Sister Mary Anthony Hartleib (nee Mary Anne Lenore) was born in Stratford, Ontario on February 10, 1924. She was the daughter of Charles Henry Hartleib and Loretta Durand. Her stepmother was Mary Hartleib of Waterloo, Ontario. Mary Anne Lenore Hartleib joined the congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of London, Ontario and received the habit on July 2, 1965. She made her final vows on May 30, 1971 in the Chapel at Mount St. Joseph. She was given the religious name Sister Mary Anthony. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in art and theology at the University of Windsor in 1969, and then studied at Althouse College in London, Ontario. Sister Mary Anthony received a permanent teaching certificate in 1972, a supervisor’s certificate in art, and a teaching certificate in art and English. From 1970 until 1981, she supervised the art department at Mount St. Joseph Academy in London. She was appointed assistant bursar at Mount St. Joseph, but continued with art and the teaching of ceramics until 1985 when her art work took a new turn. Always interested in the spiritual, Sister Mary Anthony turned to iconography. She spent two years studying Chinese water colour painting, followed by three years of iconography. She was a scholar, a skilled teacher of art, and a passionate advocate of the way icons open the mystery of the sacred. Sister Mary Anthony became well known as an iconographer and maintained a studio in the Sisters’ residence after Mount St. Joseph Academy closed. For several years, she shared her knowledge of iconography with the seminarians at St. Peter’s Seminary in London. The community of the Sisters of St. Joseph moved to 485 Windermere Road in 2007, where Sister Mary Anthony occupied her own art studio. Three of her icons, including that of the Blessed Trinity, were placed in the Chapel at the new residence. After a very short illness, Sister Mary Anthony died in the care centre at the Sisters’ Residence on June 23, 2008. Her funeral Mass of Resurrection was celebrated in St. Joseph Chapel in the residence at 485 Windermere Road. Father Frank O’Connor of St. Peter’s Seminary was the main celebrant. Sister Mary Anthony was buried in St. Peter’s cemetery in London.
Louise Godal was born November 30, 1924, in Pobedium, Slovak Republic to Michael Godal and Josephine Feranec. She was the eldest of eight children, having six brothers and one sister. Louise Godal was received into the Congregation of Sisters of St. Joseph of London August 25, 1943. She made her first profession August 25, 1945, and her final profession that same day in 1948. After dedicating herself to religious life she took on the religious name Sister Emerita Godal.
She graduated from grade school and high school and received training in being a homemaker. In 1970 she was trained as a Food Service Supervisor at the Catholic Hospital Association, St. Louis, Missouri and in 1972 she received Dietary Service Training at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology. She also trained at the Theological Institute of St. Norbert College, De Pere, Wisconsin in 1991.
Sister Emerita served in Ingersoll, Ontario from 1945 to 1947 and in Delhi, Ontario from 1947 to 1950. She then returned to London at Mount St. Joseph, the motherhouse of the Sisters of St. Joseph of London, from 1950 to 1964. There, she taught Home Economics at Mount St. Joseph Academy from 1956 to 1964. She travelled to Killam, Alberta in 1964 where she worked in dietetics at Killam General Hospital until 1971. After that, she dedicated herself to working as a homemaker in Sarnia, Ontario from 1971 to 1977 and in St. Thomas, Ontario from 1977 to 1979. Sister Emerita Godal then worked as a Pastoral Minister at Blessed Sacrament Church in Chatham, Ontario in 1979. She then went on to be the Pastoral Minister for Blessed Sacrament Parish in Chatham, Ontario from 1996 to 2001. She then returned to London, Ontario in 2001 and worked as seamstress at the motherhouse. She passed November 11, 2024.
Beata (Jeanne d'Arc Celine) Gagnon was born in McGregor, Ontario on April 28, 1933, entered the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of London, Ontario July 2, 1952, received habit January 3, 1953, made profession of first vows on January 3, 1955 and final vows on January 3, 1958, died March 2, 2018 in London, Ontario and is buried in St. Peter's Cemetery, London, Ontario.
Beata was the daughter of Clarice Meloche and Paul Gagnon, Sr. Her siblings were Joseph, Paul, Cezaire, Christine Soulliere, Richard, Angela Savard, Pauline Paquette, Michael, James, Mary Joan Seguin and Mary Anne Meloche.
Sister Beata obtained her R.N.A. certification in 1971. She also completed training at St. Paul's University, Ottawa, in pastoral care in 1980, and a course for parish pastoral ministers in Windsor, ON in 1990. In 1975, Sister Beata completed a course in driver education and obtained her school bus driver "G" license.
Sister Beata was a farm girl from her youth and never lost her feisty spirit and ethic of hard work. In her early ministry from 1953-1954, she cared for children at Fontbonne Hall in London, and later, from 1957-1958 at St. Joseph's Manor in Windsor. She also served as a homemaker at convents in London and Belle River, ON from 1954-1957. She provided support care at St. Peter's Seminary in London from 1958-1961. From 1961-1963, she worked in Kinkora, ON as a French teacher for grades 7 and 8, From 1963-1969, she again worked in the orphanages in London and Windsor.
In 1971, she trained as an R.N.A. and loved caring for the sick at St. Joseph's Hospital in Chatham, ON and in the infirmary at Mount St. Joseph from 1969-1975. From 1975-1977, she worked as a ward clerk at the hospital in Chatham, and then as an R.N.A. and pastoral care worker at St. Joseph's Hospital in London from 1977-1983.
Sister Beata served as a driver for the community in London from 1983-1989. and after this, until 1993, she carried out parish ministry in St. Clement Parish in McGregor, ON, and in St. Mary's Parish in Blenheim, ON beginning in 1999. Sister Beata was a generous and caring woman, eager to meet and share with others whenever possible. Totally committed to her faith, she was vocal in her expression of what she believed in, and in her fidelity to the Church's teachings, providing encouragement to others who were struggling. She loved her religious dress, and wore it with pride to her last weeks. Her friendly and welcoming manner endeared her to many, including staff and clients in St. Joseph's Hospice, members of the Intergenerational Choir, and people she met on the street and engaged in conversation and invited in for a tour or cup of tea. She loved to dance, and would joyfully move to the music whenever the opportunity presented itself.
Sister Eveline Gagner was born in Chatham, Ontario on July 3, 1917. She was one of five children born to Dieudonne Gagner of Tilbury, Ontario and Marie Helene Caron of Dover Township, Kent County, Ontario. Her sister, Viola Marie Blanche, also entered the Congregation, and was given the religious name Yvonne.
Sister Eveline received her B.A. from Assumption University, Windsor in 1963, and her M.A. in Theology from the University of Windsor in 1972. She received a diploma from Lumen Vitae in Brussels. Following this, she received the Attestation d’Etudes: Recherche en Catéchèse from the University of Montreal in 1967. Three years later, in 1970, she received her Attestation d’Etudes: Perfectionnement en Religion from the University of Sherbrooke. Sister Eveline attended the EXODUS program in St. Louis Missouri, during a sabbatical period in 1988.
As well as her academic training, Sister Eveline holds her permanent teaching certificates for French and English. She taught from 1939 to 1979 in separate schools in Ontario, in London, Windsor, Belle River and Sarnia, and held positions as principal as well during this time. From 1969 to 1973, she served as the religion consultant for the Roman Catholic Separate School Board in Windsor, Ontario. From 1979 to 1982 Sister Eveline worked in the field of adult faith education as a catechist in the Stratford Deanery, followed by pastoral ministry at St. Andrew’s Parish in London from 1982 to 1988. Sister Eveline served as a volunteer in various capacities, including as a hospital visitor and ministering to the poor.
Fontbonne Hall, located at 534 Queens Avenue in London, Ontario, was a residence for the Sisters of St. Joseph from May 1951 to September 1953. The building, which was built by William Spencer in 1856 and had previously served as a former Knights of Columbus residence, was purchased to provide more room for the Sisters who had been living at Sacred Heart. On September 11, 1953, all children were transferred from Mount St. Joseph Orphanage to Fontbonne Hall due to changes in government policy that required improved boarding care. A total of 41 children were moved. As a result of this policy change, children under the age of two were placed back with the agency that had referred them. The building was officially opened on December 20, 1953. Fontbonne Hall was more like a foster home than an orphanage, as the new government policies required. In addition, the Sisters operated a Day Nursery School at this location which was licensed from 1954 until 1965 for the children of working families.
In 1963, the decision was made to change Fontbonne Hall’s focus to care for emotionally disturbed children in order to fulfill a growing community need. In June 1965, the Fontbonne Hall Board disbanded and in October 1965, the orphanage came under the direction of Madame Vanier Children’s Services which operated under the Catholic Charities. In June of 1967, the Sisters of St. Joseph withdrew. In 1968, Fontbonne Hall became the first private treatment centre licensed in the province of Ontario under the children’s mental health services legislation. In June of 1972, the contract at Fontbonne Hall was terminated, but the residents of Madame Vanier Children’s Services were allowed to stay until their new quarters were ready. On August 4, 1972, the new facility located at 871 Trafalgar Street was opened for the children’s care, and Fontbonne Hall was closed. The building at 534 Queens Avenue was reopened by the Sisters of St. Joseph under a new program called Internos, which served as a group home for teenage girls.
Cathleen Flynn was born in London, Ontario on May 1, 1933. She entered the congregation on July 1, 1951, and received her habit on January 3, 1952. She made her final vows on January 3, 1957. Her religious name was Sister Mary Brendan. She was the daughter of Timothy Flynn and Mary McNally both of Ireland. Cathleen attended St. Mary's Elementary School, St. Angela's College, and Catholic Central High School in London, ON.
While in the novitiate, Sister Mary Brendan completed her teacher training at London Teachers' College in 1955. She then earned her BA at Assumption University in Windsor, ON, followed by her MA at Manhattanville College in New York, NY in 1967. She completed her STM in (Masters in Sacred Theology) at Regis College in Toronto in 1983, and her PhD in Ministry, also at Regis College in 1990.
From 1955-1961, Sister Mary Brendan was a teacher and principal in Windsor. She returned to London and taught at the same high school she had attended in her youth, from 1961-1963. She then served as Mistress of Novices at Mount St. Joseph Motherhouse in London from 1964-1971. As a member of the Commission of Religious, Sister Mary Brendan made a significant contribution to Synod II of the Diocese of London in 1969. She was then elected General Superior, a position she held from 1971-1979. As Superior General, Mother Mary Brendan was a member of the boards of the community's hospitals in London, Chatham, and Sarnia. The varied works of the Sisters involved her in separate school education as well as the private Mount St. Joseph's Academy and St. Joseph's School of Music in London. She was also involved in health care, social work, pastoral care, the mission field in the NWT and in Peru, care of the aged, and retreat programs.
Sister Cathleen then worked as the Assistant Director of Continuing Education at Regis College in Toronto from 1983-1986. While a student in the Doctor of Ministry Program at Regis College, she worked as the Director of Continuing Education from 1986-1990, and upon graduation, continued in this role until 2000. She then became the Director of the Master of Arts Degree program at Regis College in 2000, and then the Vice President of Regis College from 2001-2002. She served on the Board of Governors at Regis College from 2000-2005. Sister Cathleen also served on the Faculty Council, Academic Council, and Dean's Council at Regis College in 1996, on the Appointment and Rank Committee in 1998, as Vice Chair of the Academic Council in 2003, and was appointed Professor Emerita from 2007-2008. Sister Cathleen died on February 13, 2020.
Marjorie Teresa Fitzpatrick was born at home on Allumette Island, Quebec on October 14, 1929, to Victor John Fitzpatrick and Margaret Elizabeth Hynes. She was the second eldest of their ten children.
Majorie attended high school at St. Joseph’s, a boarding school in Chapeau, Quebec. From there she went on to study at St. Mary’s Teacher’s College. Marjorie completed her Elementary Diploma of Primary Teaching in 1948. She attained her class “B” teaching Diploma for Elementary and Junior High School in 1968. In 1967 she attained a Diploma in Catechetical and Pastoral Formation from Divine Word in London and a Certificate of Catechetical Studies from McGill University in Montreal in 1971. In 1970 she completed the first level of the Counseling-Learning Institutes. In 1974 Sister Marjorie completed her Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Theology from the University of Loyola in Montreal and her Master of Arts in Religious Education at St. Paul’s University in Ottawa.
After finishing Teacher’s College, Marjorie taught in a one-room grade school on Allument Island, followed by a year in Quinnville, Quebec. During that summer, Marjorie began working part-time in the finance department of Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd and remained for the next twelve years, becoming Section Head of the Accounts Receivable Department. She then entered the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Pembroke on October 11, 1963, during Vatican II. She received the habit in 1964 and took on the religious name Sister M. Amadeus. She then attained her studied at Divine Word in London, Ontario, attaining her diploma in 1967. After this, she returned to Chapeau to update her teaching credentials. She professed her final vows in August of 1970.
From 1967 to 1970 she taught at Our Lady of Lourdes School in Pembroke, Ontario. After, she became the Catechetical Consultant for the School Board until she left to pursue higher education in 1972. Sister Marjorie continued to do Pastoral Work until 1977 when she became the Director of Religious Education for the Diocese of Pembroke. She held the position for twelve years. Her accomplishments in this role include organizing pilgrimages to the Holy Land, sponsorship of refugees, the John Powell T.V. series “Free To Be Me,” and establishing the Ecumenical Way of the Cross, Families For Prayer, and the R.C.I. A. Program. For her efforts, Bishop Windle presented her with the Papal Medal of Bene Merenti. From 1985 to 1989, Sister Marjorie also served on the Congregational Leadership Team. She then went on sabbatical with the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange, California. In 1991, the Leadership Team invited Sister Marjorie to renew the Associate Movement in the Congregation. Sister Marjorie was also instrumental in organizing numerous community programs such as the sponsorship of refugees, Families for Prayer, the RCIA Program, the Ecumenical Way of the Cross, and encouraging laity to become involved in the church. She continued this work, worked with the Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Canada, and had a personal interest in ecological education. She was also heavily involved in Planting Seeds, a non-profit seeking to increase education in Guatemala.
Born Mary Margaret Ferris in London in 1931, Sister Margaret Ferris is a member of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of London, who spent much of her life furthering her education and ministry. In particular, she was a reformer and innovator of prayer, community involvement, and spiritual direction at the Congregation. She also published a book titled Compassioning: Basic Counselling Skills for Christian Caregivers in 1993, and various articles pertaining to spiritual direction and community living and involvement.
Sister Margaret Ferris was involved in her local parish at an early age and was especially encouraged in her faith by her grandmother, who lived with the Ferris family. At a young age she began to consider entering religious life. She completed upper school at St. Angela’s College in 1950 and was a member of the first class to ever graduate from Catholic Central High School in 1951. At age 22, after working as a legal secretary, she joined the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph. After the completion of her novitiate, she attended the University of Western Ontario where she completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1959, and Master’s degree in Education in 1977. In 1959, she began her teaching career as a high school teacher.
She continued to advance in her career in the 1960s. She became vice-principal of St. Patrick’s High School in Sarnia in 1963, and then principal of Mount St. Joseph Academy in 1966. During the 1960s, she continued to further her own education. She studied during the summer months at the University of Notre Dame. There she received a Master’s degree in Science in 1968. She also became a leader of spiritual renewal at the Congregation, which resulted in a strengthening of her own prayer life.
In 1972, she resigned as principal of Mount St. Joseph Academy, and with three other Sisters, established Internos, a home for troubled teenage girls, who experienced family difficulties or substance abuse. Her ministry evolved as she became exposed to and involved in family and community life. In 1977, she became Director of the Congregation’s Medaille Retreat House. During this time, she was also completing her Master’s degree in Counselling at the University of Western Ontario part-time. During this time, she continued to broaden her experience and understanding of spiritual direction and contemplative spirituality.
In 1978, she was elected to the Congregation’s General Council while still maintaining her position at the Retreat House where she worked alongside individuals of other Christian denominations. In 1984, she studied for a year at the Institute for Creation-Centred Spirituality in California where she obtained a Master’s degree in Spirituality and Culture. She marks this as the richest experience of community in her life, which strengthened and broadened her own spiritual understanding and life.
When she returned to London in 1985, she was asked to join St. Peter’s Seminary as a faculty member in the positions of teacher, counsellor, and Formation Director for Lay Ministry. She was the first woman professor to work full-time at St. Peter’s Seminary. This was another fulfilling experience for Sister Margaret Ferris as she was able to influence the development of the Church and to empower the laity. She held this position for over ten years. In 1992 she obtained her Doctor of Ministry in Spiritual Direction at the Graduate Theological Foundation, and in 2007 she received an honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree from the same institution.
Sister Margaret Ferris also dedicated a portion of her life to travelling. From 1959-1963, she made various trips around Ontario and northern U.S.A. In 1981, she travelled to Peru and Florida. In 1990, she and other Sisters visited Rome where she also met Pope John Paul II and received a rosary from him. In 2003, she made a pilgrimage to Le Puy, France, from where the Sisters of St. Joseph originally came. In 2004, she was honoured as one of the seven Golden Jubilarians in the Congregation. She died in 2017.