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.
Exhibition
- March 22–June 8, 2018
Curated by
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
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
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 .
Our Founding Orders and Community
Last Look
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.
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.