Sisters of the Presentation of Mary
Encyclopedia
The Sisters of the Presentation of Mary are a religious congregation in the Latin Rite branch of the Catholic Church. It was founded in 1796 at Thueyts
in the Ardèche
department of south-central France
, by Blessed Anne-Marie Rivier
(1768–1838); originally, the congregation was devoted to the education of young girls.
The mother-house was permanently established at Bourg-Saint-Andéol
, which is located in the Diocese of Viviers in the Rhône Valley, southern France. Today, the Sisters minister in eighteen countries, and are present on all five continents.
was founded on 18 October 1853, by Jean-Charles Prince
, first Bishop of St. Hyacinthe. It is also the mother-house and where the religious make their vows. The first six sisters, with Mother Marie St-Maurice as superior, settled at Sainte-Marie-de-Monnoir (Marieville, Quebec
), where the Rev. Fr. E. Crevier, pastor of the parish, had prepared a convent
. They opened a boarding-school and a class for day pupils.
In 1855 the novitiate
was transferred to Saint-Hugues, Quebec
and in 1858 it was definitively located at St. Hyacinthe in a convent which was occupied up to this time by the Sisters of the Congregation of Notre Dame
from Montreal
.
This house was of insufficient accommodation and the community was obliged to erect, not far from the seminary, a large building of which they took possession in 1876. The house occupied since 1858 then became an academy. Later it was necessary to add a large annex to the first building. The students were installed there in 1907. The provincial house is at the same time the mother-house of the institution in Canada.
The Canadian Sisters are engaged in a variety of apostolates: campus ministry
in secondary schools, teaching, Catholic Christian Outreach
at universities, nursing, inner city, spiritual direction
pastoral care and working with the people of the First Nations
.
at Glens Falls, New York. In 1886 this was followed by a boarding school in Island Pond, Vermont. Other foundations (mostly parochial schools) were set up in Maine
, Massachusetts
, New Hampshire
and Rhode Island
. In 1933, Rivier College
a Catholic
liberal arts college
was established in Nashua
New Hampshire. In 1938, the communities in the United States became independent of those in Canada.
Over the years, the Sisters have broadened their ministry from the original focus on schools in the North East. In 1950, a community was established in the Philippines
and vocations were so plentiful that the Philippines became a separate provinec. From 1973-1991 they worked amongst the Native Americans
and Latinos of New Mexico
and from 1980-2005 the laboured amongst the poor of eastern Kentucky
. In 2008 a community was established in Houston, Texas
called Casa de Esperanza (House of Hope) from which the Sisters work with children who have been subjected to abuse, deserted by parents or exposed to HIV
/AIDS
.
of poverty (simple living), chastity (as a sign that only God can truly fulfil human needs) and obedience (discerning what God wants them to do) in order to better devote themselves to their ministry. Their ultimate goal is a closer union with God through service to His people.
The charism
of the Sisters is one of “..the spirit of self-offering in imitation of Mary”, the Mother of Christ. At the centre of their existence is their “..relationship with God, the mystery of prayer.” In order to foster this experience, they live together in order to share “..struggles, joys possessions and our lives.”
The Sisters offer a discernment programme for both males and females wishing to discover God’s will. This may involve three weekend retreats and, for women, a live-in experience.
Thueyts
Thueyts is a commune in the Ardèche department in southern France.-Population:...
in the Ardèche
Ardèche
Ardèche is a department in south-central France named after the Ardèche River.- History :The area has been inhabited by humans at least since the Upper Paleolithic, as attested by the famous cave paintings at Chauvet Pont d'Arc. The plateau of the Ardeche River has extensive standing stones ,...
department of south-central France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, by Blessed Anne-Marie Rivier
Anne-Marie Rivier
Blessed Anne-Marie Rivier was a Religious Sister in the Latin Rite branch of the Catholic Church and foundress of the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary, a religious congregation ministering in eighteen different countries...
(1768–1838); originally, the congregation was devoted to the education of young girls.
The mother-house was permanently established at Bourg-Saint-Andéol
Bourg-Saint-Andéol
Bourg-Saint-Andéol is a commune in the Ardèche department in the Rhône Valley in southern France.-Geography:It lies directly along the Rhône River at the southeast end of the department south of the smaller see of Viviers, from Pierrelatte eastwards across the river in the département Drôme and ...
, which is located in the Diocese of Viviers in the Rhône Valley, southern France. Today, the Sisters minister in eighteen countries, and are present on all five continents.
The Sisters in Canada
The provincial house in CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
was founded on 18 October 1853, by Jean-Charles Prince
Jean-Charles Prince
Jean-Charles Prince was a Canadian Roman Catholic priest, teacher, seminary administrator, editor, and Bishop of Saint-Hyacinthe from 1852 to 1860.-References:*...
, first Bishop of St. Hyacinthe. It is also the mother-house and where the religious make their vows. The first six sisters, with Mother Marie St-Maurice as superior, settled at Sainte-Marie-de-Monnoir (Marieville, Quebec
Marieville, Quebec
Marieville is a city in the Canadian province of Quebec. It is located within the Rouville Regional County Municipality in the Montérégie region about 30 kilometers east of Montreal. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census was 7,904.-History:...
), where the Rev. Fr. E. Crevier, pastor of the parish, had prepared a convent
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
. They opened a boarding-school and a class for day pupils.
In 1855 the novitiate
Novitiate
Novitiate, alt. noviciate, is the period of training and preparation that a novice monastic or member of a religious order undergoes prior to taking vows in order to discern whether they are called to the religious life....
was transferred to Saint-Hugues, Quebec
Saint-Hugues, Quebec
Saint-Hugues is a town in southwestern Quebec north northeast of St-Hyacinthe, with a 2006 population of 1,310.In 1827 Saint-Hugues was created as a village, later to be incorporated into the county of Bagot...
and in 1858 it was definitively located at St. Hyacinthe in a convent which was occupied up to this time by the Sisters of the Congregation of Notre Dame
Congregation of Notre Dame
The Congregation of Notre Dame was founded in 1653 by Marguerite Bourgeoys in Montreal, Canada. This was one of the first non-cloistered communities. The community's motherhouse has continued to be based in Montreal...
from Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
.
This house was of insufficient accommodation and the community was obliged to erect, not far from the seminary, a large building of which they took possession in 1876. The house occupied since 1858 then became an academy. Later it was necessary to add a large annex to the first building. The students were installed there in 1907. The provincial house is at the same time the mother-house of the institution in Canada.
The Canadian Sisters are engaged in a variety of apostolates: campus ministry
Campus Ministry
Campus Ministry may refer to:*Religious organizations on college campuses College religious organizations*The collegiate student ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ is also called The Campus Ministry...
in secondary schools, teaching, Catholic Christian Outreach
Catholic Christian Outreach
Catholic Christian Outreach is a Canadian national university student movement dedicated to evangelization. It challenges young adults to live in the fullness of the Catholic faith, with a strong emphasis on becoming leaders in the renewal of the world.CCO follows a model called Proclaim, Equip,...
at universities, nursing, inner city, spiritual direction
Spiritual direction
Spiritual direction is the practice of being with people as they attempt to deepen their relationship with the divine, or to learn and grow in their own personal spirituality. The person seeking direction shares stories of his or her encounters of the divine, or how he or she is experiencing...
pastoral care and working with the people of the First Nations
First Nations
First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...
.
The Sisters in the United States
The sisters from Canada established the first community in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
at Glens Falls, New York. In 1886 this was followed by a boarding school in Island Pond, Vermont. Other foundations (mostly parochial schools) were set up in Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
and Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
. In 1933, Rivier College
Rivier College
Rivier College is a Catholic liberal arts college located in Nashua, New Hampshire.-History:Named in honor of the blessed Anne Marie Rivier, foundress of the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary, Rivier College was founded in 1933 by the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary in Hudson, New Hampshire...
a Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
liberal arts college
Liberal arts college
A liberal arts college is one with a primary emphasis on undergraduate study in the liberal arts and sciences.Students in the liberal arts generally major in a particular discipline while receiving exposure to a wide range of academic subjects, including sciences as well as the traditional...
was established in Nashua
Nashua
Nashua may refer to:* Nashaway, Native American tribe living in 17th-century New England-Places:In the Commonwealth of Australia:* Nashua, New South WalesIn the United States of America:* Nashua, California* Nashua, Iowa...
New Hampshire. In 1938, the communities in the United States became independent of those in Canada.
Over the years, the Sisters have broadened their ministry from the original focus on schools in the North East. In 1950, a community was established in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
and vocations were so plentiful that the Philippines became a separate provinec. From 1973-1991 they worked amongst the Native Americans
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
and Latinos of New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
and from 1980-2005 the laboured amongst the poor of eastern Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
. In 2008 a community was established in Houston, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
called Casa de Esperanza (House of Hope) from which the Sisters work with children who have been subjected to abuse, deserted by parents or exposed to HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
/AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
.
The life of the Sisters
The Sisters take the traditional religious vowsReligious vows
Religious vows are the public vows made by the members of religious communities pertaining to their conduct, practices and views.In the Buddhist tradition, in particular within the Mahayana and Vajrayana tradition, many different kinds of religious vows are taken by the lay community as well as by...
of poverty (simple living), chastity (as a sign that only God can truly fulfil human needs) and obedience (discerning what God wants them to do) in order to better devote themselves to their ministry. Their ultimate goal is a closer union with God through service to His people.
The charism
Charism
In Christian theology, a charism in general denotes any good gift that flows from God's love to man. The word can also mean any of the spiritual graces and qualifications granted to every Christian to perform his or her task in the Church...
of the Sisters is one of “..the spirit of self-offering in imitation of Mary”, the Mother of Christ. At the centre of their existence is their “..relationship with God, the mystery of prayer.” In order to foster this experience, they live together in order to share “..struggles, joys possessions and our lives.”
The Sisters offer a discernment programme for both males and females wishing to discover God’s will. This may involve three weekend retreats and, for women, a live-in experience.