The 14^th March 2025 marks the 221^st Anniversary of Mother Angela Collins (Mary Ann), one of the four foundresses of the Presentation Order, who passed away on the evening of the 14^th in South Presentation Covent, Cork City in 1804. To commemorate this anniversary, we are sharing the entry of her death, recorded in the South Pres Annals from the Presentation Sisters Congregational Archives.

“On the 14^th of this month (March) it has pleased Almighty God to withdraw to a better life, and from the companionship of this Community which loved and revered her, our oldest member, Mother Angela Collins, who expired about seven o’clock in the evening: rather unexpectedly, after enduring with the most singular and edifying patience, some years of the most trying delicacy: during which period, no complaint, no murmur, no manifestation of dislike to the wearisome life she was leading, ever escaped from her lips, or, appeared by her manner to those whose delightful duty it was to attend her.

Water on the chest put an end, at length, but, too soon for us, her cherished existence. Having dined, she lay, as she was sometimes obliged to do, on her bed. For some time, she continued to converse familiarly with two of the Sisters, regarding affairs which involved the welfare of the Community, whose interests were always dear to her pure heart: and, in the midst of their discussion, to their great dismay, they observed she was expiring.

She quietly yielded up her soul in their presence, without their having the time of the consolation of procuring her the least spiritual resistance. But, they had the comfort of knowing, that for her, the great work of sanctification had been already wrought – that she had, long before her hour was come, laid up for herself a treasure which neither “moth nor rust can consume” […].

Mother Angela Collins […] was the first whom God called to assist out Foundress in the laborious functions of teaching the poor of Cork – and generously and well did she work her way, by following the bright example which God had placed before her. She received the holy Habit of religion, and pronounced her Simple Vows, on the same day with Mother Nagle – a privilege, which she never could think on, without pleasure, and perhaps some, not unlawful, pride.

She had the sad consolation of witnessing the last moments of our Sainted Foundress, whom she affectionately watched over, and attended, during the protracted delicacy of her emaciated frame: she received her last sigh, her last blessing, and listened to her last words […]. At this awful, and most trying moment of her whole existence, she was charged, by her dying Mother, with the care of her Infant association, and of her poor afflicted Children who then composed it. And this burden of Superiority, did she meekly, and maternally, and piously bear […]. In the Offices of Superioress and Mistress of Novices, all the duties of which she fulfilled with unparalleled zeal and exactitude for 20 years, she was the comfort of those whom she governed: and an example of influences so irresistible, as to defy any sort of disregard to its perfect imitation, on the part of those, by whom she was surrounded.

At last, the bright lamps of her existence, by the light of which, we so long and so securely trod the darksome dangerous paths of this world’s pilgrimage, is extinguished for us, for ever. She has left us in our bereavement, without consolation, save, the one sweet, cheering hope, that the Mother whom we fondly respected, and who ever loved us so well, has passed from this transitory scene but to enter into the bosom of her God – to the enjoyment of her well beloved Spouse.

Requiescat in Pace. Amen.”