“LIFE IS ABOUT THE JOURNEY, NOT THE DESTINATION”
Today, October 1st we commemorate the 125th anniversary of the opening of our school in 1895. It was a humble beginning with three sisters and just three pupils. This amazing story continues today and there are many more chapters still to be written. The three sisters bore the names of three heroes of faith (Ignatius of Loyola, Francis Xavier and the Evangelists, writers of the Gospel): Mother Ignatius Mc Dermott, Mother Xavier Lonergan and Mother Evangelist Coatsworth. Today we remember the past with gratitude, we celebrate the present, and we look ahead to the future with hope.
Gratitude for the past calls us to acknowledge God’s faithfulness to us over the past 125 years. “I have carried you on eagles’ wings. I will care for you in all your years” (Exodus 19:4). The story of 125 years has been one of struggles, of suffering, of courage and risk taking, of taking down the lantern and going out to “where need called most loudly.” God has walked the journey with us, and we are filled with confidence, knowing that God will continue to walk with us in the years ahead.
The Presentation Sisters were founded by Nano Nagle, a young Irish woman, who felt called by God to reach out in faith, love and compassion to the poor and the needy children of eighteenth century Ireland. Nano and her companions struggled in their schools for several years and through them brought the light of knowledge to many. Convinced of the importance of education for the development of people, Nano Nagle started the Presentation Congregation in 1775. From small beginnings in Cork City, the Congregation spread to many cities and towns in Ireland and from there to several parts of the world.
The Sisters came to the sub-continent in 1842 and to Rawalpindi on 8th September 1895. The pioneer Nuns who came to Lalkurti,Rawalpindi, were Mother Ignatius Mc Dermott, Sr. Evangelist Coatsworth and Sr. Xavier Lonergan. They brought Nano Nagle’s Holy Bible with them. The school started off with three pupils and three sisters. In the beginning the sisters taught the children of the army personnel, British, Irish and Anglo- Indian. The school was registered as a European Type School and had a European Code of Rules. The overwhelming majority of people living around them were Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims. The Muslims at that time looked on education through English with suspicion. The Hindus and Sikhs kept pressing to get their children into the Convent School and avail of European education. Mother Ignatius was the first Headmistress of the school. On 15th February 1896 the school was placed on the list of recognized schools.
