On my desk in my office, I have three treasured photographs of three sisters, in their venerable habits. The thought of those sisters, garbed in heavy black cloth and starched linen is a reproach to the ever persistent acedia that can infect a priest (this priest specifically, so busy with starting his new ministry that he could fail to take time to pray).
Each of these sisters have passed to their reward; may our Lord reward them.
Sister John Bernard was my mother's first cousin. She laboured in the diocesan seminary in housekeeping.
Sister Sheila (Helen) was my mother's youngest sister. She laboured as an elementary teacher and librarian.
Sister Maura was my father's first cousin, was so ancient when I knew her, that I can't recall what her apostolic task was.
They were all three Sisters of St. Joseph of London. At its height, the Sisters of St. Joseph of London was one the most prestigious orders of teaching sisters. They built alongside the Urusalines the present day Catholic education of Ontario. The fully funded Catholic education that Catholic students now enjoy was purchased by the selfless, generous sacrifice of a great number of young Catholic women who sensed Our Lord's invitation to teach and form Catholic young people.
The corunna of the habit of the Sister of St. Joseph of London was half an inch taller then the rest of the confederation of the Sisters of St. Joseph. It was a striking habit, magnificent and regal.
In their glory, the congregation constructed an impressive motherhouse (and an even more impressive chapel) with a boarding/finishing school for girls. The unveiling of the impressive building in the 1960's happened almost simultaneously with the whirlwind that would soon see the order remove the regal habit, abandon its teaching charism and the catastrophic collapse of vocations.
The motherhouse has subsequently sold and a smaller building was constructed with a large wing for elderly and sick sisters.
The loss of the religious sisters from Catholic education in Canada is irreparable. No matter what new charism the good sisters might embrace, nothing will ever come close to the contribution of the religious sister (or brother) in the formation of the young. (more...)
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