Welcomed to a New Home in Massachusetts

In 1885 Reverend Philip Garrigan, pastor of St. Bernard’s Parish, Fitchburg, Massachusetts, began to seek suitable teachers to place in charge of the parish’s new school. He learned that the Presentation Sisters in Ireland taught both boys and girls, which met the needs of this new endeavor. He further found that the Presentation Sisters were teaching at St. Michael’s in New York City and sent a request for their services.

One potential challenge was that the sisters at that time were cloistered and the location of the convent in Fitchburg would require them to cross a public street to the school building. They received permission from Rome for this and on August 20, 1886, the foundation of St. Bernard’s in Fitchburg was established. On September 8 over 400 boys and girls entered the classrooms of St. Bernard’s School. Thus began our long history of mission and ministry in New England.

In August 1895, the Fitchburg Sentinel published an article, stating, “Few, if any persons, visiting this school can fail to be impressed with the value of the work accomplished among the little ones and the dignity and earnestness of the teachers.” In a commendation in the 1945 St. Bernard’s Parish Centennial Book, it was said that students’ accomplishments could be attributed to “the high principles inculcated in their hearts and souls by the Sisters of the Presentation.”

It is interesting to note that because the sisters were cloistered, they could not go out to receive further education. The sisters, always enterprising, invited educators to come to them. Notable educators lectured at St. Bernard’s and sisters from surrounding parishes were invited to share in the education and experience. When the rule of cloister was relaxed some years later, the sisters were free to travel and earn teaching certificates and additional advanced degrees.

God blessed the foundation in Fitchburg and the ministry of the Presentation Sisters spread throughout Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island. In 1888, 10 sisters went to staff St. John’s School in Clinton, Massachusetts. In a departure from previous years, the Presentation Sisters did not have to establish a new foundation. With a request from Bishops O’Reilly and Beaven, Pope Leo XIII declared that all Presentation convents in the Diocese of Springfield were to be governed under one body by the elected superior. Schools staffed beyond this diocese were considered missionary endeavors.

The Massachusetts foundation went on to staff St. John’s School, West Fitchburg, Mass., (1890); Holy Family Convent Elementary School (1943) and Holy Family High School, Fitchburg, Mass., (1962); St. Kiernan’s, Berlin, N.H., (1904); Holy Trinity School, Central Falls, R.I., (1905); Our Lady of the Rosary, Clinton, Mass., (1911); Sacred Heart School, Woonsocket, R.I., (1964); St. Benedict’s School, Warwick, R.I., (1958); St. Patrick’s School, Whitinsville, Mass., (1931); St. Catherine’s School, Riverside, Conn., (1948); St. Mary’s School, Ayer, Mass., (late 1940s); and St. Mary’s School, Stanford, Conn., (1951).

The first solely catechetical mission for the Massachusetts community was at St. Leo’s Parish, Leominster. After several years of traveling to to instruct the children, the sisters moved to a house near the church in 1922. St. Leo’s Elementary then opened in 1926. The parishioners recognized the need for a new convent, which opened in 1931.

For many years the sisters flourished at Presentation Convent in Leominster. They remained there when the congregation reunited with their sisters in New York, becoming the New Windsor congregation in 1997. However, it became apparent over the past few years that the needs of the sisters could not be met in the convent building. In addition, being good stewards of their resources, the congregation realized the old convent building was too large and needed more updating than costs would warrant to meet the needs.

In March of this year, the sisters who were living at the convent in Leominster were welcomed into Notre Dame du Lac, Worcester, Massachusetts. In this new environment not only are the sisters able to live in community and attend daily Mass, they are also able to expand social networks through interaction with the Notre Dame sisters and with the lay men and women also living there. In addition, the larger du Lac staff offers outreach programs and activities.

Sister Brian Barnicle shares, “Everyone says hello and is so friendly. The Notre Dame sisters have been so welcoming.” She adds, “It has been a transition but you have to adjust to it.”

The facility is a beautiful, light-filled building with friendly faces around every corner. On a recent visit, a Notre Dame sister said to Sister Mary Catherine Redmond, “Having your sisters here has done so much for our community.” Mary Catherine replied, “Being with the Notre Dame sisters has been a blessing for our sisters and community.”

Overall, it has been a positive transition, says Sister Linda LeBlanc. “If we didn’t do this we would have been scattered all over the place. We are also developing a relationship with other residents and the lay staff here.”

In addition to the sisters, staff from the convent in Leominster found a “home” at Notre Dame du Lac. Several found work in food service and Marty Maillet remains employed by the congregation in outreach.

Sister Anna Raimon concludes, “This is the right place at the right time for us. There is so much going on that I have to pick and choose; it is a life-giving transition.”