Presentation of Mary, Sisters of the
PRESENTATION OF MARY, SISTERS OF THE
(PM, Official Catholic Directory, #3310); founded in France on Nov. 21, 1796, by Anne Marie Rivier. Despite the upheaval of the French Revolution, with its dispersal of religious orders and confiscation of property, by 1805, Madame Rivier, as she was called, had opened 20 schools throughout France in an effort to counteract the spiritual decline caused by the Revolution.
The congregation, which enjoys papal approbation, established its motherhouse in Bourg-Saint-Andeol, France, on the right bank of the Rhone. Houses of the Presentation of Mary were founded in France, England, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Switzerland, and the Madeira Islands. In 1853 the sisters went to Canada. From Canada, in 1873 they entered the U.S., where they maintained provincial houses at Manchester, NH, and at Methuen, MA. Besides teaching, the sisters are engaged in catechetics, healthcare, retreats and spiritual direction, care for the young and elderly, youth ministries, pastoral ministries and social outreach. The generalate is in Castel Gandolfo, Italy.
[m. landry/eds.]