Morrison, Domitilla

• Sister Domitilla Morrison, SOS

Born 4 September 1909, in Sydney, Nova Scotia; daughter of Joseph Morrison and Mary MacKinnon; entered 14 May 1929; first vows 2 February 1931; final vows 21 August 1937; died 23 May 2005.

One of seven children, Domitilla grew up in the Scottish culture of Cape Breton and attended local schools, Constantine, Holy Angels convent and Sydney Academy in Sydney, where her father worked in the steel mill. Leaving home in 1928, she was employed as an office clerk in Verdun, Quebec. Domitilla entered at the age of 19 in May 1929. She professed first vows in February 1931 and final vows in August 1937.

For the initial appointments, Sister Morrison was assigned to the women’s residences, starting with Halifax (1931-1932) and Toronto (1932-1933). While in Toronto, she also helped at the Catholic Settlement House, established for German immigrants to adjust to their new life in downtown Toronto. In Edmonton (1933-1934), she also attended Camrose Normal School, graduating in 1934. With the newly-earned teaching qualifications, she was transferred to the teaching mission of Camp Morton, Manitoba (1934-1939), where she taught in King Edward School No.1. In the opening of the catechetical mission at Fargo, North Dakota, Sister Morrison as the founding superior (1939-1945) establishing a religious correspondence school similar to the Canadian model. In those years, the mission centre also held children and adult classes, the location of meetings for the Legion of Mary and the newly-created Catholic Youth Organization. In the summers, the sisters travelled to the rural areas of the Fargo diocese, to teach religion and prepare students for the sacraments.

Returning to the Motherhouse, she assumed the responsibilities as Mistress of Novices (1945-1954), guiding and directing up to 15 novices and postulants at one time in the post Second World War era. Moving back in Western Canada, Sister Morrison was appointed as acting superior (1954-1955) in the teaching mission of Rycroft, Alberta before returning to catechetical work for the next 13 years. In Winnipeg (1955-1956), she assisted with the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine program and at the Regina correspondence school (1956-1958 and 1968-1969). In returning to Fargo (1958-1961) before the mission was closed, Sister Morrison remained in North Dakota as the first office manager of the Office of Religious Education (1961-1966) in Grand Forks.

After a short period in Halifax (1968), Sister Morrison enrolled in a librarian technician’s course in Winnipeg (1968-1969) to prepare for the positions at the Toronto Motherhouse (1969-1988) of librarian, community archivist and circulation manager of The Field at Home until the publication was ceased in 1984. Sister Morrison joined the retired sisters in St. Catharines, Ontario (1988-1989) and later in Scarborough Court (1989-2005). Four months after moving to Providence Centre in 2005, Sister Morrison died on May 23, 2005 at the age of 95. The wake service was held at LaSalle Manor, where Frs. Michael Coutts, sj and James Mason, C.Ss.R., a family friend, concelebrated the Mass of the Resurrection. A piper led her casket and the mourners to the community's plot in Mount Hope cemetery, Toronto, for burial.

Created by F Rousselle June 25, 2025.
Revised by F Rousselle June 27, 2025.

Biographical sketch adapted for brevity from complete biography written by SOS congregational archivist MC Havey.