By Alex Redmond
The Presentation Congregation, a religious community dedicated to providing education and aiding the underprivileged worldwide, celebrated its 250th anniversary at Nano Nagle Place in Cork last month.
The order was founded on Christmas Eve 1775 and marked its anniversary last Christmas Eve. Presentation Sisters from across the world gathered for a ceremony at Nano Nagle Place on Douglas Street in Cork city to launch the year-long celebration.
The ritual ceremony was live-streamed across the world, showcasing the worldwide reach of the religious group.
The group was founded by Irish nun Nano Nagle. She was born in Killavullen, County Cork to a wealthy Catholic family. She was educated in France due to penal laws limiting Catholic education in Ireland.
Following her education and witnessing poverty in France, she entered a convent, devoting her life to helping those less fortunate than her. She moved back to Ireland, establishing hedge schools, providing those affected by penal laws with a secret education.
Nano Nagle founded The Institute of Charitable Instruction of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in 1775, which later became The Presentation Congregation.
Following Nano Nagle’s death in 1784, her legacy is continued by her surviving Presentation Sisters, expanding to become a worldwide religious order.
The Order expanded first to educate inhabitants of the Dakota Territory in the United States. It has since expanded across five continents, having missions in India, Australia and the Philippines.
KILLAVULLEN CELEBRATIONS
The celebration at Nano Nagle Place last month was the beginning of a year long commemoration of the Order’s work over the past centuries.
Locally, the Presentation Sisters at the Nano Nagle Birthplace in Killavullen are planning a variety of events to mark the anniversary celebrations.
Sr. Lois, Director of the Nano Nagle Birthplace, told The Avondhu of their upcoming events, saying that a Mass is planned for Killavullen Church with Bishop Crean on April 26th, “the death date of Nano, with a reception at the Nano Nagle Birthplace.”
The service and proceeding reception will be open to the public – times are yet to be confirmed.
Sr. Lois said that there has been no further plans made to mark the anniversary at this time but hopes to have more, saying “we’re in full planning mode but we don’t have anything yet.”
The Nano Nagle Birthplace is a visitor and retreat centre open to the public. It offers an array of workshops and accommodations. It was founded in 1974 and marks the birthplace of the founder of the Presentation congregation.
