Presentation Sisters begin Congregational Gathering

Gathering Logo by Sr Mary Southard CSJ

Source: PBVM Sisters

Presentation Sisters from around the world have begun a Congregational Gathering in Mount St Anne's, Portarlington, Ireland - with delegates from Zambia , Zimbabwe, Canada, England, India, Latin America, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines and the USA.

Under the theme 'Embracing Vulnerability as Possibility,' it's the tenth Congregational Gathering of the Presentation Sisters of the Blessed Virgin - an Order formed just under 250 years ago by the Venerable Nano Nagle. On behalf of the whole Congregation, the delegates will make decisions - through prayer, reflection, conversation, discernment and searching together.

Congregational Leader, Sr Julie Watson, reminded the delegates and the sisters who had joined via live-streaming, of the congregation's fragile beginnings in 1775 and of the faithfulness of Mary Anne Collins to whom Nano Nagle entrusted the fledging community. It is no accident that this Gathering is taking place in LENT - a word meaning spring. As the days are lengthening, this is the season of growth, of new life, of possibilities of re-birth.

Congregational Gathering Prayer

Creator God,

In this time of acknowledging great vulnerability within our world

we are faced with change that causes us all to ask deeper questions

about our lives and to be open to be transformed for the good of the whole.

May we wait in silence; wonder with awe and respect, and dream together possibilities that will enable us to become the best of who we are as part of your creation.

In opening our hearts as people following the light of Nano may we embrace our vulnerability as new life and grace. May it flow as streams of compassion and hope within our world.

The Gathering's Logo is designed and painted by Sr Mary Southard CSJ

The Logo invites us to experience once again the life and mission of our Congregation as a communion of Sisters - intergenerational, intercultural, with great diversity - woven into the fabric of the whole world.

We are called forth by the pregnant energy of the Mysterious Spirit into a movement inward, outward and onward into Mission - Mission in a world where Earth, Life, Religion, Religious life … is in a state of uncertainty, and upheaval depicted by the dark colours, the dark waves and the dying tree.

Yet our hope in the One who beckons us from the future is urging us to new life, seen in the green shoots bursting forth from the roots of the ancient tree.

This Mysterious One is luring us, very definitely, into 'Embracing Vulnerability as Possibility'.