The Continuing Presence of Women Religious in Canada: recalling the past, anticipating the future

Elizabeth M. SmythPaper presented to the

Colloquium on the State of Consecrated Life in Contemporary CanadaMcGill University

August 2011

Outline of the talk

• Preserving Historical Memory: Representations, Mission and Values

• Public/State Memorials• Artistic Representation/Popular culture• Some Concluding Thoughts

Preserving Historical Memory:

Representations, Mission and Values

Adaptation and Renewal

The adaptation and renewal of the religious life includes both the constant return to the sources of all Christian life and to the original spirit of the institutes and their adaptation to the changed conditions of our time.

Decree On The Adaptation And Renewal Of Religious Life “Perfectae Caritatis” Proclaimed By Pope Paul VI On October 28, 1965

Sisters of Providence of St Vincent de Paul Kingston

The museum collection in the Heritage Room and the Printing Room preserve the material culture of the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul and the Providence Associates. The museum collection consists of artifacts and other materials (books, photographs) related to the past and the on-going account of the interaction with God of those called to be Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul and of those called to be Providence Associates. The collection assists the Sisters and Associates in tracing the roots of the Congregation, in following its traditions, and in moving into the future in fidelity to the charism, spirituality and mission.

Centre historique des Sœurs de Sainte-Anne

• conserver, inventorier, cataloguer, mettre en valeur et assurer la gestion et la documentation des objets qui ont une valeur historique et/ou artistique et qui sont reliés à l’évolution de la Congrégation, dans les secteurs de la vie religieuse et apostolique.

• assurer des activités de promotion et d’animation en regard de la vie et de l’œuvre de la fondatrice. Centre historique des Sœurs

Centre historique des Soeurs de Sainte-Anne, Lachine QC

Sister Servants of Mary Immaculate

Sisters of St Martha of AntigonishDisplay Case

Presentation Sisters of Newfoundland

Presentation Sisters of Newfoundland

Sisters of St Martha of Antigonish

Sisters of Providence of St Vincent de Paul

Sisters of Providence of St Vincent de Paul

Sisters Association Archdiocese of Vancouver

• Spirited women: a history of Catholic sisters in British Columbia

• Deborah Rink 2000.

Associates of the Sisters of St Joseph

Who Are We

Sharing the same dream with the Sisters of St Joseph, that of drawing all together into one in God, we try to bring unifying and reconciling love to our world, desiring to be a reflection of the great love of God for all people and to collaborate to further the mission of the Congregation in today's world.http://www.csj.london.on.ca/associate-program

Sisters of St Joseph of Toronto Chair in Systematic Theology (2007)

Margaret OGara is professor of theology at the Faculty of Theology in the University of St. Michael's College, Toronto

• “This moment in history will continue the legacy of our Sisters who in the early 1900s established our ministry in postgraduate education. Which ministry, by the way, is actively continued today by Professors Ellen Leonard and Mechtilde O’Mara,” Sister Margaret Myatt, Superior, stated.

Sisters of St Joseph Peterborough Motherhouse:Located in Peterborough, Ontario, the Sisters of St. Joseph Convent is designed by Teeple Architects to reflect the sisters' outward looking

beliefs - their activities in the community and broader ecological responsibilities

• Our Vision

Providence Care will lead the way in compassion and discovery.

Our Mission

Trusting in Providence and strengthened by the spirit and tradition of our Founders, the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul, we enhance the quality of life by meeting the physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs of each person.

We work with our partners to innovate and excel in education and research.

We treat each person with respect, dignity and compassion.

Our Values

Respect & Dignity – We believe in the inherent worth and excellence of all people.

Compassion – We are sympathetic and conscious of the needs of others, and have a deep desire to respond.

Stewardship

• http://www.pccchealth.org/cms/sitem.cfm/about_us/vision,_mission_and_values/

• 2011 marks the 160th anniversary of the arrival of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Toronto. Our legacy of continuing the mission of Jesus is by serving those in need with compassion. Between March and October 2011, we will be posting a series of articles telling our story of ministry in Canada and abroad. Follow our story through this ongoing series of articles and our video Sisters of St. Joseph of Toronto in Ministry Today.

Public/ State Memorials

Rideau Street ChapelNational Gallery of Canada

Monument teaching Sisters Quebec City

St Ann’s Academy 1865

Service Through Christ

Ursuline Sisters Assumption Park Windsor Ontario

Artistic Representation/Popular Culture

Arrival of the Ursulines and Hospitallers of the

Miséricorde de Jésus, July 1639

Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence

New Yorker Magazine: July 30, 2007

http://bagnewsnotes.typepad.com/bagnews/images/Kunz-New-Yorker-Subway.jpg

Some Concluding Thoughts

Kenneth Briggs Ann Carey

Continuity and ChangeTeresa[Dease] was always a woman of faith; so are we. We all know what a privilege and a gift it has been to have a convent overlooking Niagara, to work there, to pray there, to enjoy its beauty. Are we now invited to experience a different kind of gift, a more painful one - that of moving forward to another form of mission, a work that is still not clear? Are we meant to be like the waters of the Niagara River, always on the move?

Helen Cameron, IBVM September 28, 2005