The Promise and the Blessing | Presentation Sisters in Victoria since Vatican II

In the six decades since the Second Vatican Council, the Presentation Sisters in Victoria, Australia have negotiated change in their way of life, their understanding of who God is, and of how God calls them to be. They have renewed their understanding of their particular presence in the Church as a gift to the wider world. They have spoken of that presence, their vision and mission, in various ways. This account maps the shared Presentation conversation as it moves, not uniformly but steadily, from ‘school’, through ‘ministry’, to ‘contemplative engagement’ and ‘legacy’, woven through with a stable commitment to ‘women’ and ‘family’ and the overarching Mystery of their call.

Katharine Massam is professor of history and chair of the Academic Board at the University of Divinity, Melbourne. Her publications include A Bridge Between: Benedictine Missionary Women in Australia (shortlisted for the NSW Premier’s Award in Australian History 2021) and Sacred Threads: Catholic Spirituality in Australia 1922–1962. Her work reflects long-standing research interests in monastic theology, cross-cultural encounter, the history of education and the lived experience of faith and belief.