From the Principal

OUR PRESENTATION SISTERS in PAKISTAN in EPPING

Our College has been blest through its devoted and valued association with the Presentation Sisters of Pakistan.  This relationship is traced back decades when Miss Pamela Coyne, revered Monican, first met the Sisters accidentally in Pakistan whilst visiting there in 1973.  Since that time, beautiful friendships and mutual support have flourished.

In 2025 we are blest to host Sister Riffat Sadiq PBVM for the month of August.  Sister Riffat has recently retired from the office of Provincial in Pakistan, a leadership role within the Order, and we are pleased that her time here may provide her with some well-earned R & R.  The College is grateful to those who are offering accommodation for Sister, including Miss Coyne.

Over the years since 1999 when Sister Teresa Baily PBVM was the initial visitor to Australian shores in Epping, a total of eighteen of the nuns have spent time with us.  The Sisters usually visit and speak to classes, make presentations for our adult members of the community, address Assembly, and attend excursions and activities of a cultural, religious and historical nature.  Weekends are theirs to become more acquainted with Melbourne and to spend time with fellow Presentation Sisters based in our city.

The relationship has been a splendid one, made more significant by the works and projects that have emerged after visits from Monicans to Pakistan such as Miss Coyne, Mr Denis Zucchet, Miss Bernadette Harris, and staff who have once served SMC.  Friendships have formed, evidenced by projects such as Monicans funding water wells for villages and paying teachers’ salaries at the Sisters’ schools, and Monican prayers being offered for the mission of the Order.

We praise and commend the Sisters who have worked in Pakistan for many years. First missionaries of the Order to Pakistan were from Ireland, and the Irish province still has a valued  presence in Pakistan through the nuns’ recently appointed Provincial and through older women who have settled and decided to spend their life amongst the people to whom they have given education, hope and faith. The majority of the girls taught by the Sisters are not Christian.

It is not incredible that some Monicans may be so inspired through a Sister’s visit that they too may offer their skills, time and commitment to work in war ridden and often poor countries such as Pakistan.  Already we have Monicans making biennial visits to the Philippines to work with the Good Samaritan Sisters at their mission and kindergarten school at Bacolod.  What joy were female Monicans to consider religious life (or missionary service) and male Monicans consider priestly life (or missionary service). 

On behalf of our College, I express the warmest welcome to Sister Riffat Sadiq as she spends time in our Australian community here at Epping.  She represents this year the other seventeen Sisters who have previously joined us and the dozens, please God, who will follow her into the future.

Any family that wishes to make a financial donation to assist the Sisters in their work in Pakistan is encouraged to make contact with Mr Denis Zucchet who will be pleased to suggest how best to make that donation.

Brian E. Hanley OAM

Principal