IPA

Over 80 Presentation Sisters have convened in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada, for the 6th International Presentation Association Assmbly. Before the opening ritual on the evening of Friday, September 21, the delegates were treated to a boat trip in St. John’s Harbour and sailed back into the harbour with the letters of Newfoundland’s fouding sisters being read. Following this, a beautiful and meaning opening ritual officially convened this Assembly.

Reflection for September 21 by Sister Maureen O’Connell, Union, SW Province Ireland

The sounds of joyous reunions and the making of new acquaintances filled the air as we gathered to hear our programme for the day.   Following this we made our way out from the harbour to begin our commemorative ritual of the arrival in Newfoundland on 21^st September 1833, of the four founding sisters – Magdalen O’ Shaughnessy, Xavier Maloney, Bernard Kirwin and Xaverius Lynch. 

Sailing back to harbour we were re-living the journey of the four brave sisters from Galway.  Sr. Sharon recounted the story of their arrival – including the hardships of the journey and the heartfelt welcome by the local people.  As our own little boat rolled on the Atlantic waves we could well visualize the experience of the pioneering sisters as they approached St. John’s for the first time.

Sharon, with Srs. Helen Martinez, Clo Martin and Margaret O’ Brien read the sisters’ 1^st letters, written home within two months of their arrival.   For those among our group with Galway connections who knew the story from the Irish side, this was a poignant reminder of the reality from the Newfoundland side, especially of the sisters’ loneliness on their first Presentation Day in exile.

As roses were cast into the water honouring each Presentation pioneer and foundation, and Nano who inspired them all, we experienced a sense of history and timelessness.

Our opening ceremony at ‘The Lantern’ presented in music and symbol, drew us into the theme for the week. We were reminded in the words of Jan Philips that our times require that we be both mystics and prophets, rather than have the luxury to choose one or the other. We must steep ourselves in Deep Stillness and then to go out and stand firm against the forces that divide us.

Reflection for September 21 by Sister Patricia Reinhart, Conference, San Francisco

September 21, 1833: Arrival of the first Presentation missionaries in Newfoundland. September 21, 2012: Opening of the IPA Assembly, “Rock, Sea and Fire.”
An exciting day – the gathering of Presentation people from every continent. Different races, different countries, different accents, but all one in the FIRE of Nano’s love.
A moving day – the Newfoundland community’s reenactment of their founders’ risks, struggles and joyful service. How many times those have been repeated as new SEAS have been crossed, continent after continent, mission after mission. “Their story then, our story now.”
An inspiring day – the celebration challenging us to be both mystics and prophets, calling us to carry Nano’s story onward in an evolving world. “Rock, sea, fire … new dreams inspire.”

Reflection for September 21 by Sister Lynne Crilley, Society, Wagga Wagga

Our first day has been very gentle. We have had time to connect, meet each other and generally find our way around our motel and downtown St. John’s. I marvel at our ease with each other as we meet and renew relationships and make new ones. We continue to be conscious of our common heritage and ways we can take this forward into the 21^st century.

The common thread has been one of connecting – with our present, our past and our future. Today we made a very powerful connection with the beginnings of the sisters here in Newfoundland as we went a boat trip remembering their arrival here in St. John’s in 1833. We were mindful of their feelings of loss and separation from their sisters in Galway, and of the cost to them of their new mission. These feelings were mixed with their commitment to “the new” and their willingness to embrace whatever lay ahead.

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