1796 - |
November 21, foundation of the
Congregation of the Presentation of Mary. |
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| 1797 - |
The number of Sisters doubled and that of the boarders greatly increased.. Marie Rivier purchases a larger house, at Thueyts. This will be the first Mother House.
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| 1798 - | First sending on mission: a school is
opened in Coucouron, department of Ardèche. |
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| 1799 - | First encounter between Marie Rivier and
Mr.Vernet, p.s.s., Vicar General of Msgr.d'Aviau for the diocese of Viviers. The
meeting takes place at Chomérac where Mr. Vernet is in hiding. As of then Mr.
Vernet becomes Marie Rivier's best support and advisor. |
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| 1801 - | Msgr. d'Aviau, informed by Mr. Vernet of
the works of Marie Rivier, goes to Thueyts incognito. «The finger of God is
here. It marks this foundation and its achievements! For it is not given to a
human being to succeed in doing so much with so few resources!» Msgr. d'Aviau
approves the temporary Rule of the Community. |
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| 1801- 1810 |
Opening of forty-six schools in the department of Ardèche. | |||
| 1811 - | First foundation outside the diocese, at
Saint Quentin in the diocese of Nîmes. |
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| 1814 - | Marie Rivier opens her first orphanage,
«an undertaking dear to her heart.» Later, a Royal Ordinance will approve the
charitable institution at the same time as the Statutes of the Congregation.
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| 1819 - | On April 25, the Mother House is
transferred from Thueyts to Bourg Saint-Andéol. The new premises favor the life of
the Congregation new in full growth. |
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| 1820 - | The Presentation of Mary, at work in
eight dioceses, counts eighty-eight houses. |
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| 1827 - | Marie Rivier establishes the Sister
Adorers mandated to intercede for the world, the Church and the entire Congregation.
I do not believe that the Body can sustain itself nor do much good without prayer. |
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| 1830 - | By a Royal ordinance dated May 29,
Charles X grants legal recognition to the Congregation of the Presentation of Mary. |
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| 1833 - | The first foundation beyond France is
established at St.-Julien in Genevois. Savoy at that time belonged to the States of
Sardinia. |
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| 1836 - | On May 6, at the request of the bishops
of the dioceses where the Sisters are present, pope Gregory XVI grants the Congregation a Decree
of Praise «for the care it gives to the Christian education of young people.» |
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| 1838 - | On February 3, after having worked to
the end, Marie Rivier terminates her task on earth. The previous day, on the feast
of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, she had once more expressed her fondness for
this mystery of offering. With Jesus, through Mary, she had again offered her life.
Alive in God, Marie Rivier still continues her mission. Numerous graces have
been attributed to her. |
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| 1841 - | Foundation in Switzerland,
at Lausanne. |
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| 1853 - | On May 12, a dossier relating the
numerous graces obtained by the intercession of Marie Rivier is presented to the
Pope. This is the first step towards the acknowledgment by the Church of the
holiness of the Foundress of the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary. |
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| 1853 - | On October 19, the foundation in Canada.
At the request of Msgr. Prince of Saint Hyacinth, six Sisters are sent to Canada. The first foundation is established at Marieville, Quebec. Very soon, several young Canadians join the community and ask to be admitted. The presentation of Mary will quickly develop in Canada. Sister Saint Maurice, a Savoyade, to whom the foundation has been confided, will become the third Superior General of the Congregation. |
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"My Daughters will one day cross the seas!" -Marie Rivier |
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| 1873 - | Foundation in the United
States, in Glens Falls, New York. After 1886, foundations follow one another quickly: thirteen in eighteen years! |
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| 1890 - | The Church, through Pope Leo XIII,
officially recognizes that Marie Rivier practiced Christian virtues in a heroic way.
Private worship can be rendered to her. |
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| 1896 - | Foundation in England,
at Exeter in Devon. |
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| 1900 - 1914 |
These days are known as the
«times of the expulsions». The anticlerical policy of the French government
compels men and women religious of teaching congregations to become secularized or to
emigrate. Their possessions are taken over by the State. sixty-three Sisters
leave for Canada and, from there some go to the United States. Others go to England and to
Switzerland. The expulsions provide the opportunity for several foundations. |
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| 1902 - | Foundation in Spain. | |||
| 1904 - | Foundation in Italy. | |||
| 1907 - | The Congregation escapes
dissolution. After several lawsuits, it is officially recognized of «public
utility» because of its commitment to the poor - its savings are reserved for them - and
its charitable works. |
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| 1909 - | Pope Pus X signs the decree giving Pontifical Rights to the Congregation. | |||
| 1925 - |
Foundation in Portugal, on the Island of Madeira; then in 1938 on the continent. |
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1933 |
Foundation of Rivier College in Hudson, NH by Sr. Madeleine of Jesus. The College was moved to Nashua NH in 1941. |
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| 1941 - | First foundation in Africa, in Mozambique. | |||
| 1948 - | First foundation in Asia, in Japan. | |||
| 1950 - | Foundation in the Philippines. | |||
| 1963 - | First foundation in South
America, in Peru. Foundation in Ireland. |
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| 1966 - | Opening of a General
Chapter for the purpose of promoting a spiritual renewal in the spirit of Vatican Council II |
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| 1967 - | The general administration
of the Congregation is transferred from Bourg-Saint Andéol to Castelgandolfo
near Rome, in Italy. |
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1968 - |
Foundation in Gambia |
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| 1969 - | During a special General Chapter, the Rule of Life is entirely revised. | |||
| 1982 - | On May 23, Beatification
of Marie Rivier by Pope John Paul II in Rome. From that date on, groups of Lay
Associates of the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary will multiply throughout
the world.
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| 1984 - | On February 2, the new Rule of Life is approved by the Church. | |||
| 1986 - | Foundation in Brazil. | |||
| 1989 - | Foundation in Cameroon. | |||
| 1991 - 1996 |
The entire Congregation is
engaged in a spiritual preparation in view of the celebration of the Bicentenary of its Foundation in 1996.
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| 1997 - | Foundation in Ecuador. | |||
| 1999 | 25th General Chapter - Election of Mother Angele Dion and new Council members. | |||
| 2005 | 26th General Chapter - Held for the first time in Canada | |||
