This subseries contains the chronicles of St. Joseph’s Convent (also known as Mackenzie House) at 332 London Road, Sarnia, by the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of London, Ontario. The chronicles document the education ministry of the Sisters residing at St. Joseph’s Convent at Our Lady of Mercy School and at St. Patrick’s High School, in Sarnia, as well as St. Peter’s Seminary in London, Ontario. The chronicles also document the other various activities the Sisters engaged in, such as serving on the board at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Sarnia, participating in the Employment Assistance Committee, serving as a local representative of the Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association, working at the Christian Renewal Centre, and as pastoral care workers. Some of the activities mentioned include visiting the Bestview Nursing Home with students, giving speeches at the Separated and Divorced group meetings, and volunteering with intellectually disabled people. The Sisters also attended events for the parish ministry, like the Christ in Others Retreat and Education Committee Meetings and took part in professional development through Vocation Workshops and pursuing higher education. In addition, this subseries contains a list of Sisters who served at St. Joseph’s Convent from 1977 to 1983.
This subseries contains the history of St. Joseph’s Convent at 302 Vidal Street North, in Sarnia, of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of London, Ontario. On March 31, 1977, a three-storey house was purchased to accommodate Sisters moving out from Our Lady of Mercy Convent at 174 London Road, in Sarnia. The inaugural group of Sisters transferred into their new convent on July 17, 1977. This subseries contains two lists: a list of Sisters who served at St. Joseph’s Convent from 1977 to 1986, and a list of property owners at 302 Vidal Street North from 1855 to 1977. There is correspondence related to the administration and finances at St. Joseph’s Convent. This subseries also contains a record of work appointments held by the Sisters who resided at this convent at St. Joseph’s Hospital, the Christian Renewal Centre, St. Benedict’s Parish, St. Joseph’s Parish, Lambton College, St. Peter’s Seminary, St. Patrick’s High School, Our Lady of Mercy School, Sacred Heart School, St. Margaret’s School, St. Helen’s School, and Gregory Hogan School. There are records that document the Sisters’ volunteer work and their different memberships with the Victorian Order of Nurses Family Visiting Program, Deanery Team of the Ministries of the People of God, Parish Team, Sisters Council, Inn of the Good Shepherd Soup Kitchen, and the Chatham Hospital Community of Sisters Justice Group. In addition, there are records that document the Sisters served as volunteer members on Chapter Planning Sessions and Steering Committees, they engaged in professional development by pursuing higher education, participated in a Canon Law Conference and an Inter-congregational Junior Workshop on Clowning, and traveled to Flint, Michigan for a weekend session on Separate and Divorce Catholics. In 1987, St. Joseph’s Convent was sold and closed.
This subseries contains the chronicles of St. Joseph’s Convent at 254 Emma Street, Sarnia, of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of London, Ontario. The chronicles document the education ministry of the Sisters residing at St. Joseph’s Convent who taught music at the convent from 1945 to 1982. There are also records of the Sisters teaching music at St. Joseph’s School and St. Patrick’s High-School in Sarnia. This subseries contains a list of Sisters stationed at St. Joseph’s Convent from 1945 to 1980, and a list of Priests of St. Joseph’s Church from 1923 to 1980. There are also minutes for the first house meeting in 1969 at the convent. There is a historical summary on the founding of St. Joseph’s School and St. Patrick’s High School and two essays written by Sister Mary Margaret (Lenore) Howard. The first essay, Social Justice Ministry within St. Joseph’s Parish Community, is about her work with marginalized communities, such as with male ex-psychiatric patients and the second Our Home and Ministry, is about the promotion of social justice at the local parish level and living and working interdependently at St. Joseph’s Convent on Emma Street. There are several newsletters related to activities at St. Joseph’s Church in Sarnia. There is a 1969 correspondence to Mother Julia Cecilia Moore about the minutes for the first house meeting at St. Joseph’s Convent in Sarnia, and correspondence amongst the Sisters about the transformation of St. Joseph’s Convent into an experimental community house from 1974 to 1976. This subseries also contains a card and a booklet commemorating the St. Joseph’s Parish 50th Anniversary in 1973. In addition, this subseries contains photographs depicting St. Joseph’s Convent before and after renovations, the chapel inside the convent, a portrait of Mother Ignatia Campbell (1840-1929), and a group of Sisters at the convent in 1973 identified as Sister Mary Margaret (Lenore) Howard, Sister Sylvia Cust, Sister Theresa Marie Caillouette, and Sister Mary Boere.
This subseries contains a chronicle of Our Lady of Mercy Convent in Sarnia by the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of London, Ontario. There is a record on the founding of Sarnia Parish from 1840 to 1919, and short histories on the growth and development of the parish from 1840 to 1977. There are records of the Sisters’ education ministries at separate schools and pastoral work. The Sisters worked in roles as Principals and teachers in elementary schools and high schools, attended the Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association annual meetings, taught music students who won awards at the Lambton Music Festival, and at the Canadian Legion public speaking contests. The records in this subseries note the Sisters ran school activity clubs like the Glee Club, coordinated fundraising events like the Miles for Millions walkathon, organized local and provincial science fairs, education week open houses, field sport days, prom nights, and graduation ceremonies. Other documented ministries include providing Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, religious education to Catholic children attending secular schools, participating in the first Medaille Retreat in Hamilton, attending Catholic Women’s League meetings, reflection groups, and ecumenical activities.
There are several lists including Sisters stationed at Our Lady of Mercy Convent from 1906 to 1977, priests who served at Our Lady of Mercy Parish from 1854 to 1980, inventory of furniture at Our Lady of Mercy Convent, doners and their donations, Christmas card recipients, and a list of religious communities in Sarnia. There are also financial reports. There are minutes of Our Lady of Mercy Convent house meetings from 1935 to 1963. There is a document in English and Latin titled “Ceremonies for Consecration of Altar at Our Lady of Mercy Convent Sarnia,” and a certificate in Latin signed by the Chancellor for Joannes Christophorous. There are several pamphlets related to Our Lady of Mercy Parish Centenary, the 125th Church Anniversary of Our Lady of Mercy, and the Golden Jubilee of Right Reverend Lorenzo Patrick Lowry, Pastor of Our Lady of Mercy Church.
This subseries also contains correspondence from 1924 to 2000 related to the administration of Our Lady of Mercy Convent and news clippings featuring articles on the Sisters, the schools, the parishes, and Reverend Thomas J. McCarthy In addition, there is a postcard of Our Lady of Mercy Convent and photographs depicting the Sisters, Monsignor Reverend Father Lorenzo Patrick Lowry, and the interior and exterior of Our Lady of Mercy Church and Convent.