‘It is a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead’ Macc.12:46
During the month of November, the Church invites us to remember all the unsung, unknown Saints and to pray for those who have died.
As Presentation Sisters, we are very aware that we
“stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before us.”
After Nano’s death, Bishop Moylan said of the little community that was left “her spirit animates the sisters that compose it.” Those Sisters who inspired us to follow the Call into our Presentation Way of Life and continued to inspire us on our journey were imbued with her Spirit and they faithfully passed it on to us.
We remember especially our foundress Nano Nagle – a women who lived on “the Razor’s Edge” - Sr Anne Lyons, and who continues to inspire us today to follow where she led…….
“In the face of fear, she chose to be daring,
In the face of anxiety, she chose to trust,
In the face of impossibility, she chose to begin.
What will you choose to do?”
Woman of Hope – Sr Raphael Consedine (2001)
Here are some of the ways Sisters have inspired those of us living Presentation Way of Life today…….
Sr Pauline Fahy
Sr Pauline Fahy was my headmistress in school and then when I joined the Congregation was my candidate mistress. When I started teaching she was headmistress of the school. Sr Pauline was a very gentle lady, softly spoken, wise and always welcoming. She listened, sometimes challenged and always encouraged me and others to go one step beyond. She was passionate about education and on the look out for ways that she could extend the school outreach to those who would otherwise not be able to access the quality of education provided at the Presentation Convent High School in Matlock. I know I am not the only one welcomed by Sr Pauline. For me, she was an insight into who Nano Nagle was and what she stood for, and to whom we owe a great debt.
Sr. Joan Daly was a strong, holy, committed Presentation Sister who had considerable influence in my early student days. This was a woman who was blessed with a firm faith and trust like Julian of Norwich ‘ that all manner of things will be well ‘ as long as we stick to our principles and to our prayer life especially. Strict? Yes, but one instinctively knew where her brand of discipline came from, an honest humble heart accompanied by such a deep desire to contribute to the work of building God’s Kingdom. Joan’s memory remains with me for a lifetime and I remember a fine Presentation woman with deep gratitude.
Sr Kathleen Hanrahan
I had the privilege of living with Sr Kathleen Hanrahan in Huddersfield for twelve months. At the time she was living with dementia. She was very aware that things for her were different, she needed help in so many areas but always accepted it so graciously and with gratitude. We both went to Ireland in a self styled Down Memory Lane retreat in Clonmel and what an experience. Kathleen loved our daily trips, recalled so many home and school memories. Her prayer was always full of gratitude and she would say ‘Jesus take me as I am , I can come no other way.’ Thank you Kathleen for your acceptance, loyalty and gratitude for what you had in life.
Sr Brigid
Sr Brigid was a gentle, wise soul whose ministry was that of hospitality. She was a prayerful and committed Presentation Sister. She was always very approachable, supportive and gentle, always ready to help. Simplicity and honesty were hallmarks of her life. She was kindness itself to the girls in the boarding school who still remember her fondly. One of the highlights was when she was part of the party that the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire had on their 50 th anniversary, since it was also Sr Bridget’s 50th anniversary. It did not faze her and she took it all in her stride!
Sr Ignatius Thackaberry
Sr Ignatius Thackaberry was my novice mistress and I experienced how much she loved Nano Nagle and how committed she was in living out her call. She spoke of the vow of obedience as very important - for instance, if I was asked to move to another convent as I got older especially if it was a younger leader. Sr Ignatius never asked me to do anything that she was not prepared to do, even down to duties in the house. It was the time of Vatican !! and she stressed how important it was to be open to what was in the documents. She said some findings in the council would be good and others we might not like ( i kept wondering what they might be). Her faith was amazing, especially when her sister, Sr Cecelia was killed in Nigeria. She waited patiently for letters to arrive giving details of the tragedy Then in her sixties she volunteered for the mission in Zambia.
Sr Eileen Keating
I will always feel blessed that I had Sr. Eileen’s presence in my life for so many years. Her prayerfulness, compassion, long-suffering and forgiveness which I greatly admired inspired my own efforts towards transformation in my daily walk with the Lord. I will always be deeply grateful to God for Eileen’s approachability, interest, advice, friendship, encouragement and support on the numerous occasions when I needed to share on difficult situations in my life and ministry. May she now rest eternally.
Sr Enda
Sr. Enda was an inspiration to me in her simplicity and straightforwardness, in her dedication to her Presentation life and her deep prayerfulness; her forgiveness was always honest and true. She had a sense of humour which helped on many occasions and was a blessing to her family and friends.
Rest in Peace Enda.
Sr Joan Ryan
Sr Joan Ryan is the person who introduced me to Nano Nagle and the Presentation Sisters. We worked in the same school in Portsmouth and then, although we didn’t collude, when I moved to another school in the city she did too - as the College Chaplain. She invited me to visit the Convent on the Isle of Wight, where she had gathered a small group of Presentation Associates. After school we would travel on the Hovercraft from Southsea, have supper, join the meeting and then, when the others had gone to their homes, she used my computer skills to prepare Prayer Services for school or for the Sisters. Prior to working in Portsmouth, Sr Joan had been in South India, first travelling there at 19, as a young Sister, and finishing as the Headmistress. I listened to stories of the contrasts she experienced – so different from her home in Ireland. The students were encouraged to learn skills that would serve them for their futures. Many have settled across the globe and kept in touch down the years.
When Sr Joan moved to Bicester and later to Audenshaw, I was privileged to still be invited to share the Presentation Hospitality. I will always remember how Nano shone through her calm presence, her prayerfulness, her ease of handing out a compliment, her energy and her ability to ‘catnap’.
Sister Monica Smith is alive in all of us who ministered in the Pakistan Region. She was most loving, kind and compassionate and a wonderful educator. She had a special concern for orphans and widows. She loved the people of Pakistan and died there on 1st January 2005. The gifts she received were passed on to the Sisters to buy books for the needy children in their classes.
May she rest in peace.
Sr Peter Kelly
Sister Peter Kelly, who was a missionary in Zimbabwe, was aĺways kind and encouraging. Sister used her skills at needlework ťo provide clothes for needy people and oŕphans. No one was ever sent away emptyhanded. She made people feel good and helped them recognise their talents. Sister drew out the best in everyone. Shè had a ĺovely sense of humour and never judged others.