Staff

Sister Vera Butler: I was born in Portmagee, County Kerry, Ireland. I went to the Presentation Sisters in Clonmel,  County Tipperary for high school. Soon after entered the congregation as a novice I became a grade school teach and taught in Ireland before becoming one of the founding sisters of our mission in Louisville, Colorado. After five years in Colorado I returned to Ireland for a short time to teach and to manage our boarding school for high school girls. I returned to teaching in Metairie, Louisiana and grew to love New Orleans and the rich culture of the people.  I was assigned as principal to  Warner Robins, Georgia.  I returned  to the New Orleans after five years.  I worked as Development Director for our US Province and later as Outreach Coordinator for St. Joseph’s Church in New Orleans. I have so enjoyed the privilege to develop and expand this ministry. I presented this ministry option to the collaborative discernment group. The discernment group chose New Orleans for the first collaborative ministry for the North American Conference of Presentation Sisters – we called this outreach ministry Lantern Light. This ministry was scheduled to begin September 1, 2005 and was delayed for a few weeks because of hurricane Katrina which left most of the city under water for three weeks.

Enid Storey: I was born and raised in NYC.   I met the Presentation Community at St. Michael’s in High School. The spirit of joy and love that I experience among the Sisters drew me to enter the Presentation Congregation in 1959.

I became a teacher in 1964.  Most of my ministry in school was in the first grade.  I taught in Clifton, NJ, Bronx, NY, Yonkers, NY, Manhattan, NY and Rockaway , NY.  In 1982, I went to Mount St. Joseph to be the administrator of our Community Infirmary.   I loved being a teacher but while I was working in the infirmary I found myself drawn to caring for the sick.  I went back to school and became an RN.  I ministered as a nurse in a community hospital in Westchester, NY, a parish outreach program in the Bronx and eventually in a homeless shelter in Manhattan, the Dwelling Place.

In 2003 I discerned a call from the Conference of Presentation Sisters of North America to form a collaborative community in New Orleans.  I arrived in New Orleans in 2005 on the coattails of Hurricane Katrina.  It has been a great experience ever since.  Some of my responsibilities have been assisting our guests with getting prescription referrals, ID’s, and birth certificate.  I also administer and keep the records for TB Tests.  This past year I found myself responsible for our lunch program.  This responsibility can be a challenge and an opportunity for creativity.  We usually serve lunch to 150 – 230 guests each day. 

 Anna Raimon: I was born in Fitchburg, MA. I attended Grammar and High School staffed by the Sisters of the Presentation. In 1954 I entered the Presentation Community. After many years of teaching and Community Administration I ministered for 71/2years in Ghana, West Africa at Mary Queen of Peace Catholic School. In August 2008, the eve of Hurricane Gustav, I began my ministry at Lantern Light Inc., in New Orleans LA.

 Maureen Nolan:  I came to the U S from the the Presentation Convent in Wexford, Ireland. From there I was missioned to Gulfport, Ms. where I taught in St. John Elementary School until I was sent to St. Joseph School in Birmingham, AL.  My next assignment was St. Patrick School in Robertsdale, Al. From there I was asked to serve in Christ School the King School in Daphne Al. My last assignment before coming to New Orleans was to Globe, AZ where I was privileged to serve in the jail, the Food Bank and the nursing homes.  It is a privilege for me to be among my sisters and brothers here in New Orleans and especially to be able to with them at the Lantern Light.

 Phyllis Gill:   I was born in Timber Lake, SD.  After high school I entered the Presentation Sisters in 1955 in Aberdeen, SD where I received my education and taught in elementary schools in SD, MN, and MT for 14 years.   After teaching I ministered on Crow Creek Indian Reservation for three years and then as a human services representative for Catholic Family Services in Sioux Falls, SD.   I went to Chicago for a Master’s degree and then stayed in the area doing parish social ministry for 6 years.   I worked at our college, then at in a home for people with AIDS for four years and then was a counselor with Catholic Family Services in Sioux Falls, SD for 7 years.  From there I went to Aberdeen where I served as vocation director for the Presentation Sisters and on Leadership for the Community for the four years before beginning ministry at Lantern Light in New Orleans in  August 2010.