Spirituality

Within the rich diversity of every person’s experience of God, the spirituality of the Sisters of St. Joseph flows from our desire for communion with all beings.

We recognize that in essence “we are all one” and that our practice of spirituality means making that truth more concrete in our lives by an ever-more inclusive love and our commitment to making our world a more hospitable place for all. In other words, we become whole-makers.

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Office for Systemic Justice

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This office works for systemic change by focusing on the root causes of social, environmental and economic injustice.  We collaborate with many groups to shift public conversations and government policies in ways which create greater justice for marginalized communities and damaged bio-regions.  In this work we are accompanied and guided by people directly impacted by our key issues: climate change, water protection, affordable housing, refugee and migrant worker rights and poverty.


St. joe's cafe

St. Joe’s Cafe, formerly St. Joseph’s Hospitality Centre, is a kitchen located at 602 Queens Ave in London, Ontario serving appx. 400+ meals per day.  Our guests are often persevering through multiple issues like poverty, homelessness, loneliness, mental health and substance abuse.

Welcoming guests into our kitchen for a meal is the seed planted that creates a community of respect and dignity for each person. This loving outreach of the Sisters, combined with staff and roughly 120 volunteers - dedicate their time to a kitchen that feeds the body, mind and spirit.

Contact St. Joe’s Cafe

You pray for the hungry. Then you feed them. That’s how prayer works.
— Pope Francis

Spiritual Ministries Network

A London neighbourhood based ministry of Sisters and Associates providing a network of opportunities to nurture spirituality in Southwestern Ontario through:

  • Facilitating links and referrals to practitioners working in healing ministries such as spiritual direction, bereavement, massage therapy, family counselling, parish nursing, Reiki, and more.

  • Initiating activities, events, workshops and assisting local communities and parishes to design adult spiritual development events.

  • Providing information and links to online resources and retreat opportunities. 

  • Providing speakers, lecturers and retreat directors on a range of topics related to adult spiritual growth.

  • Welcoming partnerships with others, adding our resources, as we are able, to joint projects and initiatives which address adult spiritual growth.

Contact the Spiritual Ministries Network.


Stillpoint House of Prayer

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This special house of prayer — a presence, a place, an experience — is located on the Madawaska River in the countryside near Calabogie, Ontario. It provides five completely equipped private rooms for persons coming for a retreat or for days of recollection, renewal, or rest. The grounds are very spacious, beautifully landscaped, and are inviting for walks or time spent out in Nature. There are also trails for long walks, and swimming in the river is available during the summer months.

An atmosphere of silence, prayer, and seclusion pervades the whole complex as well as the grounds. There is a chapel, and also a well-equipped library of books, tapes, and videos. Our resident staff provides hospitality as well as spiritual direction for the guests who come from many different faith traditions.

Stillpoint House of Prayer is committed to enabling persons of all faiths to grow in relation to self, God (Higher Power), others and all of creation by offering a quiet space to “Come and rest a while” (Mark 6:31). 

Stillpoint is nestled on the banks of the Madawaska River and is immersed in a contemplative atmosphere. There is the availability of spiritual direction and the support of a praying community. 

Visit the website.


Villa St. Joseph Ecology & Spirituality Centre

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At Villa St. Joseph Ecology & Spirituality Centre, we are passionate about Ecology and care of our Earth. Our programs are based in the concept of Integral Ecology as expressed by Pope Francis, in which we hold “all things to be closely interrelated, and today’s problems call for a vision capable of taking into account every aspect of the global crisis.” (LS, # 137).

We invite you to connect to our website and explore the possibilities we offer.

Watch our welcoming video here.


Ministering in chincha, alta, peru

Since 1964, the Sisters of St. Joseph from the Pembroke Neighbourhood have worked in Schools and Clinics in Chincha Alta Peru , they also participate in the parish catechetical programmes, Basic Christian Communities and other pastoral programmes. Because of the large number of indigent families, broken homes, deserted wives, widows and orphans, the parish also operates a “Caritas Centre” where the Sisters organize the distribution of food and clothing to the needy families.

From 1965 to 2005 many Canadian Sisters served this mission, today, this mission continues to respond to the needs of the Peruvian people through the great initiatives of Sister María Choquez and Sister Gloria Muchypiña who are both Chincha Valley woman working among their own people. 

Sister Pauline Coulterman continues to work for the Peru mission as promoter to do fundraising in Canada for the many projects happening in the Chincha Valley. The majority of funds go toward the education of children.

Each year Sr. Pauline invites interested volunteers to visit Chincha for a two-week experience. These volunteers visit the projects the Sisters are helping out with and get a feel for the needs of the people with the hope that they would be advocates for the mission in Peru.

For further information please contact:

In Canada Sister Pauline Coulterman 

         In Peru       Sister Gloria Muchaypiña   


The Upper Room Home of Prayer

68 Centrepointe Drive, Ottawa, Ontario

68 Centrepointe Drive, Ottawa, Ontario

Since 1984, The Upper Room Home of Prayer has been welcoming believers for on-going spiritual direction, contemplative retreats and programs in Medaillan spirituality. Situated in a quiet suburban neighbourhood in Ottawa, Ontario, we offer a place of silence and solitude “to come apart and rest awhile.”

As a School of Prayer, we have throughout the years, trained and certified seventy some spiritual directors through The Emmaus Program. Since 1984, we have been offering spirituality series at our Home of Prayer, at the Lay School of Theology and/or at some Ottawa parishes.

Gratefully, over the years, we have watched the Spirit create amongst us, an Upper Room Community of men and women who want to live contemplative lives in their own homes, share in our ministry according to their gifts, and gather from time to time to celebrate and share hearts. Today, there are more than 20 Little Design communities scattered around the city and region. In gentleness, peace and joy... we celebrate God’s life within us and amongst us... and we offer our neighbourhoods and world our small gift of fidelity to grace in the present moment.

Contact: Rosemary O’Toole, CSJ

Visit The Upper Room Home of Prayer website and participate in circling the world with Love!