This series contains the history of the Maidstone, Ontario mission of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of London, Ontario. There is a historical summary on the foundation of Maidstone Cross (later known as Maidstone) from 1843 to 1929, and chronicles of the Sisters’ activities and different events in the parish of Maidstone from 1930 to 1979. Some topics include postulants received, first and final vows, meetings of Provincial Superiors, conventions and public lectures attended by the Sisters, Liturgical singing, summer activities, students and their achievements (public speaking contests, school classes, choirs, music, and awards), celebrations, jubilees, and obituaries of Sisters and the Maidstone community. There are several lists, such as lists of priests stationed at Maidstone Cross (Maidstone), Sisters who served in Maidstone, Sisters who taught at St. John’s School of Essex, and names of people Christmas cards were given to. There is correspondence related to the blessing of St. Joseph’s Convent of Maidstone, meeting of school trustees to discuss finances, Sisters withdrawing from St. John’s School of Essex, renovation cost, and the 150th anniversary of the founding of the parish of St. Mary’s in Maidstone. There are news clippings related to the renovations and expansion of St. Mary’s Separate School, the sale of schools in Maidstone and surrounding area, farewell ceremony for the Sisters of St. Joseph in Maidstone, the Sisters of St. Joseph concert band and choir rehearsing for a centennial event, Sisters of St. Joseph celebrating 100 years of service in London, Ontario, and Sister M. Joanne and Sister Maria Stella moving to Peru. This series also contains a certificate on the inception of a student scholarship in recognition of the Sisters of St. Joseph’s presence in Maidstone. There are also printed pictures of when Sisters entered St. Joseph’s Order from 1881 to 1966. The Sisters include Sister Mechtilde Suan McCarthy in 1881, Sister Vincent Margaret Halford in 1892, Sister Adelaide Telma McAuliffe in 1932, Sister Agatha Genevieve Halford in 1932, Sister Elaine Flood in 1959, and Sister Elizabeth Sexton in 1966. In addition, there is a 1964 photograph of the staff at St. Mary’s Separate School that depicts Sister Edmund Isber, Sister Adoloratta, Sister Alexandre, and Sister Marietta.
Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada (London, Ont.)This series contains the records from the Sisters of St. Joseph of London, Ontario's ministry in Łutselkʼe, previously known as Snowdrift, Northwest Territories, from 1983 to 1986 and 1994 to 1999. Łutselk’e is the home of the Łutsel K’e Dene First Nation and is part of Treaty 8 Territory. While there the Sisters taught at local schools, gave music instructions, did parish ministry, and participated in various local committees. The records include correspondence, photographs, the September 1983 issue of Oblate Mission, reports on the feasibility and needs of the mission, house meeting minutes, architectural drawings of the rectory, maps of the area, and chronicles of the Sisters activities.
Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada (London, Ont.)This series contains annals documenting the history of the mission at Loughlin House in London by the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of London, Ontario. This series documents the work positions that were assigned to individual Sisters such as leadership positions within the Community, teaching at Catholic Central High-School in London, working with the Marriage Tribunal in Toronto, conducting a Beatitudes Retreat at Mount St. Joseph, and working in health care. There is a list of Sisters who were stationed at Loughlin House from 1976 to 1985. This series has a guestbook given by Sister Margaret Ann Jacobson to the Loughin House Community that has hand-written signatures of people who visited the residence from January 5 to April 11, 1976. There are photographs that depict the exterior of the Loughlin House, the house chapel in 1981, and an event that marks the transformation and renaming of the Loughin House into LIFT House, a social housing project. There is a program brochure related to the official opening of the LIFT House on June 19, 1992. In addition, there is a laminated hand-drawn sketch produced with coloured pencils that illustrate the Loughlin building titled “LIFT House 446 Queens Ave.”
Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada (London, Ont.)This series contains the annals of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of London, Ontario, regarding their missions and ministries at different residences in London. These include a range of accommodations such as bungalows, split-level homes, townhouses, and high-rise apartments in the region and are referred to as Community Houses, Community Homes, or Community Apartments. The series provides a window into the leadership, administrative and support roles assigned to or voluntarily taken up by the Sisters and the services they provided in the field of healthcare, education, social welfare, and spiritual care. The records present document the Sisters work in collaboration with and for a range of organizations, including hospitals and infirmaries, specialized medical clinics in psychiatry and pediatrics, nursing homes and long-term care residences, neighborhood social welfare and community centers, correctional facilities and prisons, elementary schools and high schools, colleges and universities, and parish churches. Other examples documented include the Sisters of St. Joseph’s outreach ministry abroad, such as the Dominican Republic, South Africa, Nairobi, Kenya, and Perú.
The series also contains records of the administrative work performed by the Sisters associated with the daily functioning, programming, and future planning of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of London, such as records from committees and retreats. This series also documents an assortment of other Community House activities related to the Sisters’ ministry like engaging in professional and spiritual development, pursuing higher education degrees, organizing celebrations, Jubilees, funerals, departure ceremonies for missions in Perú, fundraising, preparations for auction sales and bazaars, as well as attending religious events and Sisters reception and profession ceremonies.
The records in this series include historical summaries, news clippings, correspondence, and lists of Sisters. In addition, this series contains one scrapbook, one bound volume, two photo albums, and loose photographs.
Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada (London, Ont.)This series contains the chronicles and annals of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of London, Ontario during their Leamington Mission from 1932 to 1987. There are short historical summaries of the activities within St. Michael’s Parish where the Sisters resided at St. Joseph’s Convent in Leamington from 1932 to 1987. Sister Maureen Meloche, Superior, contributed her drafts and compilation on the history of the London Sisters in Leamington. This series also contains the records of Sister Marie Noel (Elaine) Cole from when she was appointed Pastoral Minister at St. Michael’s Church from 2002 to 2012. There are also news clippings, pamphlets, brochures, booklets, printed pictures, and photographs relating to events in St. Michael’s Parish, activities at St. Michael’s School and Church, and the social and cultural developments of the surrounding region.
Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada (London, Ont.)This series contains the chronicles of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of London, Ontario, during their mission from 1939 to 1976, at St. Joseph’s Convent in the Sacred Heart Parish in Langton, Ontario. There are annals that record the various activities of the Sisters serving as teachers, administers, and spiritual counsellors at the Sacred Heart School, the Sacred Heart Church, and in the Sacred Heart Convent in Langton, as well as within the surrounding area. Topics include the arrival of the first group of Sisters to Langton, the comings and goings of appointed Teacher Sisters to Sacred Heart School, Sisters going on retreats and attending workshops, Long Point Beach picnics with the students and parishioners, weathering severe snowstorms, and repairs, improvements, additions to and purchases for the convent, school, church, and rectory in the Parish of Sacred Heart. There is also record of annual events such as preparing the students for the singing and rhythm band contests at the Langton Fair, the opening and closing of the Catechetical Summer School, the chicken supper fundraiser, and the Catholic Women’s League Christmas Dinner. The annals also discuss the challenges students faced in attending classes due to the flu epidemic and having to help with the harvesting of tobacco, the Victory in Europe Day or V-E Day celebration on May 8, 1945 that marked the end of World War II, the construction and significance of the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, the formation of the Parent Teacher Association, the elected members of the newly formed Haldimand-Norfolk County Roman Catholic Separate School (RCSSC) Board, and the successful growth of the Annual Belgian Fair and development of the Ontario Belgian Fair Association.
There is also correspondence, yearbooks, lists of Sisters and Pastors appointed to Langton, and a program booklet on the official opening of the renovated and expanded Sacred Heart School in 1970. The correspondence is from 1938 to 1986 and relating to the request for Sisters to serve as teachers in Langton, information to create a list of Sisters who served in Langton, and the transportation of Sisters to their assigned workplaces within Langton, and to nearby Delhi and Tillsonburg, Ontario. The two yearbooks, one from 1949 and the other from 1962, were prepared and published by the Sacred Heart Parish and include short articles and printed pictures that highlight the achievements and history of the Sacred Heart Church in Langton.
Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada (London, Ont.)This series contains the chronicles of St. Joseph’s Convent in Kinkora, Ontario by the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of London, Ontario. There are short histories about the activities of the Sisters during their residency at St. Joseph’s Convent in Kinkora and their work at St. Patrick’s School, including drafts, excerpts, and summaries from 1842 to 1976. The topics include the arrival of Sisters to Kinkora, benefactors, low class attendance due to epidemics (measles, scarlet fever, influenza, and infantile paralysis), student achievements and graduations, Annual Fall Fair and Parade, Rostock Fair, the Milverton Music Festival, public speaking and singing contests, Christmas school concerts and high-school music recitals, school open houses, and Parent Teacher Association meetings. There are other topics such as students from the Stratford Teachers College who completed their teacher practicum at St. Patrick’s School, the first broadcast of Pope Pius XI, the introduction of hydroelectricity in Kinkora, the influx of Dutch families in the district, and the purchase of playground equipment, a film projector, and a new car. The Sisters also participated in celebrations; attended professional development days in Kinkora, Seaforth, and Stratford; organized the annual turkey bingo and draw fundraiser; made improvements to the convent after floods in the basement; weathered severe snowstorms and fierce blizzard; and made repairs to the plumbing system due to frost, and this participation is recorded in the annals.
There are several lists including Sisters who taught in Kinkora at St. Patrick’s School; Sisters who entered the religious community from Kinkora; and Priests who served in the Parish of Kinkora. There is correspondence regarding the history of St. Patrick’s School, the hiring of lay teachers, the dropping of classes from Grades 9 to 12, and the formation of the Perth-Huron Separate School Board. There are also newspaper articles related to the parish history of Kinkora, St. Patrick’s School reunion, the 50th anniversary of the Sisters presence in Kinkora, and the “Day of Appreciation” for Sisters who were stationed in Kinkora. There is a news clipping that provides a historical sketch on Kinkora authored by Reverend Thomas Peter Hussey titled, “Kinkora Parish History is One of Fine Progress,” published in the Stratford Herald, in 1928. There is a lease for St. Joseph’s Convent in Kinkora between the Sisters of St. Joseph and the Board of Trustees of St. Patrick’s School.
This series contains several small booklets. One booklet was prepared and published by the St. Patrick’s School Board of Trustees on the history of Kinkora School and includes lists of teaching Sisters, lay teachers, school enrollment, trustees, and the Board of Trustees. Another booklet was prepared and published by St. Patrick’s Church on the history of the parish and includes a letter from the Prime Minister of Canada, Pierre Elliot Trudeau. This booklet also contains printed pictures of Irish families, news clippings, a map of the parish, cartoon drawings, and various lists such as the school staff, teaching Sisters, Parent Teacher Association Executive Committee, and the Catholic Women’s League. There are also handmade souvenir hymn booklets for the farewell celebration, pamphlets on the official opening of St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic School of Kinkora, and promotional brochures advertising for a Catholic Education in the Huron-Perth Counties. There is also a postcard of the interior of St. Patrick’s Church, printed pictures of the exterior of St. Joseph’s Convent, photographs of a plaque given to the Sisters who taught at St. Patrick’s School, and a class photo of a Sister with her students.
Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada (London, Ont.)This series primarily contains the written chronicles and photographs captured of St. Joseph’s-on-the-Lake, a summer house in Kingsville, Ontario, that belonged to the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of London, Ontario from 1953 to 1998. There are short histories of the lake house before it was owned by the Sisters, gathered recollections from Sisters who vacationed at St. Joseph’s-on-the-Lake to form a souvenir book for the closing ceremonies of the cottage, and a list of directives and codes of conduct for the Sisters while at St. Joseph’s-on-the-Lake. There are photographic panoramas of the Sisters at the summer house, photographs taken by Sister Claire Marie Pageau on the closing of the cottage, and a photographic collage of St. Joseph’s-on-the-Lake created by Sister Simone Batte. In addition, there is correspondence, news clippings, and brochures related to the history, heritage, and closure of St. Joseph’s-on-the-Lake.
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.)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.)