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This series contains the records of the committees, meeting minutes and newsletters. Newsclippings on social justice issues, particularly poverty and human trafficking but also including the London Housing crisis, women’s rights, refugee rights, indigenous rights, the 2001 September 11th terrorist attack, the 2003 War in Iraq, The 1997 Kyoto protocol, and the Israeli occupation of Palestine. It also includes intercongregational correspondence, photographs, correspondence with government and protest groups, fliers, brochures, and information leaflets on events and campaigns in London, Canada, and abroad.

This is a collection of histories and reference material, including publications and photocopies of historical documents and correspondence, created and collected by the Sisters illustrating the foundation and history of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of London, Ontario. Topics range from the founding of the religious order of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Le Puy, France by Father Jean Pierre Médaille in 1648 to the activities of the Sisters of St. Joseph in the diocese of London, Ontario from their foundation to the early 2000s. A major focus of the material is on the founding of the Sisters of St. Joseph of London as a branch of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Toronto and the establishment of an independent congregation. Many of the Sisters wrote accounts, chronicles, booklets, and essays on their history, some of which were published. Drafts and published versions of these writings are included here alongside histories written by those from outside the congregation. There are also various photocopies of records from the late 1800s related to the early history of the Sisters. This includes publications on their history, correspondence about establishing the community (though there are also some original correspondence), Acts of Profession, Acts of Reception, the 1871 Act of Incorporation and the 1915 and 1938 amendments. There are, however, original documents from the late 1800s and early 1900s as well, such as photographs of Sisters, “History of the Sisters of St. Joseph,” (which was written at Sacred Heart Convent, London), and an excerpt from a manuscript by Bishop R. H. Dignan. The approbation decree and pontifical rights from the Holy See in Rome for Sisters of St. Joseph of London’s are also present. The material in this collection also includes photographs, postcards, a photo album, and news clippings.

This series contains records that describe administrative data about the Sisters including their membership in the congregation as well as any occupational roles that they fulfilled in education and healthcare. These files include handwritten lists, typed lists, directory books that list all the Sisters within the congregation and their contact information, and a booklet of Sisters’ feast days and the Necrology for Fall 2011 that lists the most recent deaths within the congregation.

This series contains records created and accumulated by the office of the General Treasurer for the Sisters of St. Joseph in London, Ontario. The records are primarily related to managing the donations given by and to the Sisters and the funding for their ministries, missions, Motherhouses, residences, and outreach projects. In London, St. Joseph’s Hospitality Centre provided food security programs, Medaille Retreat House was a spiritual retreat centre for the Sisters, the Queens Avenue building was a home for women in need, and the Boulee Street house was a ministry to the poor. The Adult Spirituality Centre, St. Joseph’s Manor, the Foster Home on St. Rose Avenue, and Holy Rosary Convent were all in Windsor. St. Joseph’s Manor and the Foster Home were ministries to children in need and Holy Rosary Convent was the main convent for the Windsor Sisters. The Adult Spirituality Centre in Windsor provided spiritual direction and retreats. Another spiritual retreat, Marygrove, was in Aylmer. Outside of Ontario, there are records concerning the Photo History Project at Ataguttaaluk School in Igloolik, Nunavut in which Sister Mary Diesbourg participated, the Sisters at St. Joseph Regional House in Edmonton, Alberta, and the mission in Peru including the collaboration with Heart-Links, a London based charity focused on Peru.

The series includes reports, meeting agendas and minutes, mission statements, budgets, floorplans, funding proposals and requests, grant applications, forms, lists of Sisters involved with specific projects and sites, and correspondence concerning funding, donations, location changes, operations, and testimonials from the public supporting the Sisters’ projects. There are also resolution agreements from the Sisters’ projects. One agreement is with the sole shareholder of a company connected to a property owned by the London congregation, Marygrove, concerning the finances and leadership positions within the company. The other agreement is between the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary and the Sisters of St. Joseph to decide the future of the Adult Spirituality Center.

One of the ways that Sisters could request funding for their ministries from the congregation was through the Apostolic Services Fund. Arrangements for the creation of this fund, outlines of requirements to qualify for funding and funding applications are included.

Not all the material is concerned with finances. Some records pertain to other projects the General Treasurer was involved with, particularly when Sister Loretta Manzara held the office. In 2007, the Sisters moved from Mount St. Joseph to a new LEED certified residence at 485 Windermere Road. in the series includes records related to this transition such as the Sisters’ Statement of Values, reports, pamphlets, news clippings, an issue of London Citylife, and newsletters (one of which was titled Crossing Over). There is also material concerned with the sale of Mount St. Joseph, the former Motherhouse.

At the 2012 Foundation Day, the Annals Project was presented. It focused on a shift from keeping annals to looking at the life of the entire congregation as expressed through Chapter reports. Pamphlets, agendas, meeting minutes, and a report on this project are present. Accompanying this material are annotated photocopies of various reports covering the Sisters’ activities from 1959 to 2011 which were referenced for the project.

Records related to the London Sisters’ involvement in Goderich, Ontario are also present, such as correspondence and pamphlets about their commitment to the area and the 100th anniversary of the founding of the first convent outside London.

The series also includes descriptions of icons painted by Sister Mary Anthony Hartleib, as well as prints of some of her artwork (including on the back of her funeral card), and photographs of artwork by Philip Aziz. Other photographs in the series are from the mission in Peru and of students and elders in the report for the Photo History Project at Ataguttaaluk School.

This series contains the correspondence, programs from the award ceremonies, photographs and certificates reflecting the various awards presented to the Congregation.

This series contains records reflecting the policies and procedures of the congregation from the late 1960s to the mid-2000s. Included in the series are community handbooks and Called to Unity booklets (guidance for the Sisters in their union with God and the community), both of which discuss the Sisters’ role within and outside the congregation. Topics include community prayer, education, donations, finances, legal advice and procedures, and travel policies. Also included are position papers detailing how a Sister is to behave and conduct herself as a member of the congregation, which were prepared by various committees including the spiritual life commission, habit commission, commission on education, and homemaking commission. Records relating to congregational staff include the Human Resource Policies Handbook, which details the roles and responsibilities related to the working environment. The other records in this series pertain to the congregation as a whole; these include information on sexual misconduct, alleged abuse, and how misconduct is reported and dealt with in the congregation. Also included is policy pertaining to the appropriate use of technology, such as computers and the Internet. There are also correspondence, memos, and reports related to the development of policy by the travel committee, who mediated discussions around the Sisters’ travel.

This series includes digital and printed transcripts of oral history interviews with the Sisters, a hand bound typed and illustrated memoir, a typed draft memoir, e-mail correspondence regarding the Federation oral history project, and a newspaper clipping.

This series contains records relating to the administration for The Hope Project in London, Windsor, and Edmonton, and 61 applications for grants from the London Hope Project. The records include correspondence, brochures, notes, photographs, newspaper clippings, budget records, a booklet, applications, receipts, and business cards.

This series documents the Assembly meetings and contains registration forms, related correspondence, prayers, leadership team reports, reflections on the assembly days, excerpts of publications, questionnaires, brochures about celebrations, lists of groups and participants, schedules, and brochures containing reports on the topics discussed.

Series contains Sister Norita Keenan’s single page memoir, a postulant requirement list, souvenir booklet of the Diamond Jubilee, chaplain list, meal seating plan, farewell ceremony agenda and schedule, photographs, land and property maintenance receipts, property sketch, chronology of property transfers and sales, rededication ceremony program and speech, letter from General Superior to Sisters, decorative Christmas card and envelope with list of donors of a car, newspaper clippings, student created books, and Bach sheet music owned by Cesar Borre.

The series contains correspondence, newsletters, photographs, scrapbooks, postcards, diagrams, clippings, bulletins, brochures, programs, song sheets, posters, publications, dramatic scripts, and reports. This material is related to the history of the third Mother House of the Sisters of St. Joseph in London, which was called Mount St. Joseph. There is information about the construction of the building and detailed information about its special features and decoration, including the Immaculate Conception Chapel, and its grounds, particularly the Grotto. The records also relate to planning the construction of, and move to, the Sisters’ residence in 2007, and the sale of the Mount St. Joseph building and property. There are records which reflect communal life in the convent, including the various organized groups, events, and dramatic and musical entertainment, and menus, meal planning, and recipes. The series contains records related to men religious who served at the Mother House, and other Diocesan correspondence. Information about both Fatima Hall and Ignatia Hall can be found, including the various uses of space in these buildings.

The sous-fonds consists of records kept by Sister Mary Anthony Hartleib, the majority of which are about her artwork. The records include sale agreements, publications, and thank-you letters from groups that received her icons. Also included in the sous-fonds are some of her original artworks as well as photographic reproductions of artworks that may or may not be held in the Archives. The sous-fonds also consists of speeches and presentations written by Sister Mary Anthony, and certificates and records of graduation.

This series contains records collected about, belonging to, and created by Sister Theresa Marie Caillouette. It includes photographs, a poem she recited when she became a postulant, her resume, biography, and educational certificates and awards for her work. Notable inclusions are a certificate of distinction on completion of the Management Education program offered by the Ontario Hospital Association in 2000 and an award in recognition of outstanding volunteer service to St. Joseph’s Hospital, Chatham in 1995. She was an avid participant of the Canadian Medaille Team and received funding from the French Embassy to study the history of the Congregation in France. In 1986 she was honored as a researcher by the Federation at the 150th Anniversary event at St. Louis, Missouri. A chronology of her research activities, a certificate from the 150th Anniversary, and addresses she made to the Federation for the period from 1967-1971 are included. There are newsletters and news clippings documenting her views and her work, including a 1974 newspaper profile for her parish work at St. Joseph’s Convent in Sarnia and a profile in a newsletter announcing her election as General Superior by the Diocese of London on April 13, 1987. Her views on the role of Sisters in parish ministry are set out in a paper she authored in 1987. The paper is based on her seven years of experience as assistant to the local priest and her membership on the Diocesan Commission on the role of women in the Church and in society. Her reflection on conversion, published in Canadian C.S.J. Bulletin in 1991 while she was serving as Vice-President of the Federation, is also included.
 

This series contains records concerning the finances of the congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in London, Ontario. This includes financial reports, logs, and budgets as well as correspondence and reports on topics related to the Sisters’ finances such as taxes, bonds and loans, retirements, property, and policies.

The Sisters were diligent in tracking their income, assets, and expenses and in planning for their financial futures. There are logs and financial summaries of Sisters’ patrimony and dowries, revenue (including bequests), expenditures, and of collections and episcopal charities for the diocese of London. There are also records of individual Sisters’ requests for funds and dispensation from dowries. The Sisters had strict regulations for borrowing money and their policies are included alongside correspondence with solicitors and barristers, certificates of incineration for bonds, and meeting minutes concerning mortgage bonds and banking resolutions. There are also contracts with London Electrical Company and Bell Telephone Company of Canada.

In addition to the mortgages mentioned above, there are more records concerning the assets of the Sisters. Some meeting minutes and correspondence are concerned with financial and property restrictions, the religious order’s tax exemption, and conservation authority restrictions in relation to their properties. There are various lists and timelines of the Sisters’ properties which include information on purchase and sale prices, deeds, and expenses. For some specific properties there is also correspondence about research at the City Registry Office and financial reports for construction projects. For Sacred Heart Convent there are lot maps and an architectural drawing. The “Group Advising on Property” conducted a study on the Sisters’ usage of, cost, and history of their lake house properties. The report and meeting minutes evaluating these properties are present. The Sisters also commissioned assessments on their assets which include site evaluation reports for Holy Rosary Convent in Windsor and two London properties, one on Queens Avenue and the other the spiritual retreat centre, Medaille House. Also in this series are correspondence, contracts, and invoices from Gemart Appraisal Associates for the appraisal of material possessions.

The Sisters of St. Joseph from the London diocese taught in several locations in Alberta from 1922 to 1996. Some records directly concern the Sisters in Alberta, such as lease agreements, correspondence about bonds and ownership of property, and a proposal for the formation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Alberta.

As noted, as part of their vows and dedication to communal living, the Sisters pooled their finances. There are internal policies, announcements, and correspondence about the distribution of finances and resources. Alongside these is an outline of the responsibilities of the congregational leadership positions. Funding to care for aging community members came from the communal finances, and there is a summary of the General Council’s research and deliberations about ensuring funds for the Sisters’ retirements and correspondence about the inclusion of religious personnel in the Canadian Pension Plan.

Also in this series are correspondence, reports, financial records, and meeting minutes related to the “Search Group.”

This series contains records related to general roles and duties that Sisters held in their ministries. There are also records concerning specific professional roles, including homemaker, nurse, music teacher and teacher. Records take the form of handwritten and typed notes on the ministries performed by individual sisters in 1999, and lists of sisters that performed specific roles in the congregation.

The series contains booklets, information sheets, and newsletters related to Catholic prayer, rituals, and services in both independent and guided forms.

This series consists of records produced in the course of the business activity of the General Secretary. There are documents pertaining to the history of the Sisters of St. Joseph, a pilgrimage taken in 2005, memorials and anniversaries such as the 135th and 138th anniversaries of the founding of the London Congregation, and Mother St. John Fontbonne. The series also contains material on the CSJ International Center in Le Puy-en-Velay, France, the sale of the Mount St. Joseph Motherhouse in 2004, and activity reports.

This sous-fonds contains material created and amassed by Sister Marie Angela Aubert. Sister Marie Angela Aubert was a writer of poetry, articles, poems and more and much of that material is included here. The scripts, records, and correspondence about the over 140 plays she wrote inspired by the Bible are present. A notable inclusion is The Great Adventure, a play written and produced by Sister Marie Angela Aubert for the 125th Anniversary of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of London. There is also correspondence with the Bishops of London granting her plays Imprimatur and Nihil Obstat, which means that the content of the plays was found to be in keeping with the teachings of the Church, are of good quality, and can be published. Her work was also included in Fine Lines: 1997 Anthology and Fine Lines II: 1998 Anthology by London & Area Writers. Both books are within this sous-fonds. In addition, there are various serial publications and clippings present which feature Sister Marie Angela Aubert’s poems, plays, reflections on her life and religious experiences, articles on education, and Letters to the Editor. There is also a research paper she wrote on the impact of Christianity in a detention centre. Sister Marie Angela Aubert was the Coordinator of R.C. [Roman Catholic] Jail Ministry Volunteers and the scripts for communion services at Elgin-Middlesex Detention Centre are present here, too. The sous-fond also includes certificates, diplomas, transcripts, and teaching licenses presented to and earned by Sister Marie Angela Aubert, including her B.A. diploma from the University of Windsor and B.Ed. diploma from the University of Alberta. Sister Marie Angela Aubert spent much of her life as a teacher. While working at O'Leary High School she got the students involved in the Junior Achievements Program and at Catholic Central High School she supervised the CCH Business Club. Newsletters, administrative documents, correspondence, photographs, newspaper clippings, correspondence, and an article written by her from these two programs are included in this sous-fonds. There are also invitations, awards lists, and thank-you notes from Sister Marie Angela Aubert’s time at these schools.

The series consists of records concerning reunions, festivals, workshops, and anniversaries. These records comprise of address books, booklets, ceremony schedules, correspondences, event schedules, liturgy and prayer booklets and sheets, mailing lists, former Sisters membership lists, music sheets and hymns, newspaper clippings and photocopies, postcards with envelopes, photographs, and programs.