Presentation Sisters were guests of honour at a special Mass to celebrate St Patrick at Iona Presentation College this week. 

The college has a close connection to Ireland due to its history, beginning when five Sisters from Kildare followed a call that brought them to Western Australia. 

Principal Anne Pitos acknowledged the school’s Irish heritage by naming the Irish hometowns of the Sisters present and said the spirit of college founder Nano Nagle was alive and well at Iona. 

Held at the school’s Memorial Park, the Mass saw students from years 1 to 12, along with college staff, parents and friends of the Iona community come together for the important Eucharistic observance. 

Iona’s Leader of Mission and Faith Formation Gemma Thomson said celebrating Mass in Memorial Park was a unique Iona experience. 

“The greenery that surrounded the community was symbolic of both God’s creation and our treasured Irish Presentation heritage,” she said. 

“We were very blessed to have so many of our Presentation Sisters present.” 

St Joseph’s Subiaco parish priest Monsignor Kevin Long was welcomed back to Iona to celebrate the Mass, which was concelebrated by Father James D’Souza and Father Rodrigo da Costa Ponte from Cottesloe/Mosman Park parish, along with Father Chin Dinh from Holy Rosary parish. 

Ms Thomson said Monsignor Long’s “warm, witty, and prayerful nature” was always appreciated. 

The fifth-century Romano-British Christian missionary and bishop, St Patrick is regarded as the founder of Christianity in Ireland, and his feast day is celebrated across the world on 17 March. 

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