This series documents the activities of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of London, in Le Puy-en-Velay, France. There are correspondences from Sister Mary Diesbourg and Sister Mary Zimmer, both of the Sisters of St. Joseph of London, Ontario, from 2004 to 2007. There are also news leaflets with updates about the projects of the Centre International St. Joseph. The records concern Sister Mary Zimmer’s arrival in Le Puy-en-Velay in 2004 to help prepare for the opening of the Centre International St. Joseph, the planning of a international program for young adults for 2008, the Spring 2007 meeting of the French Federation Leadership, the Spring Sabbath sabbatical month, a new contemplative experience program called Radical Grace, jubilees, and daily activities of the Sisters. There is also a photograph album with French text from the Sisters of St. Joseph of Lyon with photographs of people, places, and objects related to the founding of the order.
Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada (London, Ont.)This series contains the chronicles and memorabilia of St. Joseph’s Convent in Goderich, Ontario of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of London, Ontario. There are historical summaries on the activities and events of the Sisters at St. Joseph’s Convent at its first address on North Street, as well as when it moved to Dawnrose Street, and finally to Waterloo Street within the Parish of St. Peter, in the Town of Goderich. There are lists, correspondence, newspaper articles, pamphlets, postcards, printed pictures, and photographs relating to the founding, operating, and closing of the Goderich Mission. There are newsclippings on the 50th anniversary of the Convent and certificates and official letters of congratulations from the Canadian government on the 100th and 110th anniversaries of St. Joseph’s Convent of Goderich. There are also commemorative booklets for the centennial and sesquicentennial on the founding of the Town of Goderich. In addition, there is a scrapbook that that documents the Centennial Year celebration of the presence of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Goderich.
Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada (London, Ont.)This series contains records of the Sisters’ involvement in Grouard, Slave Lake, and Calling Lake, Alberta. This includes the December 1984 issue of Kinsemanito Centre, a newsletter published by the Aboriginal Catholic Ministries School located in Grouard. The Kinsemanito Centre was a training centre for Catholic Indigenous people interested in pursuing a religious career in ministry. The newsletter topics include the October 7, 1984, ceremony of a new priest who is also a member of the Sagkeeng First Nation, Reverend Father Stanley Albert Fontaine, as well as an announcement of a workshop for men interested in priesthood, students providing commentaries on their studies, and a course outline for 1985. In addition, there are also lists of the two Sisters of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of London, Ontario, Sister Patricia McKeon and Sister Renee Stevens, who delivered classes in Grouard from 1983 to 1987.
Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada (London, Ont.)This series contains a historical summary of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of London, Ontario’s activities during their western mission in the parish of St. Patrick, in Haney, a designated heritage site in the City of Maple Ridge, British Columbia. There are chronicles from 1956 to 1985 on the events and activities at St. Joseph’s Convent of Haney (also known as Maple Ridge) where the Sisters resided, and the business and academic affairs at St. Patrick’s School where they served as teachers and administrators. At St. Patrick’s School, the Sisters taught students from kindergarten to high school. These chronicles were drafted and written by Sister Mary Esther in a diary format. The series also contain lists of Sisters who were stationed at the Haney (Maple Ridge) Mission, as well as in other missions in British Columbia, such as in Kelowna, Rutland, and Oliver. There is also a magazine produced by the students at St. Patrick’s School commemorating the Sisters’ twenty-five years of teaching service at the school. The series also includes photographs, newspaper articles, and correspondence that document the Sisters’ accomplishments at St. Patrick’s Parish in the field of education and spiritual care. In addition, there are two guestbooks containing a log of the people who visited Haney’s (Maple Ridge) Convent, and a scrapbook related to the historical accomplishments of the Sisters in the Parish of St. Patrick, in British Columbia.
Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada (London, Ont.)This series contains the records of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of London's Holy Rosary Convent, Windsor, and document their ministries while residing there. The records also cover their early ministry in Windsor at St. Joseph's Convent. Windsor is located on the traditional territory of the Three Fires Confederacy of First Nations, which is an alliance between the Ojibwa, the Odawa, and the Potawatomi.
The Sisters of St. Joseph of London first came to the area in 1884 when they were asked to assume the domestic responsibilities of Assumption College in Sandwich, Ontario, which they did for 20 years. In 1894 the Sisters were asked to take over teaching at the Roman Catholic Separate Schools in Walkerville, Ontario. The Sisters arrived on April 29, 1894, but construction of the school was still underway and so the Sisters began teaching in Our Lady of the Lake Church. In 1935, Windsor, Sandwich, Walkerville, and Ford City (which was eventually renamed East Windsor), united to form the City of Windsor.
The Sisters had several convents in Windsor: Our Lady of the Lake Convent on Drouillard Road (1894-1901), St. Joseph’s Convent at 267 Cadillac Street (1901-1953), St. Joseph’s Convent at 145 Cameron Avenue (1930-1945) and then at 377 Cameron Avenue (1945 -1959), St. Joseph’s Manor at 19 Sandwich Street East (1934-1969), St. Anne’s Convent at 1948 St. Mary’s Gate (1946-1961), Holy Rosary Convent (1953-2007), and St. Joseph’s House of Studies (1959-1974).
Holy Rosary Convent was established at 3975 Riverside Drive East in 1952. The house was built for Frank Henderson Joyce, an industrialist in the automotive industry. After the Sisters purchased the property, architect John Boyde was brought on to do renovations and construct a new wing. An iron fence from the House of Providence in London was installed around the property. The Sisters moved in on March 15, 1953. Their primary ministry in Windsor was education. The Sisters of St. Joseph of London had taught at and/or were principals at Roman Catholic Separate Schools across the city. Sisters also taught music and art in their convents until 1999 and would give weekly religious lessons at various parishes to children attending public schools. The Sisters also did home and hospital visits, pastoral care, counseling, parish ministry, massage therapy, supported and did outreach with the poor and the marginalized.
In 1998, the last teaching Sisters at Holy Rosary Convent retired. Holy Rosary Convent was put up for sale on May 17, 2006. The Windsor Heritage Committee launched a campaign to designate the building as a heritage site, which was unanimously approved by the city council and passed in By-law Number 142-2007. The property was sold to Academie Ste. Cecile International School, and it became Cecilia Retreat House. The closing ceremony for Holy Rosary Convent was held on March 25, 2007.
The records in the series include chronicles, historical summaries, correspondence, news clippings, pamphlets, newsletters, news clippings, programmes, booklets, invitations, photographs, certificates, reports, agendas, meeting minutes, financial reports, an offering memorandum, a timeline of sale, appraisal certificates, inventory of assets, news clippings, copies of the Ontario Heritage Act, and bookmarks.
This series contains the history of the Ingersoll Mission in Southwestern Ontario by the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of London, Ontario. The Sisters contributed to the field of education, social care, and faith formation in the Sacred Heart Parish of the London Diocese. There is a handwritten chronicle in a notebook from 1933 to 1939, and a typed chronicle on loose-leaf paper from 1933 to 1986. There are printed photographs of Reverend Mother Ignatia Campbell, Saint Joseph with Child, and a Monsignor, and various lists of Sisters stationed at St. Joseph’s Convent, the Religious Vocation of Sisters from Sacred Heart Parish, Pastors, Associate Pastors, and Parish Priests who served at Sacred Heart Church, inserted within the pages of the chronicles. Topics in the chronicles include the general history of Ingersoll, the activities of the Sisters at St. Joseph’s Convent (as well as it’s rebuilding and refurnishing), the purchase of a new convent-residence on Canterbury Street in Ingersoll, and events and teaching at the Sacred Heart School in Ingersoll. There are also short biographical sketches of the resident priests and pastors who served the Sacred Heart Mission. There are also short historical summaries, drafts, and notes on the research and background information on the chronicles of St. Joseph’s Convent. In addition, there is correspondence from 1881 to 1936 and newsclippings from 1968-1997 relating to Eighth Grade graduation, the retirement of Father Augustine Fuerth, and the historical milestones of Sacred Heart Parish. There is a pamphlet titled Church of the Sacred Heart - Centennial Programme from 1979 and a 1985 directory of the Sacred Heart Parish that has printed pictures of parish families engaging in activities like gardening, picnicking, and playing games. In addition, there are photographs of the Sisters of St. Joseph who were stationed in Ingersoll: Sister Sheila Collins, Sister Audrey Dunn, Sister Mary James Finucan, Sister St. Jude Finucan, Sister Mary Leo Kirwin, Sister Innocentia O’Meara, Sister Mary Catherine McSherry, Sister Mary Louise McSherry, Sister Julita Monkel, Sister Teresa Shannon, and Sister Maureen Shearon.
Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada (London, Ont.)This series contains the history of Josephs’ House that was founded and operated by the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of London, Ontario. Josephs’ House served as initial interim accommodation for newly arrived refugees sponsored by the Community and refugee claimants who landed in London. The Sisters resettled sponsored refugees and assisted refugee claimants towards gaining permanent residency through the Canadian citizenship and immigration process. This series contains short histories, correspondence, lists of refugees, news clippings, and a photograph all related to the refugee ministry at Josephs’ House in London, Ontario. In addition, there is a photo album that contains photographs and negatives depicting Sisters, priests, construction workers, refugees, and volunteers at Josephs’ House on Dundas Street East in London, Ontario. The photographs depict different rooms inside the house, as well as the exterior and interior renovations at Josephs’ House. There are photographs of the residents at Josephs’ House participating in different activities such as: children playing with toys, having fun in the snow, and decorating a Christmas tree; students studying the English language, preparing meals, and rearranging furniture; and Sisters performing various household tasks. There are also photographs of celebrations, social gatherings, holidays, and trips to Gibbons Park and Storybook Gardens in London, Wildwood Conservation Area in St. Mary’s, Niagara Falls, and Ottawa.
Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada (London, Ont.)This series contains historical summaries by the Sisters of St. Joseph of London, Ontario about their western mission in Rutland, British Columbia from 1970 to 1992. In 1973, Rutland merged with Kelowna, and officially became known as Kelowna. The historical summaries document the activities in the Parish of St. Theresa in the Nelson Diocese with topics such as: creating and managing the Parish Food Bank, organizing the annual fall St. Theresa’s Church Bazaar and farmer’s market, training lay people to lead baptismal preparation, the participation of Indigenous families in the church community, the challenges and process of teaching catechistic and development of the Canadian Catechism Series, a teaching aid book for catechists. The Sisters also recount their involvement with administering Development and Peace programs, Social Justice meetings, Marriage Encounter sessions, Suicide Prevention and Bereavement, Single Parent Support Groups, and re-instigating the Youth Group program. Topics also include mundane household activities like painting the convent and church, making drapes for the chapel, and large household purchases such as a Bell-Howell Automatic Film Projector. The Sisters also recount events such as attending workshops, retreats and conferences, celebrations, potluck dinners, watching Edmonton win the Grey Cup in 1981, cross country skiing, traveling in a snowstorm, and visiting Expo ’86 in Vancouver from June 24 to 28. In 1983, the Okanagan Mission and grave site of Father Pandosy, the first settler-pioneer-priest to arrive in the Kelowna area in 1858, was designated a B.C. Heritage Site. A newspaper article, “Father Pandosy’s Body Located in an Abandoned Burial Ground - Coffin found at last minute,” written by Ron Wade, on Wednesday, August 24, 1983, and published in the Kelowna Daily Courier is present. The Sisters kept close track of the archeological dig dubbed the Father Pandosy’s Project and include an account of paying homage to the gravesite in the historical summaries.
There is also correspondence amongst the Sisters and with the Nelson Diocese about the progress being made in the Parish and general news in the community. This series includes a list of Sisters who served in Kelowna from 1974 to 1989; a June 1, 1986, program brochure that celebrates the Golden Jubilee of the Diocese of Nelson, from; and a photograph of Sisters Claire Marie Alice Pageau, Loretto Healy, Margaret Frances (Ann Clare) Maloney, Caroline (Concessa) O’Connor, and Leona Catherine Givlin on Thanksgiving Day in 1976, in Kelowna. In addition, there is a photo album that documents the Sisters participating in various social, cultural, and religious activities (celebrations, seasonal holidays, and confirmations) within St. Theresa’s Parish (Church, Rectory, and Convent), in Kewlona, and going on day trips to surrounding areas in British Columbia.
Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada (London, Ont.)This series contains a short historical summary of the western mission in Killam, Alberta in the Archdiocese of Edmonton by the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of London, Ontario. The Sisters established and operated Our Lady of Fatima Separate School in Killam from 1952 to 1992. The historical summary covers a date range from 1954 to 1976. Starting in 1976, the staff at the Our Lady of Fatima School consisted of lay personnel. In this historical summary, there are topics on the founding of the school, building construction, official opening and renaming of the school, renovations, addition of extra classrooms including a science laboratory, increase of student enrollment, expansion and growth from an elementary to junior to a senior high school, scholastic exams, bus transportation, school trips, parent-teacher days, and the retirement and hiring of teachers. In addition, there is a photograph of a “Annual Hall of Fame Awards 1990” plaque from the Killam Chamber of Commerce which was given to Sisters Lourdes Thomas, Mary Kevin Moran, and Rose Ellen Donnelly.
Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada (London, Ont.)This series contains the annals of St. Joseph’s Convent and St. Joseph’s School in Kingsbridge, Ontario, from 1839 to 1942 by the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of London, Ontario. Topics regarding St. Joseph’s School include teaching classes, student academic progression, and repairs and improvements to the building. Topics regarding St. Joseph’s Convent include the comings and goings of Sisters and activities such as retreats, celebrations, devotional days, and harvesting fruit from the apple trees in the yard. There are also topics on St. Joseph’s Church that concern the building such as replacing the broken tabernacle and the fallen cross on the tower as well as repairing two stained glass windows. There are several lists pertaining to the Kingsbridge Mission, such as the Sisters who were stationed in St. Joseph’s Convent, Sisters who entered St. Joseph’s Community, and priests who served in the Kingsbridge Parish. There are also photographs of the Kingsbridge Convent, Sisters during a 1953 summer reunion at St. Joseph’s Church in Kingsbridge, and Sisters Sebastion Murphy and Vincent Halford with Father Michael McCormack and students.
This series also contains other material related to Kinsbridge. There is a brochure from 1980 commemorating the 75th anniversary of St. Joseph’s Church in Kingsbridge. There is a newspaper article from 2006 about the closing of St. Joseph’s School in Kingsbridge and the transfer of 54 students to St. Joseph’s School in Clinton, Ontario. In addition, there is a souvenir booklet commemorating the 75th anniversary of St. Augustine Church in the Wawanosh Parish, Ontario. The booklet has short articles on the history of the parish, the construction of churches, St. Augustine School, St. Augustine Cemetery, St. Augustine Catholic Women’s League, printed pictures of parishioners and buildings in the Wawanosh area, and lists of Sisters, Priests, and Organists.
Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada (London, Ont.)