The
Presentation Association
The
Presentation Association of the English Province was formed in 1989 in
order to extend the outreach of the presentation sisters.
At the time of writing there are approximately the same number of Associates as there are Sisters.
On the front of the membership card is printed the biblical text "Lord, here I am, send me" (Isaiah 6:9).
Each Associate is called to live his or her baptismal calling in a "Presentation" way.
At the time of writing there are approximately the same number of Associates as there are Sisters.
On the front of the membership card is printed the biblical text "Lord, here I am, send me" (Isaiah 6:9).
Each Associate is called to live his or her baptismal calling in a "Presentation" way.
" Walk before me and be made whole"
(Genesis 17:1)
Prayer and reflection
Reading Scriptures reflectively
Joining in the prayer of the Church where possible
Using the unexpected to meet Christ
Relating prayer to the arts: Poetry, Music, Art, Movement and Dance
Use of the imagination in prayer
Growing awareness of our daily response to Christ
Commitment to the charism of the Presentation Sisters
Commitment Prayer:
Lord we desire to do your will.
As Presentation Associates, we bind ourselves together
In you, to become prayerful and active in your service to others, through the charism of Nano Nagle. Accept our commitment in the name of Jesus Christ Your son whose mission we continue through the Power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
By our very name, Presentation Associates, we wish to be associated with the Presentation Sisters and the work they do in obedience to God, our loving father.
Central to the calling of the Presentation Sisters is the Mission described in these lines of their constitutions:
"Ax Presentation Sisters we are called to follow Christ in the spirit of Nano Nagle. bringing the good news to the poor, by promoting God's Kingdom of truth and goodness, justice, love and peace.
Through our insertion in the local church, and in Cooperation with all people of good will, we foster the values of God's Kingdom. In all our apostolates we promote the dignity of human persons, so that they can he free to develop their own gifts and to participate in the task of liberation and social transformation. In this way we contribute towards the renewal of the whole Church and the vitality of her mission".
We wish to be associated with the Sisters in this mission.
Spirituality
As Presentation Associates our spirituality is built on that of Nano Nagle, which has guided the Presentation Sisters since their foundation.
Nano's life was full of the love of God and of complete dedication to helping the poor. She did not wait for them to come to her. She, like Jesus, "felt sorry for them"(Matthew 9:36). She went looking for them. She made herself available for them and she did this during the penal times, a difficult period for a woman in Ireland. In spite of all these problems she helped them in a wonderful, imaginative, effective and lasting way.
The Presentation Sisters followed her way and developed a fruitful apostolate, which they continue to fulfil with great zeal, focusing their energies on the marginalised.
Being marginalised may take many forms: being abandoned by your own family, not having a family, being addicted or lonely, being unable to cope, being handicapped, or being spiritually or materially poor.
Every Christian is called to help such people and we Associates by the very way that we associate ourselves with the mission of the Presentation Sisters, make their mission our mission and our work: and we try to fit this activity into our life pattern.
Our work, our family life, our characters, may not allow us to do certain things as a sister would do them; but there are many things we can do and sometimes, because of or life style or our personal knowledge of the person/situation concerned, we stand in a better position to help.
We can help if we want to- and Christ is calling us to do so.
Let us start, no matter how simply and with how little. A start is always a moment of grace. Some may need a word of comfort: some advice; others a few minutes of our time to break their loneliness. Let us do it.
Let us commit ourselves.
Let God reign.
Let His Kingdom come through us.
Let us bring a little justice into people's lives.
Let our preference be "the marginalised".
Let us give primacy to love.
Let us plan our Christian lives and act with courage.
Let us remember the lost dignity of the poor.
Let us promote peace.
Let us bring God into people's lives, at least by showing them that He is in ours.
Let us be Christ's eyes, ears, hands, feet and especially his Heart.