|
1796
 |
November 21,
foundation of the Congregation of the Presentation
of Mary.
On that day, Marie Rivier receives
from Mr. Pontanier, p.s.s., the seal of the Company
of Saint Sulpice which
becomes the seal of the new Congregation.
It bears the initials of
the
Ave Maria.
|
|
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.
|
Thueyts
First Mother House
|
|
 |
|
|
1798 |
First sending
on mission: a school is opened in Coucouron,
department of Ardèche.
|
|
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.
|
|
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.
|
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.
|
|
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.
|
 |
|
Bourg Saint-Andéol |
|
|
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.
|
|
1820 |
The
Presentation of Mary, at work in eight dioceses, counts eighty-eight houses.
|
|
1827 |
Marie Rivier
establishes the Sister Adorers mandated to intercede for the world, the
Church and the entire Congregation. "I do not believe,"
she says "that the body can sustain itself
nor do much good without
prayer."
|
|
1830 |
By a Royal
ordinance dated May 29, Charles X grants legal recognition to the
Congregation
of the Presentation of Mary.
|
|
1833 |
The first
foundation beyond France is established at St.-Julien in Genevois.
Savoy at that time belonged to the States of Sardinia.
|
|
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.»
|
|
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.
 |
|
1841 |
Foundation in
Switzerland at
Lausanne.
|
|
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.
|
|
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.
"My Daughters will one day cross the seas!"
-Marie Rivier |
|
 |
|
Ocean front,
Marie Joseph Spiritual Center, Biddeford Pool, Maine
|
|
1873 |
Foundation in
the
United
States, in Glens Falls, New York.
After 1886, foundations follow one another quickly: thirteen in
eighteen years!
|
|
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.
|
|
1896 |
Foundation in
England, at Exeter in Devon.
|
1900 -
1914 |
These years 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.
|
|
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.
|
|
1909 |
Pope Pius 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.
|
|
1933
|
Foundation of
Rivier College
in Hudson, NH, by Sr. Madeleine of Jesus.
The College was
moved to
Nashua NH in
1941.
|
|
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.
|
|
1966 |
Opening of a
General Chapter for the purpose of promoting a
spiritual renewal in the s |
