Lighting the Way - new exhibition at Nano Nagle Place, Cork

Tomorrow, Friday, my latest collaboration with Nano Nagle Place will open.

The exhibition chronicles the Presentation Sisters over the course of 250 years, tracing their journey from the foundation of the Order in Ireland to the network of communities they established across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas. Through education, healthcare, pastoral ministry and social outreach, the sisters responded to the needs of communities across widely differing historical and cultural contexts.

The exhibition explores the congregation’s resilience in the face of war, natural disasters, poverty and challenging frontiers, combining historical narrative with personal testimony to illustrate both the hardships and the humanity of missionary life. It also highlights the Order's increasing emphasis on locally led and indigenous communities, demonstrating how the missions evolved over time and adapted to changing social needs. International recognition and examples of innovative ministry illustrate the enduring impact of this work and its continuing commitment to serving those who are impoverished or marginalised.

The central aim is to balance Nano Nagle's vision of serving ‘in any part of the globe’ with the lived experiences of the sisters who realised that vision across different countries, cultures and generations.

There are also some and there are some amazing photographs and recipes included in the exhibition.

The opening of the exhibition coincides with Culture Night, so if you're in Cork tomorrow, 18th September come along and visit for free. The exhibition will run through the rest of the year and into next year, and will be available online too.