Council Notes was a monthly newsletter published by the Sisters of St. Joseph in London. It featured updates on Leadership and committee decisions, changes in staff, book reviews, spotlights on Sisters, charity efforts, social justice efforts, Jubilee and birthday celebrations, event announcements, and news from within the congregation. This subseries contains issues of Council Notes from 2003 to 2009. There are also some issues of other newsletters created by the congregation. There are two issues of Crossing Into Our Future; the 2008 January issue which focuses on the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Education Program and the May 2004 issue giving updates on the strategic planning. There are also the June 2006 and winter 2008 issues of Bridging, the Associates newsletter. Included amongst the newsletters are posters and registration forms for events, letters to the community, and announcements from Sisters. Within this subseries there are also obituaries for Sisters, most of which are attached to the newsletter which corresponds to the month in which the respective Sister died.
This newsletter provided information from the General Council, who are the elected leadership. It contains news on various social justice initiatives including a response to the September 11, 2001 crisis and the following war in Afghanistan, moral and sustainable agriculture, child poverty, pastoral work with lesbian and gay persons, the congregation’s commitment to ecology, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, boycotts on various corporations for unethical practices, the growing gap between rich and poor, and equitable hiring practices. The subseries also contains reports on the work of the congregation on the trafficking of women and children, as well as work with refugees. Other items include notices of jubilarians’ celebrations, leadership team portfolios, Council calendars, important dates, and information on retreats. Finally, the subseries contains thank you notes that bereaved Sisters published to thank other Sisters for their support. This newsletter demonstrates the effect of the Internet on the congregation: there was an interest in transitioning to sending various newsletters and printed materials through email to facilitate access and save on postage costs, and there is news about the development of the congregation’s website.
The Council Update is a monthly newsletter that offers Congregational, Federation, and Diocesan news. Information about the discernment and election of General Superiors and Council can be learned from these updates. Information about the budget, important events, retreats, and the local community’s goals are also provided.
This sub-series contains one of the many handmade quilts that Sr. Mary Leo Kirwin created during her life. She often quilted with students and the needy, and this quilt was created with one of the women living at Elaine Lucas Place, a low income housing complex. The quilt is a hand stitched cotton quilt that is a variation of the wedding ring pattern with a scalloped edge.
This subseries contains a summary on the mission of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of London, Ontario at their Community House on Craig Street, London. In August 1984, the property was to serve as a house for homeless women, run by Kate Groom. In June 1989, the ministry was discontinued.