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.
Sans titreThis 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.
Sans titreThis 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.
Sans titreThis series contains the history of the Chatham Mission in Chatham, Ontario of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of London, Ontario from 1982 to 2012. It contains historical summaries written by Sister Ann Purtill on the activities at the residence on Robinson Avenue, Chatham, Ontario, and historical summaries written by Sister Mary Diane Cahill on the activities at the residence on Dufferin Avenue, Chatham, Ontario. Some of the topics include moving in and out days, house renovation and landscaping, jubilees and seasonal celebrations, attending retreats and workshops, Bursary Meetings, General Chapter Meetings, Associate Business Meetings, and the Regional Conference for Associates. There is also an inventory list of furniture that was transported from London to Chatham, Ontario by the Aero Mayflower Transit Company Limited, on August 25, 1982.
Sans titreThis 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.
Sans titreThis 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.
Sans titreThis 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.
Sans titreIn 1929, the Sisters arrived from London to serve as educators and administrators in the Archdiocese of Edmonton at the Sacred Heart School in Wetaskiwin until 1942. This series is a historical summary of the events and activities at the Sacred Heart Parish in Wetaskiwin, Alberta by the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of London, Ontario. There are handwritten drafts and a final typed copy of the history of the Sisters residence, St. Joseph’s Convent, in the Sacred Heart Parish of Wetaskiwin from 1929 to 1942. The topics include hosting visitors, cultural traditions, retreats, celebrations, church renovations, acquisition of new statues for the chapel, porch construction for the rectory, plumbing repairs, floor waxing, polishing and shining, school musical recitals, purchase of a radio-phonograph for Music and Social Studies classes, and trips north to Edmonton including attending a Teachers Convention. In addition, there is a brochure on the official opening of St. Joseph School (formerly Sacred Heart School) on April 27, 1981. The brochure contains a short history of the school from 1901 to 1978, a program of events including liturgies, hymns, opening and closing greetings, speeches, and presentations. It also contains a list of Trustees, School Staff, Central Office Staff, and a diagram of an aerial layout of the school.
Sans titreThis series contains a short historical summary written by Sister Marie Loma Laprise of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of London, Ontario during her western mission in St. Joseph’s Parish, Mission, British Columbia from 1980 to 1985. Sister Marie wrote about her desire to be assigned to a Western house, and how she was given permission to work as a cook and housekeeper in the convent at Haney (Maple Ridge) and in the rectory at Mission, in British Columbia. Topics in the historical summary also include working with Fathers John Tritschler, Agnelo Pinto, and Paul Thomas, taking care of the Fathers when they fell ill, household maintenance, driving to Haney (Maple Ridge), visiting and counselling parishioners, and celebrations. There is a news clipping about St. Joseph’s Church of Mission with a printed picture of. There is also correspondence, including handwritten letters and homemade cards of appreciation for Sister Marie’s service in Mission from the Fathers. One of these is an illustrated poster card given to Sister Marie from the Fathers, executed by the Poor Clare Sisters of St. Clare's Monastery in Mission, British Columbia.
Sans titreThis 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.
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