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This series chronicles the history of the Sarnia mission of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of London, Ontario. This series covers a period from 1906 to 1989 when the Sisters lived in different residences throughout Sarnia, Ontario: at Our Lady of Mercy Convent (174 London Road) from 1906 to 1977, at St. Joseph’s Convent (254 Emma Street) from 1945 to 1982, at St. Joseph’s Convent or Mackenzie House (332 London Road) from 1977 to 1983, at St. Joseph’s Convent (302 Vidal Street North) from 1977 to 1987, at Vidal Street Community House (301 Vidal Street South) from 1986 to 1989, and at Pontiac Court Community House (1230 Pontiac Court) from 1988 to 1989. The Sisters contributed to Sarnia’s regional development in the fields of education, healthcare, social welfare, and pastoral care. The Sisters served as principals, directors, administrators, board and committee members, teachers, nurses, and spiritual leaders and advisors for various Catholic Separate Schools, St. Peter’s Seminary, Sarnia Collegiate Institute and Technical School, St. Joseph’s Hospital, and as staff and volunteers at Roman Catholic churches in different parishes throughout Sarnia and the surrounding area. This series also contains minutes, correspondence, essays, lists, administrative and financial records, newsletters, news clippings, and photographs related to the management of the assorted convents and community houses occupied by the Sisters, documentation on the various ministries, professional development, social and community activities of the Sisters, and the different school and church events they participated in during their Sarnia mission.

This subseries contains the history of the community house at 1230 Pontiac Court, Sarnia, of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of London, Ontario. The Sisters lived in a three-bedroom townhouse called the Pontiac Court Community House from March 1987 to June 1989. For the first year and a half of the mission at Pontiac Court Community House, the Sisters residing here were involved in various ministries. Sister Marie Annette Poissant worked at St. Joseph’s Hospital as the director of volunteers, Sister Connie Dignan worked for St. Benedict’s Parish as a pastoral assistant, Sister Anne Louise Cape worked for the Lambton County Roman Catholic Separate School Board as a religion consultant, and Sister Kateri Ghesquiere worked at St. Patrick’s High School as the departmental head of mathematics until her retirement. In June 1987, Sister Kateri assumed a new position as elected general assistant to the General Council, and Sister Anne Louise took a sabbatical for professional development. Sister Anne enrolled in the CREDO Program at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington, United States, to learn how to assist people to become full members of the Catholic Church. For the last year and a half at the Pontiac Court Community House Mission, the remaining Sisters, Sister Marie and Sister Connie continued in their roles at their same respective workplaces.