The Sisters had made this long journey at the request of the newly-appointed Bishop. Daniel Murphy, brother of the Superior, Mother Xavier. The previous Bishop, Robert Willson, had advised Bishop Murphy against bringing a group of religious women from the safety and culture of the Fermoy convent to what he knew from experience was a rough and unsavoury Hobarton. But Murphy knew the Presentation Sisters well and recognised that they followed a foundress who had trudged alone the back-alleys and lanes of a most unsavoury Cork and who used frequently repeat, "If I could be of any service in serving souls in any part of the globe, I would willingly do all in my power." As they left for Tasmania Mother Xavier wrote that their mission was to "spread the Faith and infuse charity into the hearts that knew not how to love Him who had redeemed them."

Their unostentatious spirituality undoubtedly attracted adults and children both Catholic and non-Catholic. Their spirituality was based on the Providence of God and like that of Nano Nagle centred around the humanity of Jesus as expressed particularly through devotion to His Sacred Heart. Flowing from this spirituality, their first concern like that of Nano was for the poor. Significantly, their first concern in Hobart as in Launceston was the Free School. The free school was not a parish school in the sense that it received any formal financial help from the parish - it was built, supported and governed solely by the Sisters. Sisters who taught in the free school also taught in the Fee Paying School and vice-versa with no distinction in subjects offered. The fees from the Fee Paying School and Boarders supported the Sisters and went to help defray the capital and recurrent costs associated with all the schools and with further foundations in the North and West of the State.

A striking characteristic of these early Sisters was the breadth and depth of their own education and the education they imparted to their students in religious, cultural and secular subjects.

References:

Cullen, J. Presentation Sisters look back 100 years, 1866-1966.

If further information is required about individual Sisters the following address is given:

The Archivist

Tasmania Congregation Presentation Sisters

164 Harrington Street

HOBART TAS. 7000

In writing to the Archivist, it would be appropriate that a financial contribution be made for the Archivist’s time and expertise.

Religious Orders or Congregations have released the details on their members. It is understood that the copyright of any material (including the listing of the names of the Sisters) relevant to a particular Order or Congregation in this publication remains with the relevant Order or Congregation.