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This subseries contains historical summaries, news clippings, correspondence, and reflections written and accumulated by Sister Catherine “Kitty” Stafford related to her ministry in Peru.

The series contains photographs, biographical material pertaining to her election to General Council, her MA in Sacred Theology from Regis College in 1983, her Doctor of Ministry degree from Toronto School of Theology in 1990, her employment at Regis College as Director of the MA in Ministry and Spirituality Program, various news-clippings, a hand painted Feast Day album, a hand painted card from the Precious Blood Sisters in 1979, and various Jubilee memorabilia. The series also contains different versions of Sister Cathleen’s curriculum vitae, a report by her about a pilgrimage she made to Europe and the Holy Land, and a paper written about Sister Cathleen by her grandson, Brandon Graham, in 2017.

Much of this series is made up of reports to the General Chapter from various Sisters in 1979. There is extensive material on the topic of catechetics, religious education and the future for Sisters in parish ministry. In a letter to the Secretary of State, Vatican Apostolic College, Mother Mary Brendan reported on the success of literacy programs provided to Portuguese immigrants in London. A report from the Archdiocese in Edmonton describes the need for a five-year National Religion Program consisting of teams of Sisters providing instruction in Catholic schools, and the involvement of lay people to provide instruction to adults.

A report on the activities of the St. Joseph’s School of Music 1975-1979 discusses the renovation of the Recital Hall, instruction in piano, singing, violin and music theory for 390 students annually, participation in the Royal Conservatory of Toronto and the Western Conservatory, a scholarship fund, professional development for the Sisters and the hosting of and participation in local music festivals. A report by one Sister in April, 1979 expresses uncertainty as to the future of the music school.

In early 1979, Mother Mary Brendan wrote to Sisters across the country seeking their views in response to the promulgation of Vatican II, the Pastoral Constitution of the Church in the Modern World. One Sister wrote with concern for the socio-economic interests of the Third World and rising tensions within the Christian communities about how to respond. In another report, Sister St. Patrick Joyce outlined what were novel recommendations for the treatment of alcohol addiction and the concept of detoxification centres. Sisters committed to the continuation of work of the Boulee Street mission which served the needs of a low income neighborhood in London and support for those in jail. In another report, a Sister wrote on the topic of evangelization and Christian renewal in a climate of diversity, pluralism and the attraction to Eastern spiritual disciplines. In another report, one Sister called for an increased commitment to youth and adults through solid religious instruction and the teaching of prayer. There is also a survey, report, and recommendations prepared for the Most Reverend J.N. MacNeil by the Ad Hoc Committee for Pastoral Assistants in the Archdiocese of Edmonton, February 1979 outlining the scope of work and hiring of pastoral assistants to aid priests in their work.

On the topic of the higher incidence of divorce and the Marriage Tribunal, Sisters recommended that more women study, teach and write about the Canon law conventions and procedures in jurisprudence. There are several reports outlining emergent changes within the healthcare system related to governance, administration, funding, personnel, medico-moral issues, medical treatments, and technology. Sisters confirm there was a common need for continued pastoral care at the hospitals in London, Sarnia, and Windsor. It was observed that there were increasing needs for retreats for Sisters and lay volunteers offered by the Medaille House in London and for societal formation, or a reorientation to religious life.

This series contains sixteen speeches written by Mother Mary Brendan and a paper she wrote for the Synod on the role of religious women in the community through teaching, hospital care, administration, and social work. Certificates of her educational achievements and professional memberships dating from 1947 to 2001 are included along with a certificate she received with a medal from Queen Elizabeth.
 

This sous-fonds consists of five scrapbooks created by Sister Chrysostom Murphy of her religious community in London, Ontario, two photographs of all the Sisters in the community taken in 1993, the copy of the new constitutions she received when the London congregation amalgamated with three other congregations in 2012, and her diploma for her Master of Education degree. The scrapbooks are primarily concerned with the Sisters, their residences, and Sister Chrysostom’s reception and jubilees. The scrapbooks contain photographs, clippings, postcards, icons of Saints, prayer cards, funeral cards, biographies of Sisters, celebration speeches, invitations, pamphlets, tickets, and obituaries and photographs of Sisters, priests, and bishops. Notable material includes photographs of the interior and exterior of Mount St. Joseph in London, photographs of Sister Chrysostom’s jubilees, and Bishop Roland Fabbro’s statement in response to the conviction of Father Charles Sylvestre.

This subseries contains the self-authored annals of Sister Marie Noel (Elaine) Cole when she lived in Leamington, Ontario from 2002 to 2012. The topics primarily include her ministry work as the Pastoral Minister for St. Michael’s Church in Leamington. Sister Elaine Cole was born in Leamington and entered the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of London in 1956. Her Leamington ministry included attending various monthly meetings such as the Pastoral Council Meeting, Pastoral Advisory Council Meeting, Essex Deanery Meeting, Leamington Ministerial Meeting, St. Michael’s Building Fund Committee Meeting, Community Systems Meeting, and the Chapter Preparations Meeting. Her pastoral work also included nursing homes and hospital visits of the sick and infirmed to the Leamington District Memorial Hospital, Erie Shores Healthcare Community Hospital, Sun Parlour Home, Leamington Nursing Home, Erie Glen Retirement Home, and the Mennonite Home. As part of her duties, Sister Elaine Cole also participated in fundraising events for distressed people in Haiti and Peru, and she helped with the Indian Ocean tsunami relief work for Sri Lanka, Sumatra, Indonesia, and Thailand. She also wrote about teaching choir at St. Joseph’s Church in Leamington, helping to assemble the parish float “Light up the Night” in the Santa Claus Parade, decorating St. Michael’s Church for Thanksgiving and Christmas, photographing seniors for the Parish Photo Directory, delivering a speech on International Women’s Day, going to the Auto Show in Detroit (USA), traveling to Windsor for the Windsor Symphony and seeing musicals and films, and sewing doll quilts. In addition, this subseries also includes news clippings from 2014 relating to cultural events in Leamington, a concert fundraiser for St. Michael’s Parish organized by the St. Michael’s Building Committee, and the sale of the H. J. Heinz Company factory plant purchased by the Highbury Canco Corporation.