This subseries consists of material on Chapter meetings. Chapters are formal meetings of the congregation held every four years where major decisions are made and elections are held for congregational leadership. Chapters are also where the congregation decides on the Direction Statement, which outlines the goals of the congregation. The Chapter planning committee makes arrangements for Chapter meetings. In between Chapters, every two years, Assemblies are held. At Assemblies, the whole community gathers to discuss their plans, goal, concerns, and give updates on projects. Chapters usually lasts for one week. In 2011, at a Special Chapter, the Sisters in London held a canonical vote to decide whether they would amalgamate with the congregations in Hamilton, Peterborough, and Pembroke, Ontario. In 2012, the four congregations amalgamated to form the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada. The last Special Chapter was in 1968 after Vatican II.
Included in this subseries are correspondence with Sisters who would not be able to attend the Special Chapter in-person, lists of Sisters who acted as delegates at the 2011 Chapter, material Sisters presented at the 2011 Chapter, results of the amalgamation vote, Leadership and Chapter reports, implementation of the 2007 Chapter Direction Statement, correspondence from the U.S. Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph concerning a Leadership Development Program, and material related to the planning and preparation of the Chapters and Chapter reports. There are also morning prayer pamphlets from the 2007 Chapter which highlight Dorothy Day, Hildegard of Bingen, Mother St. John Fontbonne, Etty Hillesum, and the Martyrs of Liberia.
The subseries includes pamphlets, agendas, notes, preparatory materials, speeches, reports, sheet music and songs, histories, presentation slides, meeting minutes, and correspondence.
The Charism Connection is the ceremony that involves laypeople taking vows to be guided by the charism of the Sisters by which they become Associates. There is a commitment ritual in which the incoming Associates pledge to pray and offer love, commit to continual spiritual growth through personal prayer, and join the congregation’s mission of working to achieve unity of neighbour with neighbour and neighbour with God. In return, the Sisters pledge to accept and welcome the Associates, offering them prayers, and encouraging them in spirit. Ceremonial materials such as invitations, agendas, and correspondence regarding commitment are included within this subseries. This subseries also features a questionnaire for potential Associates that determine the readiness for the commitment ceremony and a copy of the mutual agreement for the Associate’s relationship between the potential Associates and the Sisters. There is also sheet music of hymns that were sung during the Charism Connection ceremonies. The commitment ceremonies took place in both Windsor and London, Ontario.