News
December 2013
The news that Pope Francis has declared the founder of the Presentation Sisters, Nano Nagle, Venerable on the 31 October has been greeted with great joy all over the world. In New Zealand the Presentation Sisters, Associates and Friends of Nano were delighted to hear that Nano is a step closer to becoming a saint.
The leaders of the Presentation Sisters in New Zealand, Noreen McGrath and Regina Daly, said it was wonderful news that Nano Nagle is being recognised as a woman of Faith whose work and vision touched so many lives around the world.
‘Nano’s story continues to inspire and challenge us to respond to the needs of today. We look forward to celebrating this great news in our present parishes in Paraparaumu, Taita, Stokes Valley and in Mosgiel over the coming months.’
New Zealand Presentation Sisters and associates were represented at the celebratory Mass in Cork, Ireland on 21 November by Sr Catherine Mulcahy who ministered in New Zealand for 43 years, and Karen Dwyer, who went to school in Manaia and is now living in Dublin.
‘We look forward to linking up with the schools where Presentation Sisters taught and the many parishes where our sisters worked in New Zealand.’
Nano Nagle, one of the great pioneers of Catholic education in Ireland, was born Honora Nagle in Ballygriffin in Cork in 1718, a turbulent time in Irish history. Her mission to educate the poor began in a little school in Cove Lane in Cork in 1754 and she continued to set up schools in defiance of the established colonial order. Her founding of the Presentation Sisters on Christmas Eve 1775 was the culmination of 20 years of devotion to improving the circumstances of others. She died in Cork nine years later.
Today, Presentation Sisters and Friends of Nano work in New Zealand, Australia, Papua New Guinea, USA, Canada, Africa, India, Latin America, Pakistan, the Philippines, Slovakia, Thailand, Palestine, England and Ireland. To read more about Nano Nagle and Presentation Family around the world, check out the website www.presentationsistersunion.org