Presentation Sisters

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The 15th Society Congress was held at St Joseph’s, Baulkham Hills NSW from 25 to 29 April 2011. Seventy sisters from the six Australian congregations and from Papua New Guinea attended. Two Sisters from New Zealand, from the Union of Presentation Sisters, were also present. We prayed that we would hear the voice of God’s Spirit among us and Nano’s heritage of courage and imagination, to determine the best way forward for our Presentation Society.

“Alert for God’s Now” and a growing consciousness of the interconnection with the entire Earth community were important themes of the Congress.

Members at Congress stressed the importance of fostering closer relations with the International Presentation Association (IPA) (see photo below). It is through IPA that Society has non-government status at the United Nations. God’s mission is expressed in a variety of ministries with particular emphasis on justice and advocacy for systemic change.

During this Congress the Sisters saw themselves as drawn ever more deeply into a contemplative way of being which sustains and energises them for mission. Degradation of the Earth and humanity’s integral relationship with all of creation urge the Sisters to live simply and sustainably.

The new Society website was also launched.

Sr Bernadette Keating completed her term of office as Society Leader and Sr Maureen Watson was elected to lead Society for the next five years. Cheryl Bourke and Mary Walsh were later appointed as Deputy Leaders to the Society Leadership Team.

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Society Reflectors

At a mid April (2012) gathering in Sydney the Society Leadership Group, Maureen, Mary and Cheryl, met with the newly formed group named as Society Reflectors – Lucy van Kessel (WA), Maria Lazzaro (Vic), Patricia Foley (Vic) and Rosemary Grundy (Qld).

The individual preparation for this time and the focus of the initial discussion was an article entitled Leading From An Emerging Future by Dr C Otto Scharmer. The group engaged in a two day discernment process, ably facilitated by Anne Lane (Wagga). This evoked freshness, depth, energy and challenge. It was decided to begin a Society process together by reflecting more deeply on the Congress 2011 Statement.

Following these two days, Sisters across the six Congregations were then invited to engage with one another in the contemplation of our Society statement – Alert for God’s Now!

At a time of massive change and expanding global consciousness which rapidly impacts on every aspect of life, there is a desire within to be drawn to places of stillness, creating the space for the sparks of inner wisdom and insight to emerge  for the evolution of PBVM life and mission.

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Presentation People from around the world (including Australia and PNG)
who attended the IPA Assembly 2012 in Canada