Sisters of the Presentation of Mary

How many Sisters of the Presentation of Mary are there in Canada / the world today?

1200 PM Sisters throughout the world on four continents and in 20 countries:

The Americas: Canada, United States, Peru, Brazil, Ecuador

Europe: France, Switzerland, England, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Italy;

Africa: Senegal, Gambia, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Mozambique;

Eurasia: Japan, Indonesia, Philippines

In Canada, there are 309 PM Sisters

70 Sisters in Western Canada

239 Sisters in Quebec and Ontario.

Where do the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary work in Canada today?

In Western Canada we live and work in Saskatchewan and Manitoba performing a range of ministries including parish work, First Nations, education, health care, prison ministry, youth ministry, campus ministry and working with immigrants... We also have Western Canadian members ministering in Peru, Italy and The Gambia.

Why do you call yourselves Prince Albert province?

Our Congregation is divided into administrative regions called provinces and regions based largely on geography. In Canada, we have two provinces: The Quebec Province and the Prince Albert province.

Is there an age limit to joining the PM's?

The age limit is to be discussed with the Provincial and General Superiors. Young women who want to join the PM's spend some time getting to know the Sisters. It is a time of mutual acquaintance between the Institute and the candidate as well as a time of preparation for the unique experience of the novitiate. The age limit depends on the person's maturity. A vocation to religious life is sustainable only if there is a certain level of human and spiritual maturity.

Can I join the Presentation of Mary if I do not live in Canada?

If you do not already live in Canada, we suggest that you contact the Presentation of Mary community in your home country or in the country nearest to you. To find their contact information and inquire about their formation program, the e-mail address to our General house is secrgcpm@pcg.it and a sister will reply to your request. If you would like to live and minister in Canada, we suggest that you establish yourself in Canada and then contact us.

I was married. Can I still join the Sisters of the Presentation?

If the candidate is a widow or someone who has obtained a marriage annulment or is living another particular situation, it is preferable to refer to the Superior General in order to be sure that canonical conditions are met. Dispensations, for age or other, are to be sought even before admission to the postulancy.

What do you do all day?

What a Sister of the Presentation of Mary does with her day is so varied that only a sampling can be given here. Prayer, work, ministry, community activities and leisure make up most of our days.

In the area of work or ministry, many of us have one main occupation, such as teaching, parish ministry, health professionals, all of which have somewhat regular hours and predictable demands.

Prayer is both communal (Eucharist and The Office) and personal (Meditation) and might take as much as two hours per day. Leisure activities are unique to each person. Every day, we spend time together in community, much like families or friends do.

How important is prayer in your life?

Prayer is central. It is a relationship with God who loves us. Can you imagine having a best friend (or husband or wife) with whom you never speak or relate? The Eucharist and the Word of God are the source and center of our life.

Most Sisters of the Presentation spend about two hours a day in prayer; part of that time is praying with others, at Mass and other communal prayers, and another part is alone, in reading and quiet attentiveness. One of the chief benefits of prayer is that it makes us more sensitive to God's activity in our lives, in the lives of others, in the events and circumstances of daily life.

Is prayer ever difficult for you?

Sure! There are lots of times when prayer doesn't come easily. Most of us have times when we don't feel like praying but because we've made the commitment, and because it will help us come closer to God and others, we try to make regular prayer time a part of our lives.

How do congregations or orders differ from one another?

The basic differences among religious communities are things such as: the charism, the specific ministries of the community, styles of prayer and community life. All are alike in that their primary concern is to share with others the Good News of the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God contains two jewels: the being of God, which we call community and the doing of God, which we call mission with a preferential option for the poor.

Religious communities were founded in response to specific needs of the times. A religious congregation has a charism. The foundress perceived the Gospel from one particular aspect (charism) which gave her the vision for her congregation. A charism is a gift from God. The PM's charism is found in the mystery of the Temple or of the Presence of God (The Presentation of Mary) and in the Mystery of the oblation of Jesus and of his Mother (The Presentation of Jesus).

Community is for mission, and at a profound level, community is mission. Every Institute exists for the Church and must enrich her with its distinctive characteristics, according to a particular spirit and a specific mission. Therefore, as Sisters of the Presentation of Mary, we are called to share in the teaching mission of the Church by Christian education of the faith. We must adapt ourselves constantly to the ever-new needs of evangelization.

Why do some sister's wear a veil and others do not?

Some have opted for the veil and religious garb so as to be instantly recognized as persons who are fully given to God. It is a sign of poverty, a sign of being for the world but not of the world.

Simplicity in dress is what others have opted for because the founders and foundresses wore the dress of the people of their times. In later years, the Church asked that a garb be worn.

How does one become a member of a religious community?

Click here to see the basic steps.

What is a religious vow?

A vow is a solemn promise made freely as an individual gives his or her life to God. Most communities make vows of poverty, celibacy and obedience.

Adapted from materials published by vocations.com and The National Coalition for Church Vocations and National Religious Vocation Conference, 15420 S Cornell Ave., #105, Chicago, IL 60615-5604.