Keith in the Kitchen

Discovering the Legacy of the Sisters of St. Joseph

Oct 21, 2024

At St. Joseph’s Health System, our mission is Living the Legacy of the Sisters of St. Joseph through compassionate care, faith and discovery. But who are the Sisters of St. Joseph, and how can we connect to their legacy today?

That’s exactly what Keith Metcalfe, Director of Mission and Spiritual Care Community of Practice at St. Joseph’s Health System, explored when he attended the Mission Alive leadership conference earlier this fall at the Centre International St. Joseph in Le Puy-en-Velay, France. Alongside healthcare leaders from Ontario and across the globe, Keith immersed himself in the spiritual tradition of the Sisters of St. Joseph, walking in their footsteps to discover their origin story and explore their heritage.

As we recognize Spiritual Care Awareness Week (October 20-26), Keith humbly shares three learnings from his pilgrimage that may help to shed some light on the shared identity, purpose and culture of St. Joe’s.

  1. It all began with a group of Sisters trying to meet the needs of the day.

The Sisters of St. Joseph began in Le Puy, France, in 1650. With significant social tension and a large population of very poor, the Sisters had a sense of “We’re going make it our mission to help.” The Sisters opened orphanages and cared for the sick in places called hôtels-Dieu (hotels of God).

Sometimes, the Sisters provided more passive care and comfort, such as caring for those inflicted by plague or infection. Other times, the Sisters were more actively involved in bringing patients back to health. As healthcare practice advanced, so did the work of the Sisters. Over time, the Sisters founded and operated schools of nursing, including the one here at St. Joe’s from 1911 to 1978.

There’s strong value in having a mission as we do because we can extend ourselves in ways that others may not. For example, St. Joseph’s Health System has programs and services focused on serving communities’ health and social needs, such as affordable, supportive housing for seniors or people requiring transitional care. These are a few of the ways that the System continues to keep unmet needs front and centre.

  1. The Sisters’ great vision makes up the fabric of St. Joe’s. 

The Sisters had clarity of vision in terms of what they were doing and why they were doing it. They cared for people long before organized healthcare, hospital buildings or healthcare services. The Sisters believed that it is an honour to serve the sick.

Today, their legacy of compassionate care, faith, and discovery creates St. Joe’s unique identity, purpose, and culture. The dynamic combination of mission-based healthcare with innovative, leading-edge clinical practice and research is an exciting part of our story, rooted in a legacy that’s more than 350 years old.

  1. Our purpose is to provide care without distinction.

The Sisters taught us to care for our dear neighbour without distinction. We do this to create unity, so people know they belong and are part of a community. This common humanity continues to grow as we advance our mission.

More than 10,000 healthcare workers in the St. Joseph’s Health System community carry on the Sisters’ legacy every day in the high-quality, compassionate care they provide to patients, clients, residents, and families.