The Presentation Sisters of Victoria have commemorated their 150th anniversary of foundation in the state, reports Melbourne Catholic.

More than 250 people — including Presentation Sisters from across the state and interstate, family and friends, staff and students from Star of the Sea College (founded by the sisters in Gardenvale in 1883), and Presentation associates and alumni — came together at St Mary’s Catholic Church in St Kilda East on Sunday, September 15.

*Sr Helen Carboon PBVM, Congregational Leader of the Presentation Sisters at the anniversary Mass. PHOTO: Fiona Basile/Melbourne Catholic.*

Sr Helen Carboon PBVM, congregation leader for the Presentation Sisters in Victoria, shared the significance of celebrating the anniversary at St Mary’s.

She explained that In a letter dated January 28, 1873, Fr James Corbett wrote from St Mary’s Parish, “from this place right here in St Kilda, ‘From the ends of the earth, I write to you for help’”.

He was writing to the Presentation Sisters he knew in Limerick, Ireland, “imploring for them to come to this far-flung and strange land to nurture the life and faith of the rapidly growing population, particularly the Irish diaspora,” Sr Helen said.

“And seven mostly young Irish women came, as Raphael Consedine PBVM expresses it, “with faith and love and laughter brimming over, and hope in their firm hands like seed.

“The seed which they planted has flourished and thrived. They came filled with hope and with promise.”

Following Mass, the anniversary celebrations continued in St Mary’s Hall, with historical photos on display and more stories, and words of thanks, shared.

This is an abridged form of an article by Fiona Basile was published in Melbourne Catholic, the publication of the Archdiocese of Melbourne (via Cathnews).