma. The next phase, which is a sense of disillusionment, will need to be fully appreciated and sensitively worked through before the rebuilding and restoration phase can begin."

St Vincent's program of assistance has included helping find ongoing accommodation for displaced staff, transport, supplying essential items, supporting their social, emotional and spiritual needs where appropriate, and providing a secure and stable work environment.

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Presentation House open after makeover that took two years

THE multi-million dollar renovation of Lismore Diocese’s Presentation House has been given the seal of approval from the nuns who formerly resided there.

Don't miss out on the headlines from Lismore. Followed categories will be added to My News.

THE multi-million dollar renovation of Lismore Diocese's Presentation House has been given the seal of approval from the nuns who formerly resided there.

After two years of renovations, Presentation House, behind St Carthage's Cathedral in Lismore, is almost finished and will be open for business as the new home of the Catholic Schools Office come next week.

Officially opening on November 21, the Catholic Schools Office, which had outgrown their former spaces, will be moving into the century-old building starting on Monday.

Built in 1905 as a convent for the Presentation Sisters, the House has been revamped in a major overhaul taking two years to complete, Lismore Diocese business manager Greg Isaac explained.

He said he was pleased to see the life brought back into the grand old building, which had stood empty for a number of years before the renovation began.

The electrics and the drainage has been one of the biggest parts of the renovation - along with making the building fire safe and up to all building standards.

"When we were doing it we took the approach that we wanted to retain the heritage value, but the workspaces we wanted to be very contemporary," Mr Isaac explained.

And contemporary they are - The workspaces for the offices are light, open plan spaces, with walls of the nun's bedrooms having come down to facilitate the functionality of the offices.

However, much of the characteristics of the picturesque building, like the main and side old cedar staircases, have remained, simply polished and brightened up.

On Wednesday the team took some of the nuns that previously lived in the building for a tour and were met with a joyous response.

"They were amazed, just amazed at the building," Mr Isaac said.

"To see life come back to their mother house, they were really pleased."

Sister Margaret Mary, who spent her early years as a novice at the Presentation Building, and then other periods here between postings across the state, said the renovation was extraordinary.

"It's magnificent," she said.

"They've done a tremendous job."

The building was deteriorating when the nuns moved out in 2004, she said, and she was glad to see that the building had been brought back to life now rather than forgotten or demolished.

A horde of local tradespeople have worked inside the building, Mr Isaac said.

"Our policy was to always use local tradespeople when possible," he said.

He also said the renovation had been made easier by the good communication they'd had from Lismore City Council.

"Lismore City Council have been absolutely fantastic," he said.

"I've worked with (many) councils, but Lismore are one of the best councils I've ever had to deal with."

There's still some work to be done, with tidying up and landscaping and other things, but it will all be done and perfected for the grand opening in November.

Mum pushes for action after ‘devastating’ loss of ‘little man’

A heartbroken North Coast mum in mourning after losing her son in a freak bridge jumping tragedy over Easter is pushing the state and council to improve safety as a tight-knit community grapples with collective sadness.

North Coast on high alert after deluge

Eight schools across Northern NSW remain non-operational while the region remains on high alert following an overnight lashing. It comes after a man was rescued from rising floodwaters. Here’s the latest.

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Past Bishops

The bishops of lismore.

The history of the Catholic Church in the mid-north and far north coast regions of New South Wales commences with the arrival of Bishop John Bede Polding in 1834 and the progressive creation of new dioceses up to that of Armidale in 1871. In the next fifteen years the Catholic population and coastal communities had grown to the extent that another diocese was needed to provide for them. In 1887 the area was divided off from Armidale and became initially the new Diocese of Grafton until the title was changed to the Diocese of Lismore in 1900.

The First Bishop, Jeremiah Joseph Doyle 1849-1909

Born in County Cork, Ireland, the young Father Doyle studied at All Hallows Missionary College in Dublin and was ordained there in 1874 for service in the Diocese of Armidale. He arrived in Australia early in the following year and served at the Cathedral in Armidale until in 1878 he was appointed to the Richmond, Brunswick and Tweed river districts on the coast. Before long he had adopted Lismore as his base, and a church and presbytery were constructed.

In May 1887 the now Dean Doyle, at the age of 38, was appointed by Pope Leo XIII as the first bishop of the new Diocese of Grafton, and he was consecrated in St Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney, on 28 August 1887. After a brief stay in Grafton, the new bishop was convinced that the centre of his See would best be in Lismore because of its position and larger Catholic population. The Sisters of Mercy in Grafton were joined by the Presentation Sisters in Lismore to enable the establishment of more parish schools. By 1892 plans were advanced for the building of a Cathedral. Although the foundation stone was soon laid, the general financial crisis of the 1890’s delayed the construction of the present St Carthage’s until 1904 and its opening in 1907.

Bishop Doyle was a much respected civic leader who promoted the development of many public amenities for the growing town, such as the coming of the railway and the building of the Rocky Creek dam, as well as being a much-loved pastor to the Catholic people. The fine Cathedral became an object of pride for the townspeople and to this day remains Lismore’s most notable building.

Only two years after the opening of the Cathedral, a heart attack claimed the life of Bishop Doyle. After 34 years of strenuous pioneering labours and travel on horseback and river steamer, surrounded by a devoted clergy and people, with great courage and against many odds, the faith had been securely planted. He was buried in the Lady Chapel of his new Cathedral on 6 June, 1909, and the tower and peal of bells were completed in his memory by public subscription in 1911.

The Second Bishop, John Joseph Carroll 1865-1949

Born in County Kilkenny, Ireland, John Carroll was ordained in 1890 at St Patrick’s College, Carlow, for the service of the Archdiocese of Sydney. Arriving in Australia soon after, he served at St Mary’s Cathedral, St Benedict’s, Broadway, and then as parish priest of Moss Vale. Appointed Bishop of Lismore by Pope St Pius X, he received episcopal consecration in St Carthage’s Cathedral on 6 March 1910. He was to be bishop of the diocese for the next 39 years, a time of extraordinary expansion in the number of the Catholic population, parishes, priests, religious brothers and sisters, and schools.

He further added to the beauty of the cathedral with its pipe organ in 1912, its fine altars of Australian marble in 1919, and in that year saw to its solemn consecration. Bishop Carroll established the Cowper Orphanage in 1914 under the care of the Sisters of Mercy, and invited more religious congregations to establish apostolic works in the diocese: the Marist Brothers in 1911, the Sisters of Charity in 1921 to establish St Vincent’s Hospital in Lismore, and the Marist Fathers in 1930 to establish St John’s College, Woodlawn. The diocesan clergy grew by over 50 priests, those from Ireland being joined by equal numbers of those born and trained in Australia.

Bishop Carroll died on 8 May 1949 and his funeral cortege moved through the streets of the city before returning to the Cathedral where his body was laid to rest in the Lady Chapel next to his predecessor.

The Third Bishop, Patrick Joseph Farrelly 1895-1974

Feeling the weight of his years, in the era before bishops submitted their resignation from office at the age of 75, Bishop Carroll asked Pope Pius XI to send him a coadjutor (“helper”) to share the growing demands of the diocese. Father Patrick Farrelly was born in Lismore in 1895, baptised in St Carthage’s Cathedral, ordained priest by Bishop Carroll in the Cathedral in 1918, and consecrated as Bishop Coadjutor before the same altar on 30 August 1931. At a time when most bishops were still from Ireland, Bishop Farrelly was one of the first Australian priests to be chosen for episcopal office.

For the next 18 years Bishop Farrelly exercised his ministry from Grafton. Having known two bishops whose mode of transport was the horse, Bishop Farrelly had enthusiastically adopted the motor car, in the days when roads were still poor and the rivers had to be crossed by ferry. In 1947 Bishop Carroll’s illness made it necessary for the administration of the diocese in the two years before his death to be completely assumed by his Coadjutor. On 8 May 1949 the office of Bishop of Lismore passed automatically to Bishop Farrelly.

A man of tremendous energy and a gifted speaker in great demand, Bishop Farrelly maintained the momentum of his predecessors as the record of new church organisations, church and school building and the ordination of new priests bears witness. By the 1950’s the Catholic population had risen to 45,000 parishioners in 28 parishes, and the number of priests and religious reached its height.

Bishop Farrelly’s resignation from office was accepted by Pope St Paul VI on 14 March, 1971. He died in Lismore on 25 May 1974, and was buried in front of the Cathedral, at the foot of the statue of Our Lady of Lourdes, to whom he had a particular devotion. The editorial in the Northern Star paid this tribute: “He had become a legend in his own lifetime, not only by more than fifty years of direct participation in the rôle of the Catholic Church in his birthplace diocese, but by the influence and support he always directed to worthy causes in the interests of the community as a whole.”

The Fourth Bishop, John Steven Satterthwaite 1928-2016

Approaching retirement, Bishop Farrelly requested Pope St Paul VI to provide the diocese with a Coadjutor. The sending of a priest of the Diocese of Armidale in 1969 saw history repeating itself in the appointment of Bishop Doyle from Armidale in 1887.

Father John Satterthwaite was born in Sydney in 1928, shortly before his family moved to Inverell where his father was appointed shire engineer. Educated at St Joseph’s College, Hunters Hill, John Satterthwaite proceeded to the University of Sydney and graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Engineering. After two years in the workforce at Port Kembla, he responded to a call to the priesthood and received his further education at St Columba’s College, Springwood and in Rome at the Lateran University. There he was ordained priest on 16 March 1957. Returning to Armidale Father Satterthwaite served various pastoral appointments as well as secretary to Bishop Doody and Diocesan Chancellor.

Appointed Coadjutor of Lismore, Bishop Satterthwaite was consecrated in St Carthage’s Cathedral on 1 May 1969. On Bishop Farrelly’s retirement on 31 August 1971 he succeeded as the diocese’s fourth bishop.

The thirty years of Bishop Satterthwaite’s episcopate followed upon the social turmoil of the 1960’s as well as being a time of considerable change following the Second Vatican Council. He soon initiated a reassessment of the pastoral needs of the diocese, whose population in 30 parishes now exceeded 72,000 Catholics. He established a Diocesan Pastoral Council and the Council of Priests. The work of the Catholic Schools Office was reorganised under lay leadership and the Catholic mission and identity of the schools strengthened through close cooperation between parish priests, school principals and key lay staff. In 1977 he supervised a rearrangement and extension of the Cathedral sanctuary to better accommodate the celebration of Mass in accordance with the Church’s liturgical reforms. Bishop Satterthwaite greatly loved the Cathedral, spending early hours of prayer there each day before the Blessed Sacrament, and making it the centre of his pastoral ministry. During his time in office he ordained 45 new priests.

The first four Bishops of Lismore held office for an average of 28 years each. Bishop Satterthwaite sought a Bishop Coadjutor somewhat earlier so that he could retire, which he did on 1 December 2001. Over the next 15 years he quietly assisted in the pastoral work of St Agnes’ parish Port Macquarie, where he died on 23 April 2016. His Requiem Mass was celebrated in St Carthage’s Cathedral, after which he was laid to rest among the priests in the East Lismore Cemetery.

The Fifth Bishop, Geoffrey Hylton Jarrett 1937-

It was southwards to Tasmania that Pope St John Paul II looked to seek the next bishop for Lismore. Father Jarrett had been a priest of the Archdiocese of Hobart for 30 years when he was appointed Bishop Coadjutor

Bishop Geoffrey Jarrett was born in Kyneton, Victoria, on 1st December, 1937, on his father’s side of an English pioneer family in the district, and on his mother’s side of German Lutheran families from Prussia who had migrated to Melbourne in the 1840’s. The Bishop grew up in Papua New Guinea where his father was a mining engineer and later a copra and coffee producer.

He was educated at Trinity Grammar School in Melbourne. Shortly after matriculating, then with university in view, the opportunity to travel opened wider horizons in London pursuing his interest in documentary film-making. He worked for several years in the Film Unit of BBC Television at Ealing Studios until he finally responded to a long-felt vocation to the Anglican ministry. Remaining in England he studied for five years at the Theological College of the Society of the Sacred Mission at Kelham, Nottinghamshire. On return to Australia he worked as an Anglican priest in Queensland until he was received into the Catholic Church in November 1965.

Archbishop Young accepted him for the priesthood of the Archdiocese of Hobart and his further studies were entrusted to the Marist Fathers at their seminary at Toongabbie, NSW. Bishop Jarrett was ordained priest by Archbishop Young in Sydney on 14 May, 1970.

After thirty years as a parish priest and Administrator of St Mary’s Cathedral, Hobart, on 9 December he was appointed by Pope St John Paul II as Bishop Coadjutor of Lismore. His episcopal ordination took place in St Carthage’s Cathedral on 22nd February, 2001.

Upon the retirement of Bishop Satterthwaite on 1 December 2001, Bishop Jarrett became the fifth Bishop of Lismore.

The Catholic population of the diocese had now passed 100,000. Into the new millennium the greatly changed attitude to religion and belief of the past 40 years was everywhere more evident, marriage and family life was less secure, and the old Irish solidarity underpinning the Catholic community had almost vanished. This was reflected in a much diminished religious practice, most notably in the number of Catholics regularly at Sunday Mass and the sacraments.

The popularity of Catholic schools however continued to rise, with increasing non-Catholic enrolments, requiring enhancement of their value as places of Christian influence and evangelisation. The formation of teachers and principals, new and continuing, was a special focus, one aspect of which was the series of ‘Pilgrimages into the Apostolic Foundations of the Church’ in Greece, Turkey and Rome, led by the bishop and priest chaplains. The bishop’s responsibility to ensure future priests for the diocese saw the seeking of vocations from international sources to train for ordination in Australia, and led to an increased number of ordinations of both Australians and seminarians from overseas. The liturgy as the source and summit of Christian life, and the Church’s tradition of ‘worship in the beauty of holiness’ to sustain and strengthen the spiritual life was an ideal upheld and given expression especially by way of diocesan example in the exterior repair and interior restoration of St Carthage’s Cathedral between 2010-2015.

Bishop Jarrett was finally retired with the appointment of his successor, Father Gregory Homeming OCD, by Pope Francis in December 2016, and the new bishop’s assumption of office in the following February.

The Sixth Bishop, Gregory Paul Homeming, OCD 1958-

Bishop Gregory Homeming is an Australian Chinese born in Sydney on 30 May 1958. He completed his primary education in Shepperton, Victoria, and high school at St Aloysius College. Milsons Point in Sydney.

Having taken the degrees of Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Laws at the University of Sydney, he was admitted as a solicitor in 1981 and worked as a lawyer in Sydney from 1981-1985.

At the end of 1985 the Bishop joined the Order of Discalced Carmelites, making first profession on 1 February 1987. He then completed his priestly studies at the Yarra Theological Union, Melbourne, taking the further degrees of Bachelor of Theology and Master of Arts in Philosophy.

The Bishop was ordained priest on 20 July 1991 and has held within his Order the positions of Major Superior, Novice Master, Director of Retreats and Regional Vicar of the Discalced Carmelites in Australia.

Bishop Homeming received episcopal ordination in St Carthage’s Cathedral and was placed in the Chair as Sixth Bishop of Lismore on 22 February 2017.

‘The joy of love experienced by families is also the joy of the Church.’

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International Presentation Association

The international presentation association is a networking of the various congregations of presentation women around the world, formed to foster unity and to enable collaboration for the sake of mission..

The IPA Assembly is the policy-making body of the International Presentation Association. Members are congregational leaders, justice contact persons, and one additional member of each participating congregation. Three representatives from the Association of Presentations in Latin America are also included. The Assembly meets every five years and the meetings are hosted by the Presentation sisters around the world.

Our mission is to speak and act in partnership with others for global justice from a contemplative stance in a spirit of oneness with the whole of creation.                   

2017 IPA Assembly

Members Of IPA Are:

Union of presentation sisters.

• English Province
• Indian Province
• Ireland, Northern Province
• Ireland, South East Province
• Ireland, South West Province
• Latin American Unit
• New Zealand Vice Province
• Pakistan Vice Province
• Philippines Region
• United States Province
• Zambia Vice Province
• Zimbabwe Vice Province

Conference Of Presentation Sisters Of North America

• Aberdeen Congregation
• Dubuque Congregation
• Newfoundland Congregation
• New Windsor Congregation
• San Francisco Congregation
• Staten Island Congregation
• United States Province of Union

Australian Society Of Presentation Sisters

• Lismore Congregation
• Papua New Guinea Mission/Region
• Queensland Congregation
• Tasmania Congregation
• Victoria Congregation
• Wagga Wagga Congregation
• Western Australia Congregation

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We are active, apostolic, Catholic women religious participating in the mission of Jesus in the United States of America.

Our Sisters

Born in Ireland Fargo, North Dakota

Sr. Agatha spent many of her active ministry years as a nurse, helping in many of the hospitals in the area. She has always had a strong faith knowing that “God brought us all here for a reason,” making the best of all things she has encountered and continues to encounter throughout her life.

Born: Ireland

Current: Orange, CA

Sister Angela is a part of our Vocations Team! If you are discerning or looking for some guidance, Sr. Angela might be the person you have been looking for. She also serves in the Development Office and organizes Gala events in Southern California.

Current: San Antonio, Texas

Sister Anne O’Leary is a part of our Vocations Team! If you are interested in Religious Life or in need of someone to help you discern, Sr. Anne is a great person to talk to.

Born: Goa, India

Current: Cypress, CA

Sr. Annette ministers with the bereaved as the Funeral Director at St. Irenaeus Parish in Cypress. She is also the contact sister with Regina Residence for our five sisters residing there and thus, she's able to visit with each of the sisters in their own bedrooms, walk with them in the grounds, and do whatever else is needed every Thursday.

Current: Fargo, North Dakota

Sister Bernadette has been a part of countless ministries. Today she offers music lessons, sharing her gift of music with others. Through her Presentation Music Studio, she is an independent Music Teacher teaching students of all ages private and group piano instruction.

Current: Regina Residence, CA

Sr. Breda left Ireland in 1953 to join the Presentation Sisters in the USA. While her main ministry was education, she also did active ministry in working with the homeless, drug addiction patients, visiting those in prison, doing what she could to help the people she came across “get their lives back.” Sr. Breda loves to garden and finds great peace in nature

Current: Los Angeles, CA

Sr. Catherine Burke was born in Galway, Ireland. She joined the Presentation Sisters in Baliboro, Ireland for the mission in Pakistan where she lived & taught for four years. She was then sent to the United States where she ministered in Orange, Huntington Beach, Cypress, Whittier & Upland, California. She lived and ministered in San Antonio, Texas for six years. She lived in Phoenix, Arizona for 10 years serving the Sisters on the Unit Leadership Team. She has lived in Los Angeles, California for the past 21 years serving as Co-Director of Presentation Learning Center.

Current: LA, California

Sister Debbie works in hospitals as a social worker in the Pediatric unit. She tends to those throughout the hospital and offers her compassion and guidance to all those she encounters daily.

Sr. Fidelma felt the call to be a Presentation Sister at a young age. However, she was certain that she would NEVER come to the USA and leave her home country of Ireland but God had different plans for Sr. Fidelma. She ended up coming to the USA to live out the mission of the Presentation Sisters. To this day she remains living in the USA, regretting nothing and knowing that God called her where she was supposed to be. She has continued to touch many people throughout her time as a Presentation Sister through the numerous ministries she has been a part of.

To watch a video on Sr. Fidelma's journey to the USA CLICK HERE.

Born: North Dakota, USA

Current: Fargo, ND

Words from Sr. Francine, “The general public might not know who we are, but the poor knows who we are.” Sr. Francine currently works on our Acorn Update, using her gift of writing to share the news of the Presentation Sisters.

Sister Immaculata came over on the boat from Ireland to the USA to continue the mission of the Presentation Sisters in the USA. She has had great trust in the Lord, always saying yes to the call of religious life, as well as the ministries she has been a part of.

Born: Long Beach, CA

Sister Jane Bonar was born in Long Beach, California. She joined the Presentation Sisters in Cypress, California. She then lived and ministered in Cypress, Huntington Beach, Orange & Upland, California. She also lived and ministered for four years in Globe, Arizona. For ten years she served the Sisters on the Unit Leadership Team, based in Phoenix, Arizona. She is currently living in Los Angeles, California where she has been Co-Director of Presentation Learning Center for 21 years.

Born: Philippines

Sister Jocelyn is a member of our Unit Leadership Team and serves as liaison to Vocations & Formation, Justice, and Communications. Sr. Jocelyn likes hiking, dancing, and listening to music. She keeps her favorite scripture verse, “Abide in me as I abide in you” (John 15:4),  close to her heart and feels greatly blessed as a Presentation Sister.

Born: Sligo, Ireland

Sr. Josepha is a wonderful baker and loves to play cards. When you eat one of her baked goods, you'll be licking your lips!

Sr. Josephine came to the USA at a young age to be a Presentation Sister. She was drawn to the mission and ministry of the congregation. Throughout her time as a sister she has been a part of many different ministries, but one she holds close to her heart was her time as a teacher.

To watch a video on Sr. Josephine's story click HERE .

Sr. Katherine is our Unit Leader. With a collaborative effort she works with the leadership team, making sure all aspects of the congregation, no matter the location, are in communication with one another.

Sr. Kathleen was a teacher and a Principal in various elementary schools in Southern California. She also served in the leadership team in Zimbabwe for several years.

Fargo, North Dakota

Sr. Lorraine is a part of our Vocations Team. She has been part of numerous ministries throughout her time as a Presentation Sister. She currently offers spiritual direction, helping people from all different backgrounds grow in their spiritual lives. She is also a Baby Cuddler for hospitals in her area. Sr. Lorraine finds great joy in all the work she does.

Sister Marcelline’s main ministry was through nursing. She was involved in many different ministries, but always felt most at peace helping those in the hospitals. She tended to all kinds of patients, always brought them comfort and love through her unwavering faith.

Born: County Cork, Ireland

Current San Antonio, Texas

Sr. Margaret Mary served in Faith Formation particularly Catequesis Familiar (Family Catechesis), Home Visitation Evangelization Team, and in the leadership team. She speaks Spanish and also taught English as a Second Language. She and Sr. Jocelyn "opened" the house on Arbor Place in San Antonio to live with the immigrants and the marginalized. Sr. Margaret Mary loves talking with people and playing cards. There's no person that would be a stranger to Margaret Mary!

Born: Tipperary, Ireland

Current: Huntington Beach, CA

Sr. Maria Kelly taught Junior High, particularly Math, at St. Bonaventure's School in Huntington Beach.

Sr. Marie left her home and came to the USA to be a Presentation Sister. She, like many of the sisters, participated in countless ministries, but a time of her life that stands out is her time as a nurse. She spent many years comforting families and praying with them as their loved ones were in surgery, etc. Her compassion has touched countless people over the years. She has always found her love and strength through God, but also her strong devotion to St. Joseph.

Click HERE to watch a video on Sr. Marie and her ministry!

Current: San Antonio, TX

Sr. Marilyn is creative and artistic. She does ceramics, knows how to make candles, and the list goes on! She used to do youth retreats; as well as spent time as a teacher. Sr. Marilyn is a trained spiritual director and ministered at the House of Prayer in Tucson, AZ, before being missioned to Fargo.

Sister Antonio is a member of our Unit Leadership Team. She was involved in education, pastoral ministry, catechesis, and RENEW (small faith communities). Before beginning to serve on the leadership team in the early 2000's, she ministered at the Archdiocese of San Francisco. Sr. Antonio also loves cats, currently owning a cat named 'Rosie' and she knows how to knit!

Sr. Mary Dunlea served in Formation ministry for several years - as Novice Directress and as Temporary Professed Directress. She also ministered as a teacher and in RCIA.

Sr. Peggy’s trust in God has brought incredible adventures throughout her time as a Presentation Sister. She spent numerous years living in Peru, starting schools, teaching students, and changing the world. Sr. Peggy has left a life long impact on all the people she’s met, especially those in Peru.

C urrent: Ireland Province

Sr. Philippa Wall was born in Laois, Ireland.  She joined the Presentation Sisters in Mount St. Anne’s, Killenard, Laois.  Following graduation as an Elementary Teacher she taught for fourteen years in Ireland before coming to the United States where she continued teaching in Alabama, Louisiana, and Texas until retirement.  Currently she serves as the Unit Archivist.  She catalogs the historical records of the life and mission of the Presentation Sisters and preserves them in a designated place called the archives.  They tell the story of God’s grace in action in a group of people.

Born: Dublin, Ireland

Born: India

Sr. Roselima is our Peace and Justice contact for the Presentation Sisters. She is a part of the IPA (International Presentation Association), which focuses on the mission of working for global justice for all creation.

Born: Cork, Ireland

Sister Sharon is a part of our Vocations Team. Sr. Sharon is regularly taking part in conferences and other events to help people of all ages understand what the Presentation Sisters encompass. She is a great resource and contact when it comes looking for guidance of any kind, especially discernment of religious life.

Born: Oklahoma

Like many of us, Sister Shawna found herself in her mid-twenties searching for her life calling. Yet, her strength and courage led her right where she was supposed to end up. She let God guide her, and after much discernment and living with different orders of sisters, she found what she called "home" with the Union of Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Since then she has done numerous ministries including working in hospitals, prisons, vocation work, working with youth and many others that have positively influenced the lives of more people than she will ever know. Now, Sr. Shawna lives in a community of Presentation Sisters in Fargo, ND with her furry companion, Candy.

“I am a mother of four, grandmother of eight, great grandmother of two with a third on the way and now a Presentation Sister.” Before Sr. Stella’s time as a Presentation Sister she was married and created a beautiful family. Sr. Stella always had a strong devotion to her faith that helped her through difficult times in her life. After many hardships, her 24 year marriage ended in divorce. But not to worry, God had great plans for Sr. Stella and led her to the Presentation Sisters. Delicately letting her children know she was going to join the convent, it came to them as no surprise. They knew she was called to religious life and found it to be a great blessing for not only Sr. Stella, but the entire family. One of her children even said to her “Mother I understand that completely, that is who you are!” Sr. Stella explains “the journey with God is sacred and holy; and enlightening in so many ways.”

To watch a video on Sr. Stella's story click HERE .

Sr. Winifred comes from a large family, having five sisters and five brothers. Throughout her time as a Presentation Sister she spent many years of her active ministry teaching in the schools, even starting some of the first schools with Presentation Sisters in areas of California. Keeping a close relationship with her siblings, she was also able to help minister at a hospital where her brother worked. Sr. Winifred, like all the Presentation Sisters, has been a part of numerous ministries and continues to live out the mission of Nano Nagle.

Born: Texas, USA

Sister Wiona Engel is the youngest of six children, born and raised in Luckenbach, Texas.   After High School at the age of 18 she entered with the Presentation Sisters in San Antonio, Texas.   She has had various ministries which included Elementary and Junior High teacher; Principal of an Elementary School, K-8 th grade; Development Director for the U. S. Unit; serving on the U. S. Unit Leadership Team for 5 years, assistant Congregational Leader for 5 years, and Congregational Leader for 10 years which involved visiting all the Units of the Congregation throughout the World. Leadership was a great privilege in that one saw how the charism of Nano was alive and active all over the world.   S he was Co-director of a Learning Center in Shaw, Mississippi. Her guiding light and what inspired her to continue on the journey was Christ’s saying, “I am with you always” and Nano’s, “The Almighty is All Sufficient”.

Sr. Agnes Walsh

Sr. Andrea Arendt

Sr. Anne O'Brien

Sr. Cabrini Foley

Sr. Catherine Gleitz

Sr. Carmel Lynch

Sr. Georgiana Sprunk

Sr. Gertrude Massine

Sr. Lois Byrne

Sr. Maris Stella Korb

Sr. Maureen Nolan

Sr. Mary Beauclair

Sr. Mary Kealy

Sr. Mary Margaret Mooney

Sr. Niamh Kelly

Sr. Olivia Scully

Sr. Paula Ringuette

Sr. Pauline Egan

Sr. Rosario Ryan

Sr. Therese Gleitz

Sr. Vianney Buckley

Sister Vianney Buckley died peacefully on Monday, July 17, 2023, at Villa de San Antonio, San Antonio, TX.  You can find Sr. Vianney's Obituary here: http://pbvmunion.org/obituary-notice-for-sister-vianney-buckley/

Sr. Carmel Lynch 

Sr. Carmel Lynch died peacefully on November 16, 2022 at Regina Residence in Orange, CA. She is fondly remembered by many schoolchildren and their parents as well as parishioners of St. Bonaventure Church in Huntington Beach, CA. Please see her memorial at https://youtu.be/fw0Fxwj4_cY

Sr. Joan O'Sullivan

Sr. Joan O’Sullivan died peacefully on April 16, 2022. She was an active member of our Friends of Nano. Inspired by the mission of Nano Nagle, men and women from across the globe work together in ways to keep the spirit of Nano alive within our communities. Sr. Joan was passionate and emphasized the importance of caring for the whole Earth Family.  Tribute to Sr. Joan here: https://youtu.be/Ci8EnRlB8OM?si=956r3eZXJvRnHSkg

Tributes to Presentation Sisters and Associates who have passed away between 2013-2021 can be found here: https://youtu.be/W-MhV4qOauM?si=CI7GZZiwJfkJWnzs

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