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 .
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
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.
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.