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Home / Kelly Library Portfolio / Love Your Neighbour as Yourself: Catholic Social Teaching in Toronto

Love Your Neighbour as Yourself: Catholic Social Teaching in Toronto

On this page
  • About this Exhibition
  • Exhibition Themes
  • Exhibit Highlights
  • Timeline: Papal Encyclicals and Letters
  • Our Founding Orders and Community
  • Last Look
  • Acknowledgements
  • References

About this Exhibition

Celebrating Human Dignity and the Common Good in Our Community

THE BASILIAN FATHERS’ ARRIVAL IN 1852 brought Catholic higher education to Toronto with the creation of a college classique and minor seminary. In 1881, affiliation with the University of Toronto gave rise to St. Michael’s College. After the University of Toronto oversaw the federation of St. Michael’s College with University College, Victoria College, and Trinity College in 1910, St. Michael’s continued as a male college and minor seminary, with the Loretto Sisters and the Sisters of St. Joseph offering women teacher training and university degrees.

 In 1911, however, St. Michael’s College began registering women, with the Sisters of St. Joseph and the Loretto Sisters sharing instruction, and the University of Toronto granting degrees.All three religious orders remain committed to lifelong teaching based upon the principles of Catholic Social Teaching.

The exhibition, entitled Love Your Neighbour as Yourself: Catholic Social Teaching in Toronto, was jointly sponsored by the John M. Kelly Library and the Faculty of Theology, with contributions from the Sisters of St. Joseph of Toronto, the Loretto Sisters, the Basilian Fathers, and the Archdiocese of Toronto.


  • IN THE NEWS

Shining a Local Light on Catholic Social Teaching, by Catherine Mulroney, St. Michael’s College, March 2018

Archbishop Durocher: Church must adapt to changing times, by  Michael Swan, The Catholic Register, March 27, 2018

Exhibition

  • March 22–June 8, 2018

Curated by

  • James Roussain

Sponsored by

  • The Faculty of Theology, the University of St. Michael’s College, and the John M. Kelly Library

Contributing Institutions

  • Sisters of St. Joseph
  • Loretto Sisters
  • Congregation of St. Basil
  • Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto

Design by

  • Sheila Eaton

Exhibition Themes

Based on the teachings outlined in the encyclicals, the United States Conference of Bishops has developed a list of seven themes which, as a whole, define the terms of Catholic Social Teaching. These themes are:

  • Life and Dignity of the Human Person
  • Call to Family, Community, and Participation
  • Rights and Responsibilities
  • Option for Those Who are Poor and Vulnerable
  • The Dignity of Work and the Rights of the Workers
  • Solidarity
  • Care for God’s Creation

EXHIBITION SPOTLIGHT

Catholic Social Teaching in Toronto

The Faculty of Theology and the John M. Kelly Library highlighted the seven themes of Catholic Social Teaching in this 2018 exhibition.

EXHIBITION LECTURE

Archbishop Paul-André Durocher, Gatineau, Quebec

Love Your Neighbour opened with a lecture by Archbishop Paul-André Durocher of Gatineau, Quebec. The talk was entitled Echo Chamber or Megaphone? The Church in Canada and the Prophetic Voice of Pope Francis and was generously sponsored by the Royackers Lecture Series of Regis College. 

Illustrating the seven themes through a combination of archival materials drawn from the Kelly Library’s Special Collections, the archives of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Toronto, the Sisters of Loretto, the Congregation of St. Basil, and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto, this exhibition demonstrated how the USMC community—through both scholarship and on-the-ground initiatives—reflects a deep commitment to modern Catholic Social Teaching.

Exhibit Highlights

1: Living the Message
Fr. Henri J. M. Nouwen;
Sr. Mary Alban Bouchard, CSJ, Alumna;
Sr. Doryne Kirby, IBVM, Alumna;
and Fr. Henry Carr, CSB.
2: Leading by Example
Rev. Mother Teresa Dease,
Founder of the Loretto Sisters (IBVM) in Canada;
Mother Delphine Fontbonne, CSJ,
Superior of the first Canadian foundation (Toronto);
and Fr. Jean Mathieu Soulerin, CSB,
Founding Superior of St. Michael’s College. 
3: A Wealth of Resources
Multiple papal encyclicals and letters
inform Catholic Social Teaching.
4: Teaching the Principles
Our founding communities
have helped interpret the tenets
of Catholic Social Teaching
for our community.   
5: A University-wide Commitment
 Across campus the seven
principles of Catholic Social
Teaching are embraced, modelled,
and celebrated.
6: A Vocational Call
An inspiring experience at St. Michael’s
is reflected in the lives of our alumni. 
  • Exhibit panel posters, front doors
  • Do We Agree? A Debate Between G.K. Chesterton & Bernard Shaw
  • Exhibit panels, ground floor
  • Display Theme: Life and Dignity of the Human Person
  • St. Michael’s Faculty of Theology
  • Display Theme: Solidarity
  • Display materials, ground floor
  • Acta Apostolicae Sedis, the monthly Vatican gazette
  • Display Theme: Call to Family, Community, & Participation
  • Display Theme: Eco-Spirituality Ministries
  • Sister Christine Leyser’s Welcome-In Drop-In Centre, Guelph, ON
  • United Nations ministry: The Mary Ward Centre

Timeline: Papal Encyclicals and Letters

Ever since Pope Leo XIII issued Rerum Novarum in 1891, papal teaching has been inspiring Catholic Social Teaching in Toronto .

1841

The Diocese of Toronto is established

1847

The Sisters of Loretto arrive in North America

1851

The Sisters of St. Joseph arrive in Toronto

1852

The Basilian Fathers arrive in Toronto and establish St. Michael’s College

1891

Rerum Novarum:
The Condition of Labour
Pope Leo XIII, 1891

1931

Quadragesimo Anno:
After Forty Years
Pope Pius XI, 1931

1961

Mater et Magistra:
Christianity and Social Progress
Pope John XXIII, 1961

1963

Pacem in Terris:
Peace on Earth
Pope John XXIII, 1963

1964

Lumen Gentium:
Dogmatic Constitution on the Church
Vatican Council II, 1964

1965


Gaudium et Spes:
Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World
Vatican Council II, 1965
…

Dignitatis Humanae:
Declaration on Religious Freedom
Vatican Council II, 1965
…

Nostra Aetate:
Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions
Vatican Council II, 1965
…

Gravissimum Educationis:
Declaration on Christian Education
Vatican Council II, 1965
…

Address of Pope Paul VI to the General Assembly of the United Nations
October 4, 1965

1967

Populorum Progressio:
On the Development of Peoples
Pope Paul VI, 1967

1971

Octogesima Adveniens:
A Call to Action on the Eightieth Anniversary of the Rerum Novarum
Pope Paul VI, 1971
…

Justice in the World
Synod of Bishops, 1971

1975

Evangelii Nuntiandi:
Evangelization in the Modern World
Pope Paul VI, 1975

1979

Redemptor Hominis:
Redeemer of Humankind
Pope John Paul II, 1979

1980

Dives in Misericordia:
Rich in Mercy
Pope John Paul II, 1980

1981

Laborem Exercens:
On Human Work
Pope John Paul II, 1981

1987

Sollicitudo Rei Socialis:
On Social Concern
Pope John Paul II, 1987

1990

Ecological Crisis:
A Common Responsibility
Pope John Paul II, 1990

1991

Centesimus Annus:
On the Hundredth Anniversary of Rerum Novarum
Pope John Paul II, 1991

1993

Veritatis Splendor
Pope John Paul II, 1993

1994

Gratissimam Sane
Pope John Paul II, 1994

Our Founding Orders and Community

  • Exhibit opening reception
  • Rev. Morgan Rice and Former St. Mike’s President Anne Anderson
  • Admiring the display
  • Exhibit opening reception
  • Exhibit display case, ground floor
  • Exhibit opening reception
  • Exhibit opening reception
  • Archivist James Roussain introducing the display
  • Exhibit opening reception

Last Look

Timeline: Catholic Social Teaching in Toronto
Timeline: Catholic Social Teaching in Toronto
Love Your Neighbour As Yourself exhibit poster panels

Acknowledgements

A gracious thank you to the archives of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Toronto, the Loretto Sisters, the Basilian Fathers, and the Archdiocese of Toronto.

  • University of St. Michael’s College logo
  • Loretto Sisters crest
  • Sisters of St. Joseph of Toronto logo
  • Basilian Fathers crest
  • Archdiocese of Toronto crest

James Roussain, Archivist – Outreach and Instruction,
John M. Kelly Library

Assembling this exhibition was a true team effort. I would like to thank the following archivists for their dedication, patience, and generosity both of time and spirit: Michelle Sawyers, the General Archives of the Basilian Fathers; Linda Wicks, Sisters of St. Joseph of Toronto Archives; Michelle Pariag, Archives of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Canadian Province; and Andrea D’Angelo, Archives of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto. ¶ I would also like to thank our guest contributors Dr. Rebekah Lamb, Dr. Dennis O’Hara, and Jason Mills. ¶ Thank you, too, to the Special Collections team at the John M. Kelly Library including Natasa Krsmanovic, Liesl Joson, Noel McFerran, Sarah Stiller, Simon Rogers, and Jessica Barr for their help in selecting, documenting, and preparing items for display. Their dedication made my job so much easier. ¶ Lastly, I would like to thank Dean James Ginther, Catherine Mulroney, Kendra Knoll, and Sheila Eaton for their tireless help, from advising on content and direction, to proofing endless amounts of copy, to designing our visuals. ¶ I hope you enjoy this exhibition as much as I enjoyed its preparation.

References

Set 1: Images courtesy (CW) of the Special Collections, John M. Kelly Library (photographer Mary Callaway); the Sisters of St. Joseph of Toronto Archives (photographer Bill Wittman); the Archives of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Canadian Province; and the General Archives of the Basilian Fathers.

Set 2: Images courtesy (R-L) of the Archives of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Canadian Province; the Sisters of St. Joseph of Toronto Archives; and the General Archives of the Basilian Fathers.

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