PBVM Living Charism 2017

Presentation Sisters

Administration Office
84 Presentation Way
New Windsor, NY 12553
Tel: 845-564-0513

Mount St. Joseph
64 Presentation Way
New Windsor, NY 12553
Tel: 845-564-6620

Presentation Convent
99 Church St
Leominster, MA 01453
Tel: 978-537-7108

Presentation Health Care Center
99 Church St.
Leominster, MA 01453
Tel: 978-537-7108

The Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a Roman Catholic religious congregation of women. We carry out our mission of love and service through our many ministries with God’s people, especially poor women and children.

In 1997, the Sisters of the Presentation of Fitchburg,
Massachusetts, and the Sisters of the Presentation of
Newburgh, New York united to form one congregation now based in New Windsor, New York. Today our Sisters work in education, pastoral ministry, health care, and social services in California, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Washington, D.C. We are part of a worldwide network of 3000 Presentation Sisters and Presentation Associates through the International Presentation Association.   .                               
                                                                                            Nano Nagle Mural, Dingle, Ireland    

Our Beginnings The Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary were founded in Ireland in 1775 by Nano Nagle. She felt she was called by God to bring the light of faith to the poor children of Cork.  The Penal Laws of the time forbade any form of Catholic instruction in Ireland, but Nano Nagle was willing to risk imprisonment and disgrace for the sake of the Gospel. Visiting the sick and homebound by night along Cork’s cobbled streets, she became known as the “Lady With the Lantern”. In time she gathered other women to form a new society of women religious dedicated to the service of the poor. Nano Nagle’s small band of women, originally named the Society of Charitable Instruction of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, later became known as the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Fitchburg, Massachusetts, and Newburgh, New York In September, 1874, twelve brave Presentation Sisters from Ireland, led by Mother Joseph Hickey, responded to an invitation to teach the children of poor Irish immigrants at Saint Michael’s parish in New York City. Because many of the children’s parents had died, St. Michael’s soon opened an orphanage on Staten Island, also staffed by Presentation Sisters. In 1884, this became the home of the newly etablished Sisters of the Presentation of Staten Island. In 1886, Mother Magdalen Keating set out from Staten Island with a small group of Sisters to begin a new foundation in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. The Sisters eventually opened schools and other ministries in other areas of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New Hampshire. In 1921, Presentation Sisters from St. Michael’s purchased property near the city of Newburgh, New York.  Later this site, Mount Saint Joseph, became the motherhouse of the Sisters of the Presentation of Newburgh.  In July, 1997, after six years of study and preparation, the Fitchburg and Newburgh Presentation congregations became one. 

Sister Julia Ciccolini, PBVM celebrated her Diamond Jubilee on Saturday, September 22nd at Presentation Convent, Leominster. Rev.William Champlin, pastor of St. Leo's Parish, Leominster celebrated the Liturgy of Thanksgiving.  Co-celebrants were Rev.Dennis O'Brien and Rev. Diego Buritica.
 
Sister Julia, formerly known as Sister Mary Dominic, entered the Sisters of the Presentation PBVM Congregation on September 24, 1958. She professed her First Vows on July 2, 1961 and her Final Vows on July 2, 1966. Sister Julia earned her BA degree in History from Regina Coeli College, Fitchburg and her Master of Ed. Degree in Guidance from Fitchburg State University.  She also studied at Plattsburg State University and Boston College. Sister Julia received certifications as an Elementary Teacher in both MA and CT as well as an Elementary Principal and Guidance Counselor in MA.  In 1997, she was licensed as a Nursing Home Administrator in MA.
 
Sister Julia began her teaching career in 1961 at Holy Family School, Fitchburg.  She also taught at St. John's School, Clinton and St. Catherine's School, Riverside, CT. In 1973 Sr. Julia returned to Holy Family School as a teacher and then as Principal from 1976-1987. In 1987, Sister Julia was named Associate Superintendent of Elementary Schools for the Diocese of Worcester. Sister also served on the Diocesan AIDS Committee and the St. Paul Catholic School Committee Board.
 
In 1989, Sister Julia was elected President of the Congregation and held this position until 1995. In 1996 Sister Julia received her Health Care Administration License and from 1997-2016 ministered as Administrator of the Presentation Health Care Center, Leominster. Sister Julia currently resides at the Knollwood Nursing Center, Worcester. As a resident, she continues to remain active as Chairperson of the Religious Collaborative Planning Coalition (RCPC).


On Thursday, October 4^th, the Sisters of the Presentation were honored at the Newburgh Ministry Gala in recognition of the years of service given by Sisters Norma Carney, Mary O’Neill, Grace Gately, Gloria Perez, Clare Roche and Virginia Wilkinson.

Newsletter Update:

For those having difficulty finding our Fall 2018 Newsletter, it is now here!! Click this Link to see our latest Newsletter.