The congregation of the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary was founded in Thueyts, France on November 21,1796 at the height of the French Revolution.
The Foundress, Blessed Anne-Marie Rivier, consecrated herself to God, dedicating her life to the Christian education of the youth. Her burning love of God, her dauntless zeal, her passion to make Jesus Christ known and loved unto the ends of the world, her boundless and endless charity for the unfortunate, the poor, and the abandoned children led Pius IX to call her The “Woman Apostle”. In pursuance of the spirit of their Foundress, the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary work untiringly for the Glory of God and the salvation of the world especially through the teaching of catechism in schools and parishes.
Blessed Ann-Marie Rivier’s prophetic words “My daughters will cross the seas,” were realized as the congregation spread all over the world, crossing the oceans to Canada, America, and as far as Asia.
October 26, 1950 was a milestone in the Presentation of Mary Sisters’ history. This date marked their arrival in the Philippines. The Sisters worked first among the Muslims at the Notre Dame of Fatima in Siasi, Sulu (until 1957) and later spread to the following schools: St Peter’s College of Toril in 1953; Notre Dame of Jolo in 1954 (until 1959); Holy Cross of Calinan in 1958; Notre Dame of Mlang in 1962; Holy Cross of Malita and Holy Cross of Mintal in 1963; Holy Cross of Malalag in 1967, Notre Dame of Magpet in 1978 (until 1980); St Michael’s School of Padada in 1980 and Holy Cross of Sta.Maria in1984, from 1989-1991, the Sisters taught in Christ the King Academy at Antiquera, Bohol and in 2005, the Marinette Learning Center was opened in Clarin, Bohol.
They also brought the Good News to St. Francis Xavier Seminary and Stella Maris Academy in Davao City. In Sulop and Babak, the Sisters were engaged in Pastoral Work (1975-1976). In Tagbilaran, Bohol, the Sisters were engaged in Campus Ministry (2000 – 2007) and in Mabalacat, Pampanga, they were involved in Campus Ministry and Catechetical Work (2002).
Responding to the challenge of Blessed Anne-Marie Rivier, many young Filipinas have already become Presentation of Mary Sisters while many more are still in formation at the Presentation of Mary Novitiate in Catalunan Grande, Davao City.