From the Archives

One of our congregational maxims invites us to follow grace with a great gentleness, humility, faithfulness and courage, and that is exactly what our Sisters did.

In our archives we note the following eruptions of grace:

February 1, 1982 St. Stephen’s Residence, an alcoholic recovery home, opened in London.

February 1, 1984 St. Joseph’s Hospital, Peterborough assumed responsibility for operating small hospitals in Haliburton and Minden.

February 2, 1880 St. Joseph’s High School began with girls senior “high” classes under the auspices of the Toronto Separate School Board.

February 2, 1884 St. Joseph’s Hospital, Port Arthur (Thunder Bay) was founded by the Toronto congregation. it was later assumed by the Peterborough congregation in 1890 and then the Sault Ste. Marie congregation in 1936.

February 2, 1983 St. Joseph’s Hospitality Centre (soup kitchen) opened in London.

February 3, 1998 the Furniture Bank was incorporated on this day. It was founded by a Toronto Sister of St. Joseph to collect and distribute donated furniture and household furnishings to clients referred by registered agencies.

Statement from Federation Office for Systemic Justice

Public Statement re: Vaccines for COVID-vulnerable people in prisons    

The Federation of Sisters of St. Joseph of Canada commends the federal government’s decision to offer vaccines to 600 elderly prisoners and those with pre-existing conditions. This decision is an affirmation of the dignity of each person, a foundation of morality

The first wave of the pandemic showed that prisoners are much more likely to get COVID-19.  According to Correctional Services Canada, as of January 6th, there have been 1,196 total positive cases with 167 active and 3 deaths. Furthermore, a CBC analysis indicates that infection rates are five times higher in provincial jails and up to nine times higher in federal facilities than in the general population.  As this data shows, the prison context itself creates significant vulnerabilities to COVID-19 infection.

The guiding principle for decision-making for vaccine distribution should be the equal human dignity and worth of every person.  Human dignity is not something that is earned.   It belongs to each person and is not forfeited or forgotten due to specific circumstances or behaviours. It is the task of governments and institutions to protect the human dignity of each person, without exception.  With regard to vaccines, respect for human dignity means the same two criteria, risk and vulnerability, should be used for the prison population as for the general population.

By design, prisons marginalize people from full participation in the community for a period of time.  But this must never leave people marginalized from what is theirs on the basis of their basic human dignity. 

Early access to a COVID-19 vaccine for at-risk persons in prison and other detention facilities is a simple question of human dignity and fairness. We diminish ourselves as a society if we do not honour these values in our collective decision-making.

Looking for Signs of Hope?

Our Toronto Sisters have served in many and various ways throughout their history since 1851. This year we join with them in celebrating their 170th anniversary. One of the ways in which the charism lives on is through their organization called Fontbonne Ministries.

Read about the good work still being done through collaboration and partnering.

Newsletter SPRINGS OF HOPE

IN THE DARKNESS BE THE LIGHT

Together with all creation in our Northern Hemisphere, we remember that the longest night of the year is a sign and a promise that the sun will lengthen our days once more. In this Advent season, we anticipate the celebration of the birth of Christ who is “the true Light, the Light of the World.”

READ MORE AT: Winter Solstice 2020 — Congregation of Sisters of St Joseph in Canada (csjcanada.org)