Presentation Sisters Union
News Update March 2012
Print Version
Feature Article – March 2012
Pilgrimage celebrating 60 years of Presentation in New Zealand
2011 marked the 60th anniversary of the Presentation Sisters arrival in Taita, Wellington New Zealand. This
was the first Presentation presence in this country. To mark the occasion the Associates initiated the idea of
a Pilgrimage to all the places where the Sisters had been to re-connect with the beginnings and awaken the
spark of Presentation charism.
Each area planned the events for their local area and involved the schools and the parishes. At each station
the Pilgrimage took on a life of its own. It began in Green Island in the most southern community in the
world where it involved the school, the Associates and the Sisters. The last Sister from the founding
community in Green Island and the first Sister to dies in the South Island, Sister Eucharia Leahy launched
the Pilgrimage three days early when she breathed her last and was born into the arms of her loving creator.
The Pilgrimage then took on a whole new meaning and became a celebration of her and her life: a bitter
sweet occasion. And it finished in Jerusalem hosted by the Sisters of Compassion who shared from their
annals the early connections with the first Sisters.
Following are some of the reflections of that time but we cannot underestimate the burst of the charism
igniting in so many. It is so clear that the Sisters do not own the charism and that now that it has been
released it is blossoming in so many ways. The Associate movement is spreading as are the Friends of Nano
and all those who were already caught have renewed vigour and energy. A highlight of the Green Island
component was the public commitment made by two of our new Associates. Another was the enthusiasm of
the children to be involved and to engage with the Sisters and the Associates in bringing together a reenactment of the early days. Bonds have been cemented between all concerned: all united in love and
connected through the charism of Nano Nagle brought to New Zealand by the Founding Sisters and carried
on through the years by the Sisters, pupils, teachers and friends and now being expressed in ever new ways.
Homily for 60th Jubilee Mass of the Presentation Sisters’ Ministry in Aotearoa New Zealand
Readings from 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
I have been in Christchurch recently. Two different people mentioned to me that it is very important to have
three things done when you are in Christchurch: have your car filled with petrol, have some cash on you and
have your cell phone fully charged.
Of course they were talking about being prepared in the event of another major earthquake. They were
talking from personal experience. When the electricity is disrupted and the telephone lines are down and the
petrol pumps are not going or empty then being prepared with a full tank of petrol, a working cell phone and
cash to buy things can be a life saver. When everything is going well it can be a hassle to bother about being
prepared but you just never know. Preparation can make it possible for us to cope with the unexpected.
The parable in today’s gospel is based around a wedding celebration and the characters of the five foolish
bridesmaids and the five wise bridesmaids.
Most weddings I have been involved in have included great preparation, it is an important event. The
difference between the two groups of bridesmaids in the parable does not lie in that some kept alert while the
others were sleeping. No, all fell asleep. But the five wise bridesmaids had foreseen the possibility that the
bridegroom might very well be delayed; consequently, they had taken the precaution of providing themselves
with a reserve of oil for their lamps – a thing, which the five foolish ones had failed to do. And the result is
recorded for us. Those five couldn’t do their job which was to light the way for the wedding procession in
the night. Jesus seems to be saying be prepared, fill your reserves when it is possible to do it, you will never
know when it needed.
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Presentation Sisters Union
News Update March 2012
Print Version
Today we celebrate the incredible vision of Nano Nagle, the foundress of the Presentation Sisters. Her
great heart of faith enabled her to do great things. If oil is like faith, Nano had great reserves of faith
which kept her going. Through prayer and following God she filled her reserves with this spiritual
strength. But Nano also had a great concern to pass that oil on to others especially the young.
Here in Green Island we are the beneficiaries of Nano’s concern to pass the gift of faith over to others.
Over many years the Sisters have passed on wonderful gifts of education, care and concern for those in
need. But their greatest gift is the passing on of faith in Jesus Christ. The gift that gives us the longest
lasting oil for our lamps.
Still though we all need to make that personal commitment to preparation.
We could ask "Why didn’t the wise bridesmaids give the others oil?”
In the context of the parable oil cannot be shared so easily. The risk is that the lamps will run out and the
wedding party will be left stranded in the dark of the night. It’s a little like the situation that for an
examination - we cannot study for someone else. We can’t transfer our faith to someone else.
Jesus invites us to be alert and prepared. Sooner or later each of us has to get around to preparing ourselves;
we can’t depend on someone to do it for us. Jesus encourages each of us to watch and pray at all times. The
oil that we need to fill our lamps is all the preparations that we can make to live a Christian life more fully.
Prayer, reading the Scriptures, helping those who are in need, actively bringing God into the decisions we
make: these are ways in which we top up our spiritual reserves. All these things prepare us to meet Christ
each day and to meet him on that last day of our lives.
Fr. Pedro Arrupe, the late Superior General of the Jesuits, was asked in a radio interview, "Do you fear
death?" "No, no, no. I’ve always looked forward to death in my life. I look forward to it with joy and
hopefulness. My whole life had been directed to this. Death for me will be my last Amen in this life and my
first Alleluia in the next."
As we remember Sr Eucharia today she is a great example of that. Her spiritual reserves were built up over
many years of prayer and loving care of others. She had a tremendous influence and we know that she
looked forward to that first alleluia in the next part of her life, eternal life with God. She truly followed in
the footsteps of Nano Nagle.
We thank God for the presence of the Presentation Sisters in our midst and for the spirit of Nano Nagle
among us. She is here with us today encouraging us to listen to Jesus and to be prepared by filling up our
spiritual reserves.
Michael Dooley, St Peter Chanel Parish, Green Island,Dunedin New Zealand
6 November 2012
Presentation Pilgrimage
On November 5th we (Trish Doherty-Brenssell and Trixie Campbell) were privileged to take part in the
Pilgrimage that marked 60 years of Presentation Sisters in New Zealand. This is a short summary of how the
Pilgrimage touched or impacted on us in some way.
The Pilgrimage brought home to us how Nano’s charism has contributed to many lives and, through all the
changes, continues to touch lives today.
The Pilgrimage started in Green Island and that was where we were part of a group who researched and reenacted scenes of Nano Nagle’s life and the journey of Presentation Sisters in Green Island. The lead-up
meetings where we attempted to put the information together were often filled with laughter and a bond
formed within the group, some of whom didn’t know each other that well, but all shared Nano’s charism.
While reminiscing on the material gathered we were humbled by the sacrifices the Sisters made as they
brought Nano’s charism to the other side of the world, to a country where they were told people were still in
grass skirts! They had few resources and were reliant on the Parish and others to support them.
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Presentation Sisters Union
News Update March 2012
Print Version
Part of the re-enactment involved teachers and friends of Nano dressing up as Nano and the seven
Presentation Sisters who came to Green Island initially. The St Peter Chanel School pupils, who were part of
the re-enactment, had never seen a nun’s habit before and the expression on their faces as they saw their
teachers dressed in full habit was priceless! The children participating in the re-enactment were a credit to
their teachers and families and had a good grasp of Nano, her life and charism, reflecting the impact of
Presentation in the community.
Finally, a real highlight and honour for us was the small ceremony where we made a commitment to the
Associate movement.
All in all we have memories of a very special weekend.
Trish Doherty-Brenssell and Trixie Campbell
On Sunday 13th November 2011 St. Patrick’s Pastoral Area celebrated the 60th Jubilee of the arrival of
Presentation Sisters in New Zealand.
We were joined by past pupils, teachers and long-standing parishioners, some of whom knew the Sisters
from the early days.
Father Michael McCabe celebrated the Mass with the assistance of Father Jim Kershaw. In his homily Fr
Michael focused on the commitment the Sisters had made in following their foundress, Nano Nagle, and he
thanked them for all their years of dedication and hard work in the communities in which they have worked.
Mass was followed by morning tea and the cutting of the jubilee cake by Sister Celine, a founding Sister.
The jubilee cake featured the Sisters' Presentation badge and the Lantern, two symbols of Nano Nagle.
During the cup of tea a DVD played in the Church showing highlights of significant events in the past 60
years in Paraparaumu. These featured the original film showing the opening of the school at the Bluemoon
Ballroom; the opening and construction of the school on its present site; the dedication by Cardinal
McKeffrey of Our Lady of Lourdes Statue on the hill; the novitiate at Orowharu; the blessing of the animals
by Father Darroch; and finally the highlights of the 50th Jubilee Weekend.
Our celebration here at Paraparaumu was part of a Pilgrimage the Sisters were making to mark 60 years of
Presentation in New Zealand. The Pilgrimage began in Green Island, Dunedin on the weekend of the 5th
and 6th of November. They moved to Paraparaumu on 9th November and Saturday 11/12 November was
spent between Taita, Naenae and Eastbourne.
On Tuesday 15th November they travelled north to revisit Oruwhara, the place of their once novitiate, and
from there they visited Manaia, New Plymouth and back down to Jerusalem where they ended their
Pilgrimage and celebrated Presentation day on Sunday 20th November.
Stuart Homan, an Associate, carved a Waka for the Sisters to gather symbols of the places they visited: an
albatross from Dunedin, boats from Eastbourne, and the statue of Our Lady from Paraparaumu engraved on
the Waka.
Margaret Bevin Paraparaumu, Presentation Associate
In November 2011 the Presentation Sisters and friends celebrated 60 years in New Zealand by making a
Pilgrimage to many of the places in which the Sisters have ministered. It was an opportunity to celebrate,
remember and reconnect with many who had touched the Sisters’ lives and worked alongside them. A very
modern day Pilgrimage was organised for maximum possible engagement for elderly and busy working
family members alike. To cater for elderly people the travel was via cars so walking was kept to a
minimum. Most of the Pilgrimage was spread over three weekends to enable students and workers to
participate. People could also join up with the pilgrims at any point and stay as long as they wished.
Everyone was welcomed, everyone was valued.
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Presentation Sisters Union
News Update March 2012
Print Version
One wonderful aspect of the Pilgrimage was that no-one tried to control or contain it. A small group
prepared the route and let the people on the route know it was happening. The local people in schools and
parishes prepared the celebration making each station unique. There was minimum structure. Photos
covering significant events and special occasions were created for each station and put either on Powerpoint
or displayed in other ways. A Waka (canoe) had been carved in limestone by Presentation Associate,
Stewart Homan, as a symbol of journey. After we had been to each place a new symbol was carved on the
waka. The PBVM icon came along as well as vestments featuring the PBVM cross and an Altar cloth
featuring Nano and the children. Last but not least was the Novena.
The Pilgrimage unleashed memories of days gone by, a renewed appreciation of the gift of each other, a
thankfulness for the many people and religious from other congregations who had done everything possible
to provide hospitality in every new place the Sisters went to minister. It was wonderful watching people as
they spotted themselves or friends in old photos. They marveled at the waka and talked about what symbol
they would like carved on it to represent their place. The icon intrigued people and gave us an opportunity to
share something of Nano and her charism.
Re-membering was an element that helped weave a thread at every station as people came together once
again. Every Sister who had ministered in Aotearoa New Zealand was named and prayed for. Every
Associate who had died was called to mind and prayed for.
It was very obvious to me that wherever the Sisters ministered they transformed lives. People were excited
that their place was to be a stopping-off point and the word spread that we were coming. Some took time off
work to share their stories and appreciation of the Sisters and the impact they had on their lives. A number
of Clergy along the way expressed surprise at the number of people who travelled to be part of the
celebrations. It was a Pilgrimage of authentic joy and excitement. Then there was the food, lavish,
abundant, and delicious – afternoon teas, dinners, lunches all prepared with love. I have a heightened
awareness of all the Sisters who have ministered and continue to minister in New Zealand – what a treasure
they have been here and how proud I am to be associated with them.
A significant number of people who joined the Pilgrimage and organised stations and offered hospitality
along the way were not Catholic. A number of people made enquiries about becoming Friends of Nano.
No words could describe the many scenes of hearts meeting hearts when old friends greeted each other –
sometimes words tumbling over each other and at other times a quiet embrace. Nothing had prepared me for
the joy and energy we met along the way. There is still one final step to complete. The waka needs to be
named – a task that needed to wait until the dust had settled. Maori elders told us that when we gathered to
name the waka we would discover the waka would reveal its own name to us. The waka will then travel to
Ireland with Sisters Regina and Noreen for the Congregational Gathering later this year.
I think I can say with confidence that Nano has been set free in New Zealand and I pray we may have the
creativity and energy to continue this graced journey into the future.
Mary-Ann Greaney, Presentation Associate
A Spirit of Jubilation
I was delighted beyond measure to be invited to attend the jubilee of the Presentation Sisters in New
Zealand. I did not, unlike many principals in Catholic Schools, attend any of their schools but I have had a
close relationship with a number of the Sisters both when my family shifted to Taita, and when I began my
career in Catholic education on the same day as my now long-time friend Sister Clement. In fact she and Sr
Roisin saved me when, on the day before my father’s funeral, I realised we should have prepared it and I
rushed crying into the convent. They calmed me down and quietly went about the business of preparing a
lovely liturgy for me and I bless them to this very day for doing so. I have loved them all since.
That this was a common feeling was evident from the first minute of the Masses and Liturgies in Taita,
Naenae, Eastbourne and Paraparaumu. What I learned about the founding, Nano Nagle and early days of the
Presentations in New Zealand, however interesting, was greatly eclipsed by the warmth, love and gratitude
coming from those ex-pupils, teachers and parishioners as well as those still involved, and this will be what I
remember most.
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Presentation Sisters Union
News Update March 2012
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Thank God for Nano Nagle, for her daughters, past and present and for the rich and wonderful contribution
they have made to those with whom they have come in contact.
"Is goire cabhair De na an doras" (God’s help is closer than the door)
And the Presentations have made it so!
Michelle Lafferty
Homily for 60th Jubilee Mass of the Presentation Sisters’ Ministry in Aotearoa New Zealand
Readings from 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
Proverbs 31:10-13; 19-20; 30-31: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6; Matthew 25:14-30
At first sight we could think that our first reading from Proverbs 31 is a strange reading for this Mass of
Pilgrimage and Thanksgiving today – especially when our purpose is to honour a group of pioneering
woman, disciples of Nano Nagle. women who, like her, have sought to bring dignity to women and men,
children and families, but like her, have done so precisely as single women living in community.
Nevertheless the entire passage of Chapter 31 of Proverbs does give a very rich context for our purpose
today of praising the valiant women amongst the Presentation Sisters and their Associates simply because as
Benedictine Sister Ruth Fox wisely observes, ‘the lectionary omits the passages that praised the woman’s
initiative, business acumen, dignity and wisdom.’
For example, verses omitted from the lectionary include:
Verse 14: ‘She is like a merchant vessel bringing her food from far away ... ‘ today we honour Nano Nagle’s
legacy of food and nurture brought from Ireland and France
Verse 18: ‘She finds her labour well worthwhile, her lamp does not go out at night ...‘ what a beautiful
symbol of Nano Nagle’s charism, the lantern giving light rather than cursing the darkness.
Verse 25: ‘She is clothed in strength and dignity, she can laugh at the days to come ...‘ How very essential is
a sense of humour for our ministries today! A sense of humour that reminds us above all that this work of
ours belongs to Christ Jesus and not to us!
The pioneering woman or man creates the path for others; he or she does not have GPS or the benefit
of hindsight. The pioneer both brings a richer context and discovers a richer context. She helps the
people discover linkages and connections, she brings hope and cultivates what is necessary and
essential for human flourishing: food, education, shelter, dignity, presence. She does all this despite
her self doubt ...
And Nano Nagle did this all before you, born into 18th Century Ireland ... today, among other things we
praise her blessed unrest. She did not pursue her life of wealth and privilege to the exclusion of others but
allowed it to become a wellspring for ministry. The cry of the poor found an echo in her heart and
eventually she let that lead her for it was the voice of the Lord as it invariably is for us. And as it is for us
today it took Nano some listening to. We see her ‘running away’ between Ireland and France (for education
and to the Ursuline Sisters) before she embraces the cry of the poor as a path of life for her in Christ and as
the path for her Sisters...
In these days of pilgrimage you will have recalled times of blessing, miracles of God’s grace and providence.
You will have also recalled times of pain and failure and loss in your ministry and times of disappointment,
such as the closure of Presentation College here in Paraparaumu and also your Novitiate in Takapau in
Southern Hawkes Bay.
Nothing is left out of pilgrimage and while any pilgrimage can be physically and emotionally exhausting the
embrace of God refreshes and integrates and reconciles us on every level of our being - physically,
spiritually, intellectually, emotionally and communally. You will also have recalled the foundational
inspirations of your ministry here in Aoteoroa New Zealand and the post-World War II social upheaval that
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News Update March 2012
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was so evident upon your arrival in the Hutt valley in 1951 and later in Green Island, Dunedin in 1954. In
many respects the needs are the same as we see today in New Zealand turning full circle with the impact so
evident in the poverty that women and men, children and families are facing – especially first generation
New Zealanders who have joined us as Tangata Tiriti together with the Tangata Whenua.
Clearly your vision now is a global vision - that is I think one of the essential gifts that religious life is
giving to the Body of Christ today, a global vision. You have recently opened a mission in Palestine and
through our Mission Gala invite us to support your ministry to the Missions of Chile and Papua New Guinea
and their local Churches.
To my mind your global vision also extends to our care of the planet. Your ecological awareness also
provides a rich context for ministry as was evident in Sisters Fran and Ruth leading us in the Seminar
‘Awakening the Dreamer.’
I was deeply struck by two images from that Seminar and I offer them back as part of the call for your future
and indeed our future well-being in the Body of Christ.
“It’s also important to remember that as agents of change, we’re not trying to destroy something or even
create something, all by ourselves. One way to think about what there is to do is that we seek to consciously
hospice the death of the old structures and systems, but hospice their natural withering away and dying.
They are unsustainable, and that which is unsustainable, by definition, will not last. At the same time, we
seek mindfully and with great intention, to midwife the emergence of a new ‘Earth Community’ (a new and
renewed Body of Christ) and the new structures that will support it.”
The new and renewed Body of Christ will change and it must change simply because we will change and we
must change not least because one day we hope to take our place with Nano Nagle and all those valiant
women and men now living fully in and with Christ.
For all the blessings of the last 60 years and for the blessings of the Pilgrimage we pray thanks and blessings
on you Sisters, your Order and your Associates everywhere.
By way of conclusion allow me to paraphrase Verse 29 and 31 from Proverbs 31:
“Many women have done admirable things but you are among the saints who surpass them all. And so we
pray Lord, give them all a share in what their hands and hearts have worked for and let their works in
Aotearoa-New Zealand and throughout the world tell their praises at the city gates.“
Michael McCabe, St Patricks Parish, Paraparaumu, Kapiti Coast, New Zealand.
13 November 2011
CLT News
Be Prepared - How YOU can keep in touch with the Gathering (Phase 3)
Some aspects of phase 3 of the Congregational Gathering will be streamed (privately) on the internet. This
article explains the steps you can take to make sure your community can tune in on your community
television.
Arrangements are being put in place to stream some aspects of Phase III of the Congregational Gathering.
What this means is that we will have a camera in place to broadcast some events from the gathering such as
some of the Opening Ritual on Sunday, 6th May. The events will be broadcast live on the internet and we
will let you know in good time where to find it – this information will be available within the Members Area
of the website. We may also be able to email the location of the webpage directly to your community.
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Once online, you will be able to watch it and hear it live. The media company Church Services TV is
working with us to do this – they already broadcast masses live from many centres. If you visit their website
at http://www.churchservices.tv/ you will see whatever mass is being broadcast at the time – almost every
day you will often have a selection of places and times to choose from.
We will stream our events to a webpage not available to others but we will let you know how to find it! You
will then be able to watch it from your laptop.
Of course, anything you can watch on your laptop can be re-directed, by you, to your TV. So it will be
possible, if you take steps to arrange it in good time, to broadcast the events on your community television.
All you will need is a cable to carry the signal from your laptop to your TV. And that is where the technical
stuff begins! Because there is no ‘one-cable-fits-all solution’! It depends on the make and age of your TV
(and what connections it has built in to it) and it depends on the make and age of your laptop (and what
connections it has built into it). For those who may be interested in setting up this arrangement, we have
asked Church Services TV to prepare a note for us that will help you get it sorted in good time. The note can
be downloaded from the website.. You may be able to figure out what you need from reading it. And you can
always arrange with your local electrical store that if the first cable proves to be the wrong one, that it can be
exchanged for the correct one when you figure it out!
Most likely, you will need advice from your local supplier of electrical goods. If you tell them the name of
your TV and laptop they may be able to sort you out. Or better still, can you persuade someone to drop
around to have a look and set it up for you? Perhaps there is a technical genius in one of your local schools or
local area who can assist? Or your local electrical supplier might be prevailed upon to visit you?
The trick is to figure it out well in advance. You can check if you have the right cable by broadcasting any of
the masses from http://www.churchservices.tv/. Step 1 is to link your laptop up to the internet (by cable or
WiFi) and get the mass broadcast working on the laptop. Then connect the laptop to the TV using the correct
cable(s) and adjust the TV settings so it is picking up from the AV channel rather than the TV channel. And,
as they say, ‘Bob’s your uncle’! Does anyone know where that expression originated?
So, get working! Don’t leave it until the last minute! Practice it a few times with some of the masses and
then you will have no problems at all when we broadcast aspects of Phase III of Congregational Gathering
2012. We will add details of the broadcast events and times at a later stage.
Keep in Touch with the Gathering
This note explains how we propose to keep you informed about Phase 3 of the Gathering and how you can
send best wishes to the delegates. It also explains how you can apply for a Password to enter the Members
Area, if you haven't already done so.
Normally we publish our eNews once a month, towards the end of the month. However, during the
Congregational Gathering (Phase 3) we propose to send out more regular updates to keep you well informed!
We intend to send an update every two days or so, through the eNews. We don't do this very often, but for
exceptional events we do so. Please excuse the greater frequency but we hope most of you will be interested
and glad to get them.
You may also send messages of goodwill to the Gathering if you wish by sending an email to a special
account we have created for that purpose. Just email prescg@gmail.com and we will be sure to pass on all
messages received each day. You can also keep in touch and add your comments to the Congregational
Gathering Blog which you can access on http://pbvmcongregationalgathering.wordpress.com/. We will keep
the blog updated throughout the Gathering also.
We will also be streaming some events from the Gathering and we have added a separate story this month
explaining how you can arrange to view the streamed events on your community television. The streamed
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events can be viewed live, as they happen, but they will also be left on the website for 30 days afterwards, so
if the timing is not convenient where you live, you will be able to see them at a time of your own choosing.
The events will be streamed to a private web address accessible only to those who know exactly where it is
located on the web. We will publish that information in the Members Area of the website, which we
revamped and improved recently. Please remember that only members - Sisters and Friends of Nano - have
access to the Members Area and only Sisters have access to the special Gathering page in the Members Area.
So, if you want to be able to watch the streamed events you or someone in your community MUST have a
password. If you don't already have a Password, you can apply for membership as follows:
Click on the words Members Area on the homepage of the website (just below the word Zimbabwe on the
front page of the site). That will bring you to a page that asks you for your username and Password. If you
don't yet have these, go to the line above the Login box and click on the word 'here' at the end of the
sentence: 'Presentation Sisters who have not yet applied for membership may do so by clicking here'. Friends
of Nano - and that includes all Associates - may do so as well. Just fill in the information asked for. (Where
it asks for your community address, Friends can add their own and add a note that you are a Friend of Nano.)
When you have filled out the form, click Submit Registration.
The details you enter will be sent to our 'headquarters' in Monasterevin and a day or two later you will
receive your Username and Password by email. Your Username will always be your email address i.e. the
one you give in that form. If at any stage you forget your password, just click the words 'forgot password'
underneath the Login Box and a new password will be emailed to you.
So, don't forget. If you want to be able to see the streamed events, you must apply for a Password! Be sure to
do it in good time. The first streamed event is likely to be part of the Opening Ceremony on 6th May.
We will be re-designing the Members Area over the coming days to make it even more accessible! If you
have any query about any aspect of this story, contact Noel Keating at prescom@eircom.net
Presentation News
How Lovely on the Mountains are the feet of those who bring Good News
Good news indeed as Srs. Catherine Sardar, Nargis Saleem and Gretta Gill arrived in Sangota to re-open
Public School Sangota Swat. Sr. Ghazala Daniel joined them on 25 February. We pray God's blessing on
them as they re-build their mission.
This was truly experienced by Srs Nargis Saleem and Gretta Gill accompanied by Sr Catherine Sardar (our
Provincial) who having travelled from Rawalpindi on 13th February 2012 (and later joined by Sr Ghazal
Daniel,) arrived in Sangota to re-open Public School Sangota Swat K.P.K Pakistan. This school had been
opened in 1965 but on 7th October 2008 had been bombed down by a group of militants.
The school is situated in a beautiful scenic spot close to the bank of the river Swat among the high
mountains, where the people are very good and hospitable with lovely values, but their women folk are
mostly confined to their homes. Even so there is great interest in the education of girls.
This school started as a boys’ school, but over the years, the boys were replaced by girls and now lots of girls
are given the opportunity to be educated in our school. The people really trusted the sisters and sent their
children to our boarding school for education. So many boys and girls who had been educated in our school
are now serving within the country and abroad.
On 2nd February 2007 the school had been handed over to the Apostolic Carmelites for five years due to
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shortage of personnel. The agreement was to be renewed after five years. They administered it until 2008
when they had to leave for security reasons due to the activity of a group of terrorists in the area. They then
resigned and the school was handed back to Presentation Sisters. Just one week after they had left the place,
it was bombed, looted and then set on fire.
As the situation stabilized our sisters visited on a number of occasions and were appalled at the destruction
that had been done to the building. We waited for the situation to improve and many times went back to see
the place and returned heartbroken as it was deteriorating day by day. Then on 7th January 2012 a provincial
meeting was held at which it was decided almost unanimously to return to Swat and re-open this school.
On 13th February 2012 Srs. Catherine Sardar, Gretta Gill and Nargis Sleem set out from Rawalpindi to
reopen Public School Sangota, Swat. They were later joined by Sr Ghazala Daniel. On our arrival we were
welcomed and hosted by Fazal-e-Qadir and his family (a Muslim Pathan family). Their children had been
through our school and were delighted to entertain us in their home. Conversation was limited because the
women of the house spoke only Pushto, but their joy was evident in their lavish Pathan hospitality. After
staying two nights, Sr. Catherine returned to Rawalpindi and we asked the hosting family if we could move
up to their Hujjra (a place where men have their meetings) with a room having two beds and a room next to
it where we could sit. We stayed with them for two weeks having breakfast and dinner with them.
Meanwhile we were searching for a suitable building where we could stay and run a primary school. After
some struggle we got a place owned by a family whose children had been with us in the school. On 25th
February 2012 we shifted to our rented accommodation and Sr. Ghazala Daniel, the third member of our
community joined us.
Since we have re-opened the school lots of past pupils (now grown up with families) came to visit us and
shared their happy memories of their school days with us. On our first Sunday in Swat we were thinking of
taking it easy when we got the message that some people were waiting. So Nargis and myself came to
school and found a girl, Sajida Sarfraz and her father who had brought us breakfast.
The next day it was raining and very cold so we collected some firewood to warm ourselves. We were trying
to block out the cold wind with old furniture when a past pupil with his wife and children came to see us.
Leaving his family with us he went out and brought some nans and kababs for our lunch, covering it with his
shawl to protect it from rain. I was really taken aback, and the words from the gospel came to my mind
where Jesus said: “Do not worry what you have to eat or drink, your heavenly Father will take care of you.”
This has happened many times. People have brought lots of food to the school compound for us. Since then,
lots of pupils have been admitted, though our office is confined to a little table and a few old chairs out of
doors. Every evening we pack up everything we have used for administrative work and take it away with us
since there is no building.
We sit under the trees meeting people and doing admissions. Very often it reminds me of Nano Nagle and
her little schools as she struggled to educate poor children. Many people of goodwill have offered their
services for teaching, cleaning and office work.
At present the re-construction work is in progress. It gives us great pleasure to see so many people and pastpupils coming to welcome us back and being very encouraging and supportive. On their own initiative they
have put banners around the place, have placed notices on Facebook, on T.V and local cable announcing the
re-opening of Public School Sangota and of the sisters returning to Swat.
In conclusion I pray God’s blessing on all those people who have been part of our journey and been so
generous in reaching out to us. I pray to Nano and all our sisters who have gone before us and have worked
in Swat to intercede for us with God that we may be able to follow in their footsteps in serving the people of
Swat especially those people who are socially deprived and have suffered a lot in every way recently due to
unrest in the area. May God give us the strength to help them so that they may have life and have it to the
full.
[Submitted by Sr. Gretta Gill, Public School Sangota Swat K.P.K – Pakistan]
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Firmly Rooted in Mission
The year 2011 is a historic date for Binalbagan Catholic Colege Department (BCC) because it marks her 50
years of dedicated service to the young people of Binalbagan and neighbouring towns of Negros Occidental.
This account of the Jubilee is contributed by Ms. Milagros Romero, one of the first graduates of the college.
She is retired now after serving and assuming a higher position from the Department of Education. She is
now one of the consultants of BCC and heads the BCC Alumni Association.
BCC was founded in June, 1961 by Rev. Fr. Patrick Hurley, a Columban priest who loves and cares for the
Filipino especially the Negrenses, with the first group of Presentation Sisters, headed by Mother Mary
Baptist Kearns, helping him managed the school. With his untiring efforts and the steadfast commitment and
dedication of the Presentation Sisters who ran the school after it was turned over to them in 1979, BCC has
grown to be a reputable Catholic educational institution with graduates she can be proud of. Many of her
graduates have excelled in their respective professions and are serving both the private and public sectors.
The Golden Jubilee celebration was launched last December 17, 2010 for the information of the alumni and
other members of BCC community. The culminating activity was December 17-18, 2011.
The first day of the 50th anniversary celebration was for the BCC community. The college students, faculty
and staff had their parade followed by the playground demonstration by students of the Physical Education
classes in their respective colorful costumes and different presentation of Philippine folk dances.
To make the celebration felt outside the community, an outreach activity was done in the morning by the
Alumni Association. Fifty indigent families, selected from different barangays with the help of the
Department of Social Welfare and Development and the barangay captains, were given a gift pack consisting
2 kilos of rice and P300.00 worth of groceries. A party was given to those 50 families represented by a
parent and a child. Snacks were served that followed after a short program and games where they
themselves participated. There was a lot of happiness in their eyes that even in a short period of time, they
were able to play and laugh and able to eat a nice snack and come home with rice and groceries.
The history of BCC presented in songs and dances was shown early in the evening, the unfolding of events
from its founding development and to her continuous development as a Catholic educational institution was
shown in an interesting and graphic dance presentation complemented with songs narrating notable and
significant events in the school’s history. The glimpse of the past on the struggles and successes of the
school was presented thorough the efforts of the students, faculty and staff. A solidarity night where the
retired teachers and staff were given recognition by the administration for their valuable service to the school
ended the first day of the celebration.
Certificates of recognition were given to our alumni who succeeded in their respective profession and who
occupy high positions in the field of education, business and including those in the local government.
The highlight of the morning of the second day of the celebration was the Thanksgiving Mass celebrated by
our bishop, Most Rev. Patricio A, Buzon, SDB, DD. In his homily, he complimented on BCC being
steadfast in her vision as a Catholic school and her mission of developing competent graduates imbued with
Christian values. He posed a challenge to the school to continue to be an effective instrument of
evangelization.
Another remarkable activity of the day that followed after the Mass was the unveiling of the marker for the
late Sabas Locsin and Carmen Yulo Locsin, the donor of the 8000 sq. m. lot where the first building of BCC
was built. It was headed by the Bishop with the Presentation Sisters, in the presence of members of YuloLocsin family, school administration and all the alumni present that day. This is to show the school’s
gratitude and appreciation to the family whose generosity made possible the founding of BCC. One of the
members of the family gave a heartwarming response to the recognition given.
Our presence as alumni in the celebration showed our love and gratitude to BCC for what she did for us as
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persons and as professionals. It is our hope that the Golden Jubilee will serve as an encouragement for a
continued bonding among us, alumni. This bonding is our way of remembering and supporting BCC and of
showing how grateful we are to our Alma Mater.
The Golden Jubilee was celebrated through the joint efforts of BCC Administration and BCC College
General Alumni Association, faculty and staff and students. The active participation of the alumni officers,
and of everyone from the three departments, the elementary, high school and college is very much
appreciated. All these we are doing in unity for our beloved BCC. Kudos BCC!
Retreats at Nano Nagle Centre Ballygriffin
This article brings advance notice of upcoming retreats at Nano Nagle Centre, Ballygriffin.
A MYRIAD OF HUES OF BEING - BIODIVERSITY AND THE FACE OF GOD
Dr. John Feehan, senior lecturer in the School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine at UCD
and lecturer in Ecology and Religion on the Masters Programme at Dalgan Park, will address the above topic
on Saturday, 31 March 2012, 10.30 a.m. - 4.30 p.m.
EUCHARIST AND THE NEW STORY
Br. Mark McDonnell cfc will address this topic on Saturday and Sunday, 16 - 17 June 2012.
GATEWAY TO HOPE
This six-day retreat, Saturday, 23 June 2012 to Friday, 29 June 2012, will be led by Sr. Anne Lyons.
IS YOUR HEART FREE?
This six-day retreat, Saturday, 21 July 2012 to Friday, 27 July 2012 will be led by Fr. Daniel J. O'Leary.
For further information on these events check out the Nano Nagle Centre website –
http://www.nanonaglebirthplace.ie/
IPA News
Sunset over Manhattan
As she concludes her six-month stay at the UN, Sr. Mary Ivors reflects on her experiences of the many issues
facing our global community.
As my six months come to an end at the UN I reflect these days on what has been for me a wonderful
experience. Here at the crossroads of humanity the Women´s Forum is almost over and people from all over
the world return with hope in their hearts that tomorrow will bring renewed energy in the struggle for a more
just and peaceful society.
It seems as though there is always something going on in New York. People are harried, hurried, constantly
moving. “It is altogether an extraordinary, growing, swarming, glittering, pushing, chattering, good-natured,
cosmopolitan place, and perhaps in some ways the best imitation of Paris that can be found (with an
originality of its own).” These words spoken by Henry James sum up many aspects of New York life
because while the UN is in an international zone one cannot live apart from the vitality, restlessness and
boundless energy of the “city that never sleeps”.
The skyscraper towers rise like magic castles surrounded by the waters of the East River and the West
Hudson. That was the first image etched in my memory last September and yet what makes this city
memorable is its constant and intricate sidewalk ballet each day as I make the journey to and from the UN.
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Flower-sellers, office workers, students, taxis, subways, buses, rituals of early morning unlocking of cellars,
dog-walkers, all vie for attention. A dreadlocked hipster lives in his own world as he plugs into his iPod.
Another girl reads the New York Times and the subway faces of Chinese, Jamaican, Indian, Irish,
Dominican, Mexican or Polish are incorporated into one small island that is Manhattan. Lively, diverse,
intense and always different, the city hums yet surprises with its amazing contrasting peace-filled and
multiple churches and places of worship of many denominations. Despite all the positive elements, however,
one cannot avoid seeing a city rife with homeless people, young men and women and spaced-out war
veterans who also inhabit the sidewalks, results, perhaps, of global and financial crises and post war traumas.
The UN found a home in New York City after the Second World War. Peace was in the forefront of many
minds after that sad chapter in humanity´s history. My hopes were high when I listened at various times to
the Palestinian quest for a just peace as I experienced and listened to Israeli and Palestinian activists
creatively and courageously fostering the conditions for a future which will embrace all who share that land.
Months pass by and the peace movement has its setbacks but justice, although delayed, cannot be forever
denied.
Working at this global level has enormous benefits for organisations like the IPA that want to set agendas,
fast track an issue or hold governments accountable to previous promises. Working with other NGOs and
stakeholders allows the building of a coalition on issues of poverty eradication, human rights, gender
equality, sustainable development, social protection floors for the most excluded in society, trafficking of
young girls and boys, migration and many other issues. This exchange of information helps to clarify ideas,
share experiences, circulate intelligence on the agendas for later debates and develop contact and
trust. Twenty years ago the Earth Summit in Rio led to the development of the largest number of legally
binding Multilateral Environmental Agreements of any intergovernmental process in history. These covered
climate, biodiversity, fisheries, desertification, chemicals and persistent organic pollution. Taken
collectively, the outcomes from the summits and conferences represented an attempt by the world to set new
norms and standards by which human beings might interact with each other and with other species on this
small plane
I was privileged to be at the UN for the 50th Session of the Commission for Social Development with its
priority theme of poverty eradication. The Social Protection Floor Initiative came alive for me as I shared
with Mass goers in the South of Chile the importance of signing the petition as a tool for lobbying at national
and global levels.
As we prepared for Rio +20 during the months of November, December and January it became clearer that
women are key actors in maintaining and sustaining the livelihood and welfare of their families and
communities and in making a transition to a more equitable and just world. Social equity, gender equality
and environmental justice must form the heart of sustainable development and influence the outcome of Rio
in June 2012. Against the backdrop of climate change, environmental degradation, the crippling extremes of
wealth and poverty and unfettered consumerism action is vital if our planet is to survive. As I mentioned in a
previous article there is a concern that the term “Green Economy” will be used and misused to cover up
unsustainable economic practices that lead to the infringement of the rights of effected peoples and future
generations.
Perhaps during my months at the UN I am particularly pleased with some urgent emerging issues and
challenges for the 21st century. Among them I would like to share the insights on the importance of food
security and sovereignty and the voice of women as they look for ownership tenure and land rights, the
halting of privatization and the tendency to commodify water, genetic resources and indigenous territories
and community conserved areas. At least there is a growing awareness among all peoples. Modern
technology has ensured that we know what is happening in every corner of the globe. Biofuels which are
supposed to be “green” are a major cause of environmental disruption in Colombia where the government
supports agro-industrial mono-cultivation; this has also resulted in the displacement of small-scale farmers.
In Guatemala the mono crop is sugar cane, a major source of biofuel and the list goes on and on from Brazil
to African to India and to China.
The UN is an interesting place, a microcosm of the world where one can see the oneness of all humanity in
dialogue. The global action plans that came out of the major UN conferences of this past decade have helped
shift the dominant view of development from that of a top down, largely technically and economically driven
to one in which people and communities increasingly define and take responsibility for their own progress.
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There is a growing idea of developing spiritually-based indicators for the advancement of the world and this
is timely. These indicators are based on universal principles which are essential to the development of the
human spirit and, therefore, to individual and collective progress. There is also a gradual emerging
international consensus on the core characteristics of good governance especially in relation to formal
government. These characteristics include democracy, the rule of law, accountability, transparency and the
participation of civil society.
And so as the six months passed by all too quickly I experienced the joy of working among an international
Presentation team with Fatima, Mary from Australia, Elsa from India, Maura from Dubuque who has spent
over thirty years in Bolivia, Mary from New York, Bríd from Ireland, Marcela from Chile and Ecuador,
Laura from New York and Bolivia, Joetta from Kentucky and I brought my own Latin American experience
with me to this international group. We all shared many moments of celebration, visits to other Presentation
Sisters who received us with such hospitality, liturgies at city level, trips to museums, shows, long walks
along the banks of the Hudson and, of course, enjoyed the international cuisine when the moments of
relaxation came. I am very grateful to my community in Ecuador and the Latin American Unit for
supporting my decision to spend some time at the UN. Fatima Rodrigo has been a wonderful facilitator,
mentor and guiding light for all of us and I thank her sincerely.
If any suggestion can be made I would like to see future participants at the IPA here in New York sharing
insights and experiences by taking part in a short personal visit or formal meetings with communities in the
area. Direct sharing has an impact and while I do not encourage an extra work load at the weekends I
believe in the importance of co-creating, convergence, constructive criticism and the dynamism of our
collective intelligence.
Simone de Beauvoir once said that “there is something in the New York air that makes sleep useless”. I
agree with her. The place is a supreme expression of intense living, packed with locals and strangers from
everywhere and ultimately a symbol of the aspirations of people who came here with an unwavering hope of
building a better life for themselves and their families. “As for the future, your task is not to foresee it, but to
enable it” - wise words from Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. The continuing task of the UN has to hear and
interpret the voices of our 21st century in its search for world peace and social progress.
[Submitted by Sr. Mary Ivers]
Friends of Nano News
New Friends of Nano Groups formed
New Friends of Nano Groups were formed recently in Carlow and Drogheda in the Northern Province.
Two new Friends of Nano Groups were formed recently in the Northern Province. The groups are located in
Carlow and Drogheda.
The Friends of Nano International Team recently devised an invitational leaflet about the Friends of Nano
Movement. Margaret Farrell and Anne Keating, who had attended the Friends of Nano International
Gathering in Ballygriffin last June, distributed the leaflets to the four places of Presentation ministry in
Carlow and in other places. They also placed a notice in the local parish newsletters advising that an open
meeting was to take place on 21st February 2012. They also prepared a short reflective service for
the inaugural meeting and a process for engaging with those who attended on the possibility of forming a
Friends of Nano group in Carlow.
The meeting was facilitated by Margaret Farrell. Anne Keating spoke about the energy of the International
Gathering and the incredible spirit that developed amongst the 24 lay participants from all around the world.
Noel Keating spoke briefly about the origins of the Movement and its hopes for the future. In was intended
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that those who participated in the movement were committed to stand for the poorest in society; to attend to
God each day and to work to their actions are informed by that commitment ; and to live and promote
sustainable lives. By meeting regularly as Friends of Nano at local level and sharing our stories, questions
and longings, we would be opening ourselves to a greater awareness of the Divine and of our place in the
cosmos. We would learn how to live more closely in communion with one another and all of creation and
how we could make a difference in the lives of others.
Following a successful meeting, those present agreed to form a group and to meet on five more occasions
this year. At the end of the year the experience will be evaluated and plans made for the group into the
future. The next meeting in Carlow will take place on 27th March at the Day Care Centre in Carlow from
7.30 to 8.30 pm.
A similar meeting took place in Drogheda on Tuesday 6th March. Organised by Sr. Agnes Byrne, it took
place in the Library of Our Lady's College, Greenhills, Drogheda and was well attended. Noel Keating
attended and a similar process was followed as for the Carlow meeting. The group decided that it would meet
on a number of occasions between now and Presentation Day in November 2012 and it would review
progress at that stage. The next meeting in Drogheda will take place on Thursday, 26th April, the anniversary
of Nano's death, in the same venue. It is hoped to organise similar meetings in Portlaoise, Galway and
Athenry in the coming months.
Thinking of Starting a Friends of Nano Group in your area?
If you are thinking of starting a Friends of Nano group in your area, or if you already have a group formed,
our resources may help. The resources are available to download from the Resources on the Friends of Nano
section of the website.
Life-Changing Messages from Games
In this article we read how some Friends of Nano are reaching out to the children in the villages and helping
them, through the use of games, to reflect on the realities of life.
The Friends of Nano assisted me to reach out to the children in the villages. The games from the Play it Fair
Toolkit helped me to organise the children in groups to reflect on life realities and to introduce the Articles
from the Convention on the Rights of Children (CRC). This particular toolkit promotes values such as cooperation, respect, fairness, inclusion, respect for diversity and responsibility. This also helps to encourage
children to get in touch with their feelings, thoughts and action.
The two games so far used by us to work with the groups of children are ‘Co-operative Musical Chairs’ and
‘Crocodile’. We were wonderstruck with the reflections that came from the children as we discussed
together their experience during the game and its relevance to their day-to-day lives.
The children said that they learned from the game:
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To play with others
Unity
Co-operation
The need to love others
At the end of the workshop we invited a child to pray. Ms. Veroncia Mundia, a Friend of Nano, said that
even the prayer of the children were very different today. He did not pray the usual way we do. He prayed
as follows: “God help us to learn good things, be with our parents and may the Holy Spirit lead and guide us
in the right path”.
When I asked Veroncia for her reflection she said the game showed that all of us want to be winners. She
was surprised to know from the discussion that the children too faced challenges in life. She herself felt
called to be satisfied with what she has and that she needs to put a limit to all her actions. With all the
groups we introduce Nano Nagle, the Presentation Sisters and their activities to promote justice, peace and
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integrity of creation. Ms. Namatta Mundia has been very active with the children’s group in promoting Nano
and the protection of the environment.
[Submitted by Sr. Annmary Andrews]
Promoting Reforestation
Promoting Reforestation is an initiative of the Friends of Nano at Kabanga. As per their action plan of 2011,
the Friends of Nano planted ‘Moringa’ trees in Kabanga itself.
Some of the members approached the Forestry Department who responded by giving eighty-two seedlings
and Mr Julius Mwansa (Director) visited two schools, Kankwanda and Munkuye. He did a three -hour
session in each school on Climate Change and the importance of reforestation. The pupils, staff, village
headmen and Friends of Nano participated in these sessions resulting in planting of trees. In Kankwanda one
of the Headmen who is a tobacco farmer requested 100 trees to replace the trees that he has cut for
processing tobacco.
These sessions awakened the Friends of Nano to the importance of planting trees. This led them to further
plan and target four more schools in the 2012-2013 planting season. These schools are situated in areas
where the deforestation is a great concern.
[Submitted by Sr. Inez pbvm, Kaoma]
Parolitas Keep The Flame Alive
Promoting Reforestation is an initiative of the Friends of Nano at Kabanga.
Friends of Nano in the Philippines celebrated their 25th birthday last year. The Friends of Nano/Associates in
the Philippines have been together since 1985. Known as Parolitas, they engage in a wide variety of activities
in support of the Presentation vision and mission.
There were 9 founding members, some of whom are still active in the movement today. Sr. Aquila Sy
organised that first pioneer group whose first activity was to explore the vision and mission of the
Presentation Sisters. From this a range of activities emerged. These included jail visitation (jail liturgical
celebration), feeding and teaching the pre-schoolers as well as adult education for the mothers of internal
refugees, catechism for public school pupils and fund raising projects for jail material assistance.
In 1992, Sr. Bernie Purcell helped to renew the group, most of whose members come from Binalbagan. In
1995, the membership of the Parolitas extended to Himamaylan with the guidance of Sr. Tessie Limsiaco.
For some years the Sisters used to invite the Parolitas in both Chapters (Binalbagan &Himamaylan) to join
with their retreat seminars. The Parolitas also arranged their own reflection seminars on the Presentation
Spirituality & Commitment.
Both chapters have regular monthly meetings. They continue to engage in a range of service-oriented
activities like Sunday school in Retreat House, boarding houses visitation in Binalbagan, jail visitation with
dole-outs, prayer service for the sick in the hospital and sponsoring a scholarship program.
In 1998, two Parolitas’ representatives were invited to attend the International Presentation Association
Assembly (IPA) at the Holy Rosary Retreat House, Nivel Hill, Cebu City. From 1999, new members who
join the Parolitas undergo a Preparation Program for Associates before taking an Oath of Commitment. The
programme, devised in 1999, looked at the movement, its history and purpose and explores the Presentation
mission and charism. In December 1999, the Parolitas sponsored a symposium about the Third World Debts
with the theme Jubilee Year - A Message of Hope. In December 2000, the Parolitas in the Binalbagan ,
Himamaylan, and Cebu (newly organised) Chapters held a two-day get-together in Bacong, Dumaguete.
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When the Presentation Sisters took over the management of Scala Retreat House in Fortune Town, Bacolod
City, Parolitas were invited to assist them with retreat activities. One Parolita was invited every year starting
in March 2009 - they lived as member of the PBVM community for the year.
As in all organisations, membership changes over time. One member entered PBVM Religious life (Sr.
Mildred T. Soldevilla), who now coordinates the Parolitas in Himamaylan! Another joined the priesthood,
Fr. Ricarido Londres). New members are recruited regularly. All members receive personal and spiritual
development through retreats, deep sharing, monthly sharing and meeting and bonding between the three
Chapters of Binalbagan, Himamaylan, & Cebu.
In April 2011, we celebrated our Silver Jubilee with the theme Quest for the Fire Within, Awakening
Consciousness, Transforming Lives. This special occasion united us more deeply through the Spirit and
Charism of Nano Nagle.
In June 2011, two Parolitas (Mrs. A. M. Sayson & Miss Cecilia Gatoc) were delegated to go to Ballygriffin,
Nano’s birthplace near Cork in Ireland, to attend the first International Gathering of the Friends of Nano. It
was a wonderful, challenging and spiritually-filled experience. On their return they reported back to the
three Friends Chapters in the Philippines.
We dream that someday we will have our own Centre - a Parolitas Community Centre, with trained
personnel who would offer spiritual counselling to abused children, to women in crisis and provide a place
for rest and home for Parolitas who desire to live together as community. It would also be a temporary
shelter for the victims of injustices such as maltreatment, rape/incest and forced labour.
Current activities of Parolitas include:
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Gift-giving and prayer service for the sick in the hospital
Material assistance for women with special circumstances
Prayer and spiritual seminars
Reflective Meetings & Get-togethers
Symposium on social and environmental issues
Representation in the Presentation Sisters’ assembly
In-service assistance to the Presentation Sisters’ apostolate
Activities in the past have included
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Jail visitation and liturgical celebration
Feeding and teaching pre-schoolers
Adult education for the mothers of internal refugees
Catechism for public school pupils
Fund raising project for the needs of the prisoners
Sunday school
Boarding house visitation
Prayer service for the sick in the hospital
Sponsorship of student for a college education
Submitted by: Mrs. Athena Marie A. Sayson (Parolita – Binalbagan Chapter)
Education is the Answer
An encounter between the Friends of Nano and a seven-year old boy who had not started schooling, led the
Friends of Nano to reflect and conclude that education is indeed the key.
The Friends of Nano during their visit to the family of a child, who had not started schooling though aged 7
years, realised that he was an orphan living with the grandmother and his elder brother and sister. The life of
the little boy who was attending a play school in the capital city of Lusaka changed drastically as his father
and mother passed away.
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During our interaction with the family and the neighbors the grandmother shared her story and said how she
struggles by gathering and selling firewood to feed herself and her 3 grandchildren. The Friends introduced
their group as Friends of Nano movement and what they do by following in the footsteps of Jesus and Nano
Nagle. They invited those gathered there to join their group.
The Friends, though themselves struggling for their daily living, showed great desire and commitment to
reach out to Edward (Ed) to enable him to get enrolled into grade one in the nearby Basic School. The group
concluded the visit with a short prayer and returned home.
As the group walked home they shared their reflections as follows. Death is something no one knows when
it will come to us. Ed’s parents would never have thought that he would be an orphan one day nor did Ed
ever dream that his plight would be this. They said that they want to educate their children while they are
alive so that the children will be able to lead their own lives in the future. They did not want their children to
go through what Ed and his brother and sister are going through. The group said that education is the answer
to most of the problems they are facing today. That is what Nano Nagle did during her life time.
[Submitted by Sr. Annmary Andrews]
Spirituality
The Eucharist: Communion with Christ and with One Another
The Congress theme The Eucharist: Communion with Christ and with one another, has its roots in The
Dogmatic Constitution on the Church.
The daily programme for the 50th International Eucharistic Congress from 11th until 16th June 2012 will
take place in the Royal Dublin Society (RDS). Statio Orbis, the Liturgy on the final day of the 50th
International Eucharistic Congress, will be celebrated in Croke Park, Dublin on Sunday 17th June 2012.
The Programme of the 50th International Eucharistic Congress is built around the daily celebration of the
Eucharist and each day has a theme of its own, related to the main Congress theme The Eucharist:
Communion with Christ and with one another
Some statistics
 25,000 participants each day for 7 days
 12,000 international pilgrims
 80,000 participants in the Statio Orbis (Croke Park)
 2,000 to 3,000 volunteers
 Over 100 exhibition stands
 Over 150 workshops and discussion groups
 18 keynote addresses by International speakers
 Masses, prayers and liturgical celebrations in 7 languages
 Eucharistic Procession, Adoration and Benediction
 Film, music, concerts, theatre, 100s of choirs
 Dedicated space and events for over 2,500 young people
The Programme for the Eucharistic Congress is now available from the IEC website
(http://www.iec2012.ie/media/IEC2012Programmeatglance-Downloadable1.pdf)
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Ecological Stations of the Cross
As we continue our Lenten journey in a spirit of communion with God and with one another, we take time to
reflect on the many challenges facing our world.
Pope John Paul II in an address to a General Audience on 19 January 2001 reminded us:
"In this rediscovered harmony with nature and with one another, men and women are once again
walking in the garden of creation, seeking to make the goods of the earth available to all and not just to a
privileged few, as the biblical justice suggests."
Pope John Paul II consistently emphasised the gravity of the environmental crisis and the urgent need to
respond to its moral and spiritual dimensions. The Stations of the Cross can be downloaded from the
Resources section of the Website.
Reflection
A Letter to BCC
This reflection is contributed by Mrs. Aurora P. Pinero, an alumni of BCC and currently the Dean of
Commerce, Accountancy, Business Administration and Information Technology (CABAIT) Department of
Binalbagan Catholic College.
Dear BCC,
When I first entered your premises, I was not impressed. There were few facilities to see. It was nothing
like the other college where I first enrolled. Worse, I was new to Binalbagan.
Yet in my four-year stay in BCC as a student, never had I felt more at home than here. Certainly, it was
small and unheard of to many people. After a while, it didn’t matter anymore.
I had made friends, females and males, from the Education and Commerce departments. I was one of the
hundreds of young students you made welcome. We practically knew each other in the campus. We shared
jokes. We discussed the national issues. We worried about our grades especially in Accounting.
Had it not been for you, where would I be? Where would we be? Our parents had no money to send us to
prestigious colleges or universities in the city which offered “quality education”.
There was a time, though, when some friends and I would react negatively (quietly, of course), about social
issues discussed by some of our instructors here. “Precisely”, we would whisper to each other, “we are in
school to get out of poverty.” How simplistic our views were! How naïve we were about the realities of
life!
It was only years later, that I came to have a deeper understanding of what was discussed in the campus.
You, with your founders – the Columban priests, the Presentation Sisters, and faculty, wanted us your
students, to be humane, to have a soul, to show concern for others.
All of these recollections came to my mind as we celebrated your Golden Jubilee last December 17-18, 2011.
Day 1 witnessed the opening salvo of colorful Filipino dances presented by the selected PE 1 and 2 college
students to the sharing of the alumni’s blessings to the 50 less fortunate among the surrounding barangays in
Binalbagan. It was a nostalgic sight to behold as retired faculty and staff went up the stage to accept their
individual lantern, symbol of Nano Nagle’s charism. And the presentation of the history of BCC in the form
of songs and dances? The simplicity, creativity, and energy of the student-performers wowed the audience.
It was good to see classmates, schoolmates, former teachers and staff coming together to join your
celebration on Day 2. The turnout did not reach a thousand but the feeling of being one community was
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more than enough to compensate for the lack in numbers. Everybody present was in a celebratory mood. It
was palpable, contagious.
Thank you for giving me and the others the opportunity to finish a college degree, minus the exorbitant
tuition fees. Thank you for provoking us into thinking about matters other than our own ambitions and
dreams. Most of all, thank you for taking me in as one of your faculty.
Sincerely yours,
Just one of the many alumni whose lives you have touched.
Earth News
Earth Hour 2012 at 8:30 p.m. on 31 March 2012
Earth Hour had done a lot to raise awareness of sustainability issues. But there is more to it than switching
off lights for one hour once a year. It is all about giving people a voice and working together to create a
better future for our planet.
Uniting people to protect the Planet / Dare the World to Save the Planet
We only have one planet. We can all do something to help protect it. Participate in the world’s largest
single campaign for the planet: Earth Hour. It starts by turning off your lights for an hour at 8:30 pm on
March 31, 2012 in a collective display of commitment to a better future for the planet. Think what can be
achieved when we all come together for a common cause.
Hundreds of millions of people, businesses and governments around the world unite each year to support the
largest environmental event in history – Earth Hour.
Earth Hour is organised by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). With almost 5 million supporters and a global
network in over 100 countries/territories, it’s one of the world's largest and most respected independent
conservation organisations. WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the Earth's natural environment
and build a future where people live in harmony with nature.
How Earth Hour has evolved
In 2007, WWF-Australia inspired Sydney-siders to show their support for climate change action in the first
ever Earth Hour event. It showed that everyone, from children to CEOs and politicians, has the power to
change the world they live in. In Sydney, Australia, 2.2 million individuals and more than 2,000 businesses
turned their lights out for one hour to take a stand against climate change.
In 2008, the plan was to take Earth Hour to the rest of Australia. But then the City of Toronto, Canada,
signed up and it wasn’t long before 35 countries and almost 400 cities and towns were part of the event. It
said something compelling to the world: that the climate challenges facing our planet are so significant that
change needs to be global.
With the invitation to ‘switch off’ extended to everyone, Earth Hour quickly became an annual global event.
It’s scheduled on the last Saturday of every March – closely coinciding with the equinox to ensure most
cities are in darkness as it rolled out around the Earth.
More than 5,200 cities and towns in 135 countries worldwide switched off their lights for Earth Hour 2011
alone, sending a powerful message for action on climate change. It also ushered in a new era with members
going Beyond the Hour to commit to lasting action for the planet. Without a doubt, it has shown how great
things can be achieved when people come together for a common cause. And with the power of social
networks behind the Earth Hour message, we hope to attract even more participation so we can build a truly
global community committed to creating a more sustainable planet.
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Participation in Earth Hour symbolises a commitment to change beyond the hour
This Earth Hour we want you to go beyond the hour, so after the lights go back on, think about what else you
can do to make a difference. Together our actions add up.
Turning the lights off for Earth Hour is a great first step, but if you really want to see a difference, then make
Earth Hour part of your everyday life. Simple things like turning off appliances while not in use and
switching to energy efficient light-bulbs will all help us reach our goal of reducing our annual emissions by
5%. Even something as simple as turning out lights when you’re not in a room and switching to cleaner
sources of electricity make a big difference.
See our Presentation ‘Sustainable Living Programme’ – www.presentationsisterunion.org/resources
Visit - www.earthhour.org
Prayer for Global Restoration
Good and Gracious God, Source of all life,
all creation is charged with your energy.
Ignite your spirit within us that we may know ourselves
as truly human and holy,
irrevocably part of the web of life.
All creation
- each star and every flower
- each drop of water and every person
- each and every atom down to its very electrons
explodes with the revelation of your sacred mystery.
Our minds alone cannot fathom such splendour.
Our hearts can only respond in awe.
Forgive us, we pray, our ignorance and insecurity which
- blind us to your thumbprint writ large
- deafen us to the sacred space between two heartbeats
- prompt us, in arrogance, to demand and to dominate
- numb us to the destruction we’ve caused
- hold us hostage to “either or” thinking and living.
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May we always walk gently upon this earth
- in right relationship
- nurtured by your love
- taking only what we need
- giving back to the earth in gratitude
- sharing what we have
- honouring all with reverence
- reconciling and healing
- mindful of those who will come after
- recognising our people as part of, not apart from, your creation.
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