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This series contains records relevant to the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of the diocese of London’s amalgamation with the Hamilton, Pembroke, and Peterborough congregations to become the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada. The records are from before, during, and just after the amalgamation. While material concerns all four of the congregations and the Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Canada, it was created by and primarily concerns the London Sisters.

The Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Canada was heavily involved in driving the amalgamation. In 1996 a video was shown to the London Sisters to bring awareness of the prospects of the religious communities and proposed uniting as one congregation. The London Sisters individually wrote reflections on this video. From 2007 to 2009 the Federation operated the Oneness Project which focused on interconnectedness and unity amongst the Sisters of St. Joseph and assessed four potential options of collaboration, one of which was amalgamation. This project resulted in newsletters, presentation slides, and the “Wisdom Gathering” report prepared by Sister Veronica O’Reilly. There is feedback from the London Sisters to the Oneness Project and the options presented at the 2009 Assembly.

Many of the records involved preparation for the amalgamation and the legal, organizational, and financial concerns related to the amalgamation. Other congregations of the Sisters of St. Joseph in the United States had undergone similar union of congregations. A booklet, timelines of their process, and minutes from meetings with these American Sisters were amassed by the Canadian Sisters in preparation for their own amalgamation.

Many committees and teams were formed and involved with preparing for and facilitating the transition, creating new goals and organizational structures for the amalgamated congregation, and communicating the process to the Sisters. Prayer pamphlets, minutes, and agendas from meetings as well as correspondence, newsletters, and reports from these teams and committees are present in this series. Those prominently featured are the Core and Local Futuring Teams, the Transitional Team, the Design Team, Chapter Planning Committee, Materials Resource Committee, Lay Advisory Committee, Website Committee, and the General Council. Select major topics include by-laws, insurance, finances, internal organizational structure, future planning, canonical and civil law requirements, and the creation of a website for the amalgamated congregation. There is also preparation for, and reports from, various Chapters and the Assembly where amalgamation and other options proposed by the Federation were discussed and voted on.

Another report included is “Evolving Design” which was created as part of the amalgamation process to outline the goals, governance, and process of the amalgamated congregation. There are several versions of this document from its creation process. It is based on the Sisters’ feedback on the congregation’s collective vocation and outlines the charism, the leadership structure, the role of the General Chapter, and contains a transitional constitution for the Sisters. It also outlines the duties of the Transitional Team.

There were many legal and financial issues which had to be addressed during the amalgamation. Forms, agreements, by-laws, acts, and correspondence with the Holy See, the Canadian government, solicitors, and Father Francis G. Morrisey about canonical and civil legal requirements for the amalgamation are present in this series. Some by-laws are internal and concern the operations and structures of the amalgamated congregation. Financial records, including budgets and arrangements for transfer of assets, for both the individual and amalgamated congregation are also included. There are also various iterations of guiding principles for the transition process and the amalgamated congregation.

The Sisters of St. Joseph of London had their final, binding vote on amalgamation at the Special Chapter in November of 2011 and there is an album of photographs documenting the event. The formal installation of leadership of the amalgamated congregation was held in 2013, and there is an invitation and brochure from the event. There are also correspondence and statements concerning press releases about the amalgamation.

This series contains records that document the history of the Community House mission at the corner site of Queens Avenue and Williams Street in London by the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of London, Ontario. Different groups of Sisters of St. Joseph lived together in a housing complex on a site that comprised two addresses, 534 Queens Avenue and 471 Williams Street. The records document the activities of individual Sisters assigned to a range of ministries and various community outreach projects that operated within the house. These activities were in the fields of education, health care, social services, and pastoral work. There are short essays, summaries, and visual records that document the seven iterations of the Community House at 534 Queens Avenue: Fontbonne Hall Home for Children, Madame Vanier Children’s Services, Internos, Withdrawal Management Service of the St. Joseph’s Detoxification Centre (also known as Detox Centre/Clinic), Women’s House (also known as Women’s Residence, Home for Women in Need, Home for Women in Transition, and the Women in Transition House), Streetscape, and My Sisters’ Place (also known as My Sister’s Place). There are records that document the ministries of the Sisters in their service of establishing and managing each of the seven community outreach projects undertaken at the Community House.

This series also contains the chronicles of Fontbonne Hall Home for Children, Madame Vanier Children’s Services, Internos, and the St. Joseph’s Detoxification Centre (Detox Centre), lists of Sisters stationed at the Community House, speeches authored by Sister Nancy Wales, correspondence regarding the administration of the various community projects, promotional pamphlets advertising the types of social services the Sisters offered at the Community House, and newspaper articles related to the official opening and closing events of the different social programs. There are invitation cards related to the farewell celebration of the Community House, artworks portraying the Community House and surrounding landscape, and an architectural blueprint plan of the property.

In addition, there are photo albums and loose photographs and negatives. These photographs depict the interior and exterior of the Community House. The photographs also depict the Sisters of St. Joseph interacting with staff members, professional colleagues, and guests who are participating in various activities and attending events at the Community House such as: celebrations, holidays, committee meetings, spiritual retreats, day trips, and regional outings.

This series contains the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of London's records from the Adult Spirituality Centre in Windsor, Ontario. The Adult Spirituality Centre at Holy Redeemer College was created in collaboration by the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of London, the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary of Ontario, and the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer of Toronto in 1989. There the Sisters offered directed retreats and prayer courses. The centre closed in 2001. The records present include a certificate and letter of appreciation, brochures, a news clipping, bookmarks, and a programme for the closing of the centre. While labeled as annals, there are not any annals or chronicles present.

This series documents the activities of the Alberta mission of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of London, Ontario. There are annals and historical summaries, reports, promotional materials, pamphlets, event programs, newspaper articles, correspondence, lists of Sisters on missions in western Canada, a photograph, and a digital video disc. These items showcase a legacy of mission work undertaken by the Sisters in pastoral care, education, and healthcare in the Archdiocese of Edmonton. There is a historical summary of mission activities from 1972 to 1983, authored by Sister Catherine Cunningham. Topics in this summary include teaching in the Edmonton catholic school district, social and cultural events in the region, celebrations, trips, retreats at Sylvan Lake, and the placement of new Sisters in the west. In addition, there is a compilation by Sister Cunningham titled, 50 Golden Years in Canada’s Golden West, with topics on the convents in the parishes of St. Bride’s and Sacred Heart in Alberta, Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories, and Maple Ridge in British Columbia, as well as in Alberta hospitals at Rimbey, Killam, and Galahad. The compilation also contains newspaper articles on the Sisters’ professions at the Sacred Heart Convent in Edmonton with photographs of the Sisters and clergy. There are lists of names of the London Sisters who were stationed in the west and a 1926 photograph of the first group of Sisters to go west. The series also contains records on the Catholic Sisters’ Legacy Recognition Project conducted by the Catholic Bishops of Alberta and the Northwest Territories. This includes the unveiling of the statue Service Through Christ, a 2011 Annual Report by Covenant Health, and the film A Legacy of Service – A Film in Honour of the Countless Women Religious Who have Served in the Province of Alberta for over 150 Years, directed by Eric Spoeth.

This series contains records of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of London, Ontario’s activities at in Attawapiskat, Ontario, from July 8 to 30, 1972. This series contains a written report in the form of a diaristic letter addressed to the Superior General Mother Cathleen Flynn (Mary Brendan), from Sisters Caroline Catherine (Concessa) O’Connor and Sister Monica Marie (Cyril) Reynolds who served in the Attawapiskat Mission. The Sisters wrote about the strenuous journey and the efforts undertaken whilst traveling to the rural and remote area of Attawapiskat as well as the challenging circumstances the people of Attawapiskat faced. There is also a news bulletin for July 24, 1977, about the schedule of summer events at St. Patrick’s Church in the Parish of St. Patrick in Kapuskasing, Ontario. In addition, there is a newspaper article, “Education program at St. Pat’s,” was written by Carolyn Towne for Northern Times, and published in July 1977. The article covers the various religious enrichment classes for children led by Sister Margaret Maloney and Sister Bernice Hennessy of the Sisters of St. Joseph of London, at St. Patrick’s Church Hall.

This series contains a short historical summary of Marygrove, a retreat house established by Sister Barbara Hughs and Sister Ann Purtill of Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of London, Ontario. The historical summary covers a period of activities at Marygrove from 1992 until 2005. The activities written about in the summary include welcoming and serving meals to guests, taking care of the house cats and dog, gardening, canning, shopping, housecleaning, and laundering. There is a report written by Sister Veronica O’Reilly after attending a “Visions,” workshop from July 31 to August 2, 1992. The report includes a summary of seven groups expressing their vision of a religious community. There is also a brochure inviting people to visit Marygrove’s official opening on April 18, 1993, and a guestbook of a log of visitors from 1992 to 2005. In addition, there are photographs of the interior and exterior of Marygrove, the Sisters planting trees, and the animal companions.

This series contains the history of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of London, Ontario in the Parish of Belle River in Belle River, Ontario. There are historical summaries about the activities and events at the Convent of St. Joseph on Charles Street in Belle River, including the Sisters’ contribution to education as teachers and administrators at the Sacred Heart School and St. Jean Baptiste School in Belle River. There are also 1891 and 1893 land deeds within the Village of Belle River and various newspaper clippings documenting the Sisters’ long service in the Parish of St. Simon and St. Jude in Belle River. The Belle River Mission was operated by the Sisters of St. Joseph of London when it was first established in 1889 until its closing in 1985. In addition, there are photo albums of the Sisters at St. Joseph’s Convent in Belle River. Photographs in the albums also document the Sisters participating in events such as the school choir and fair at St. John Baptist School in Belle River, and going on outings to Niagara Falls, Banff, and Lake Louise.

This series contains a short history on the activities of Sister Beata (Jeanne d' Arc Celine) Gagnon of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of London, Ontario during the Blenheim Mission in Blenheim, Ontario. In 1998, Mr. Shawn Moyniham, Principal of St. Mary’s and St. Anne’s Schools in St. Mary’s Parish in Blenheim, Ontario invited Sister Beata to visit the classrooms and interact with the students. Sister Beata arrived on July 1, 1998, and assisted in the faith component of the school curriculum, teaching elements of Mass, religious terminology, the names of Saints with statues in St. Mary’s Church, and the meaning of Advent, Confession, and Confirmation to kindergarten to Grade 3 pupils. She prepared children for their First Holy Communion and provided spiritual guidance to the school staff. She also visited the Nursing Home, Community Centre, St. Vincent de Paul Society, and Blenheim Basement, a place where teenagers could gather. In January 2002, she was an unofficial pastoral assistant upon the arrival of a new priest, Father Paul Duplessie, pastor of Blenheim at St. Mary’s Church. In September 2000, she handcrafted small wooden houses as raffle prizes for fundraising for an upcoming thanksgiving event. Sister Beata worked in the Parish of Blenheim until 2010, when she retired and returned to London, Ontario.

There is a scrapbook style journal written by Sister Beata from 1998 to 2004 chronicling her activities that includes newspaper clippings, printed pictures, and cards from events in St. Mary’s Parish, Blenheim, where Sister Beata worked with the students at St. Mary’s and St. Anne’s Schools. There is also correspondence to and from Sister Beata to Sister Mary Zimmer from 2001 to 2007 with general news about St. Mary’s Church. There are also several invitation cards. One is for the opening of the Capuchins of Central Canada, St. Francis Friary, Blenheim on May 14-15, 2005. Another is to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of St. Mary’s Catholic Women’s League on June 5, 2007. There is also a program brochure with printed photographs for the 70th Anniversary St. Mary’s Parish in 1997.

There are newspaper articles published and printed in the Blenheim News-Tribune, a local community newspaper. The news articles primarily feature St. Mary’s School student activities, a new Blenheim Youth Centre opening and ribbon cutting, a new Friary opening for the Capuchin Fathers of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin, and “View from the Pulpit” column clippings. Notably, on May 28, 1999, Sister Beata had invited over 40 students and 2 teachers to visit her apartment to enjoy snacks and sing songs, and this incident was featured in an article in the Blenheim News-Tribune with a picture on June 2, 1999. In addition, there are photographs of different rooms inside Sister Beata’s apartment on Chatham Street, St. Mary’s School, and of Father Paul Duplessie, pastor of Blenheim at St. Mary’s Church.

There are also brief summaries on the foundation and early history of St. Mary’s Parish in Blenheim and the Town of Erieau and a booklet with printed pictures and drawings of the Fathers of the Capuchins of Central, followers of St. Francis of Assisi who were involved with the area.

This series contains a short historical summary from 1996 to 1998 about Sister Ellen Topping and Sister Kateri Ghesquiere of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph on their mission in Brampton, Ontario. From July 1996 until 1998, Sister Ellen Topping and Sister Kateri Ghesquiere of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of London, lived on Lisa Street in Brampton, Ontario. The City of Brampton is 173km east of London and resides within Treaty 19 (Ajetance Purchase of 1818) Territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, and the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee, Huron, and Wendat Nations. In 1995, in her role as a Crisis Worker, Sister Ellen helped to open the Chemical Withdrawal Centre in Brampton, a rehabilitative facility for people recovering from substance addiction and alcohol use disorder. She was on staff until the Spring of 1998, when she moved to Guelph, Ontario to work at the Homewood Health Centre. Sister Kateri provided health care consultancy in her role as the Vice Chair of the Board of the Catholic Health Association of Canada from 1996 to 1997, and then as Chair from 1997 to 1998. She was also the driving force in establishing the St. Joseph’s Health Care Society of London, Ontario. She chaired the Health Care Ethic Guide Revision Committee and served on its Board of Directors. At the end of July 1998 Sister Kateri decided to move to London, Ontario. The records document the challenges of the opening and management of the healthcare facility, Chemical Withdrawal Centre, in Brampton, and trips the Sisters made to nearby Toronto, Niagara Falls, and Hamilton, Ontario.