The Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary were founded in Ireland in 1775 by Nano Nagle. The Penal Laws of the time forbade any form of Catholic instruction in Ireland, but Nano was willing to risk imprisonment and disgrace for the sake of the Gospel. She started seven schools in Cork. She visited the sick and homebound by night and thus became known as the “Lady with the Lantern” as she walked the dark lanes of Cork.
In time, Nano Nagle gathered other women to form a new society of women religious dedicated to the service of the poor. Her small band of women, originally named the Society of Charitable Instruction of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, later became known as the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
At the invitation of the parish priest, a group of sisters traveled from Ireland to New York City where they opened a school, and later an orphanage. As more sisters joined this foundation, three separate congregations were established in Fitchburg, Mass. (1886); Newburgh, N.Y. (1884); and Staten Island, N.Y. (1890).
One hundred years later, in 1997, the sisters in Fitchburg and Newburgh reunited to form one congregation. Before reuniting with the Newburgh congregation, the Presentation Sisters in Fitchburg had branched out in ministry to other areas of Massachusetts and also to Connecticut and Rhode Island.
In the early days of our country, people coming to America were concerned about the education of their children. These immigrants knew they had been deprived of an education, especially in matters of religion, therefore, they wanted the best for their children. Their faith told them God would provide … and so He did!
Catholic schools were being established in many dioceses. Through clergy contacts, Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary from Fitchburg, Mass., were asked to go to Central Falls, R.I., and open a newly built school in the parish of Holy Trinity.
On September 11, 1905, six sisters began their mission with the enrollment of 485 children for the first five grades. (Needless to say a few other sisters came later to help lighten the load!) An outstanding characteristic of these sisters was their keen interest in educating “the whole child.” These children were not only learning the 3 R’s, but also other aspects of daily life to help carry them into the future. Religious education was also made available to children attending public schools.
The sisters were involved in all aspects of parish life, always “present” to their parishioners. In good times and hard times, people knew they could always turn to the sisters, be it for prayers or good works.
The example of these sisters eventually inspired 39 young women to become Sisters of the Presentation and 37 to become members of other religious congregations. Many of these young sisters became missionaries. There were also 26 priests and 10 brothers who were graduates of Holy Trinity School.
In 1927, five sisters were missioned to Sacred Heart Parish in Woonsocket for the purpose of starting a religious education center for elementary and high school students, as well as taking care of the altar in church. It was the dream of the pastor to open a school, but in the interim sisters worked diligently to spread the good news of Christ. Religion classes were held both during the school year and in the summertime. The memorization of the Baltimore Catechism was stressed and children were encouraged to recite, sing and dance in their efforts to better learn about God. Not until 1958 was St. Benedict’s School finally opened with both religious and laity as faculty members. It remained open until 1984.
Through the years many Presentation Sisters took advantage of the education provided at Catholic Teachers College, sponsored by the Diocese of Providence. Their courses enhanced the education of young sisters as well as other students.
The motto inscribed on the Nagle family’s coat of arms is “Non Vox Sed Votum,” — “Not Words but Deeds.” It sums up more than 200 years of active service of more than 2,000 Presentation Sisters throughout the world.
