A Century of Faith, Excellence, and Enlightening Hearts and Minds

Submitted by Sister Maria Rosa, p.m.

On Sunday, September 20, 2026, the Presentation of Mary Academy community gathered in a truly extraordinary way to celebrate a remarkable milestone: 100 years of faith, education, service, and the presence of the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary in the Diocese of Manchester.

Nearly 800 Sisters, students, parents, alumni, faculty, staff, benefactors, and friends of PMA came together at St. Kathryn Parish in Hudson, New Hampshire, for a beautiful Centennial Mass. It was a joyful gathering that brought together generations of the PMA family, including alumni whose connection to the Academy reaches back decades. Among those present were graduates dating as far back as the Class of 1946, a beautiful reminder that the PMA family stretches across generations and continues to grow.

The Centennial Mass was celebrated by Bishop Peter A. Libasci, Bishop of Manchester, who joined the PMA community in giving thanks for the many blessings that have sustained the Academy throughout its first century. Surrounded by the Sisters, students, families, alumni, and friends of Presentation of Mary Academy, the celebration was a powerful reflection of the faith upon which PMA was founded and upon which its future continues to be built.

The Mass was filled with the spirit and traditions that have been part of PMA for generations. Students played an important role throughout the liturgy, sharing their gifts through music, readings, service, and prayer. The Harmonia Choir helped make the celebration especially memorable, lifting the hearts of all who gathered through their beautiful music.

As the Mass concluded, the celebration continued at Presentation of Mary Academy, where the entire community gathered for an afternoon of food, fellowship, memories, and gratitude.

The school grounds were filled with the joyful sounds of old friends reconnecting, alumni sharing memories, families enjoying one another’s company, and generations of PMA students and Sisters coming together. Guests enjoyed wonderful food and fellowship while students proudly welcomed visitors and served as tour guides throughout the school. They led alumni and friends through the hallways and classrooms, giving them an opportunity to see how the Academy has grown and changed while remaining faithful to its mission.

For many alumni, returning to PMA was more than a visit—it was a homecoming.
The tours provided a special opportunity for former students to walk through familiar hallways, revisit memories, and see the school through the eyes of today’s students. For current students, it was an opportunity to meet those who came before them and to recognize that they are now part of a legacy that began 100 years ago.
Throughout the afternoon, one thing was abundantly clear: PMA is much more than a school. It is a family.
For 100 years, Presentation of Mary Academy has been a place where children have been known, loved, challenged, encouraged, and inspired. It has been a place where faith has been nurtured, friendships have been formed, teachers have dedicated their lives to their students, and the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary have faithfully shared their mission and charism with generations of children and families.
The Centennial celebration also offered a moment to recognize the extraordinary gift of the Sisters’ presence in the Diocese of Manchester for a century. Their commitment, sacrifice, prayer, and dedication have helped shape not only Presentation of Mary Academy, but countless lives throughout the community.
As we celebrate 100 Years of Faith. 100 Years of Excellence. 100 Years of Enlightening Hearts and Minds, we are reminded that a centennial is not simply about looking back. It is also about looking forward.
The September 20 celebration was only the beginning. Presentation of Mary Academy will continue to celebrate its Centennial throughout the year with events and opportunities that honor the past, celebrate the present, and look with hope toward the future.

We are grateful for every Sister who has served at PMA, every teacher and staff member who has given so generously of themselves, every student who has walked through our doors, every parent who has entrusted a child to our care, every alumnus who continues to carry the spirit of PMA into the world, and every benefactor and friend who has helped sustain the Academy.

One hundred years later, the mission continues.
The Sisters’ presence, the dedication of our faculty and staff, the commitment of our families, and the spirit of our students remind us that the legacy of Presentation of Mary Academy is not simply something we inherit—it is something we are called to carry forward.
All for God. All through Holy Love.
Here is to the next chapter of Presentation of Mary Academy and to the generations yet to come who will continue to enlighten hearts and minds.
Happy Centennial, PMA!
100 Years of Faith.
100 Years of Excellence.
100 Years of Enlightening Hearts and Minds.