Sisters of Service

Identity area

Type of entity

Corporate body

Authorized form of name

Sisters of Service

Parallel form(s) of name

    Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules

      Other form(s) of name

        Identifiers for corporate bodies

        Description area

        Dates of existence

        1922-

        History

        The Religious Institute of the Sisters of Service (SOS) are a community of Roman Catholic religious women established to work with newcomers to Canada and bring the Church to rural communities. They were founded on August 15, 1922 in Toronto, and have 124 permanent members.

        Unlike most other Catholic women religious at the time in traditional habits and large convents, the SOS wore simple grey uniforms and hats and lived in small communities. The simple and flexible nature of their Institute allowed the Sisters, as a domestic missionary community, to more easily adapt to the ways of life in the communities in which they lived. Their motto was "I Have Come To Serve" and the Sisters lived this charism by serving in many communities across Canada. In Western Canada, they worked as teachers, nurses and social workers. In larger cities, they operated hostels/residences for working women, particularly recently arrived immigrant women. The Sisters also maintained a presence at Pier 21 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, assisting newcomers in the transition from the ports to their homesteads. The SOS also provided catechetical instruction via religious correspondence schools and religious vacation schools during the summer months.

        In 2011, after deciding to accept no new applicants to the novitiate, the Sisters signed a sponsorship agreement with the Sisters of St. Joseph of Toronto, who have assumed their administration.

        Places

        Legal status

        Functions, occupations and activities

        Mandates/sources of authority

        Internal structures/genealogy

        General context

        Relationships area

        Related entity

        Sisters of St. Joseph of Toronto (1851-)

        Identifier of related entity

        Category of relationship

        temporal

        Dates of relationship

        2011-

        Description of relationship

        In 2011, the Sisters of Service signed a sponsorship agreement with the Sisters of St. Joseph of Toronto, who have assumed their administration.

        Related entity

        Maguire, Othilia (1867-1937)

        Identifier of related entity

        Category of relationship

        temporal

        Dates of relationship

        1926-1928

        Description of relationship

        Sr. Maguire served as Superior and Novice Mistress for the Sisters of Service during the early formation years of the Institute.

        Related entity

        Henry, Lidwina (1872-1963)

        Identifier of related entity

        Category of relationship

        temporal

        Dates of relationship

        1922-1926

        Description of relationship

        Sr. Henry served as the initial Superior and Novice Mistress for the Sisters of Service during the Institute's early years.

        Related entity

        Zampese, Adua Anna (1935-2024)

        Identifier of related entity

        Category of relationship

        associative

        Dates of relationship

        1967-2024

        Description of relationship

        Adua Zampese was a Sister of Service.

        Related entity

        MacDonald, Marilyn Doreen (1940-)

        Identifier of related entity

        Category of relationship

        associative

        Dates of relationship

        1963-

        Description of relationship

        Marilyn MacDonald is a Sister of Service.

        Related entity

        Schafhauser, Joan Marlene (1934-)

        Identifier of related entity

        Category of relationship

        associative

        Dates of relationship

        1956-

        Description of relationship

        Joan Schafhauser is a Sister of Service.

        Related entity

        McNally, Mary Anna Patricia (1935 -)

        Identifier of related entity

        Category of relationship

        associative

        Dates of relationship

        1954-

        Description of relationship

        Anna McNally is a Sister of Service.

        Related entity

        Burke, Patricia Mary (1924-2018)

        Identifier of related entity

        Category of relationship

        associative

        Dates of relationship

        1952-2018

        Description of relationship

        Patricia Burke was a Sister of Service.

        Related entity

        Renaud, Marie Helen Lena (1925-2014)

        Identifier of related entity

        Category of relationship

        associative

        Dates of relationship

        1949-2014

        Description of relationship

        Lena Renaud was a Sister of Service.

        Related entity

        Hayes, Mary Helen Laura (1924-2013)

        Identifier of related entity

        Category of relationship

        associative

        Dates of relationship

        1949-2013

        Description of relationship

        Helen Hayes was a Sister of Service.

        Related entity

        Reansbury, Margaret Mary (1913-2003)

        Identifier of related entity

        Category of relationship

        associative

        Dates of relationship

        1945-2003

        Description of relationship

        Mary Reansbury was a Sister of Service.

        Related entity

        Knopic, Brigid Ann (1911-2003)

        Identifier of related entity

        Category of relationship

        associative

        Dates of relationship

        1941-2003

        Description of relationship

        Brigid Knopic was a Sister of Service.

        Related entity

        Sheehan, Agnes Albena (1914-2014)

        Identifier of related entity

        Category of relationship

        associative

        Dates of relationship

        1940-2014

        Description of relationship

        Agnes Sheehan was a Sister of Service.

        Related entity

        Zink, Helen Mary Gertrude (Ella) (1911-1992)

        Identifier of related entity

        Category of relationship

        associative

        Dates of relationship

        1938-1992

        Description of relationship

        Ella Zink was a Sister of Service.

        Related entity

        Flynn, Patricia (1942-2023)

        Identifier of related entity

        Category of relationship

        associative

        Dates of relationship

        1937-2023

        Description of relationship

        Patsy Flynn was a Sister of Service.

        Related entity

        Reinhardt, Celestine Anne (1914-2000)

        Identifier of related entity

        Category of relationship

        associative

        Dates of relationship

        1936-2000

        Description of relationship

        Celestine Reinhardt was a Sister of Service.

        Related entity

        Jackson, Mary Alice (1913-1999)

        Identifier of related entity

        Category of relationship

        associative

        Dates of relationship

        1936-1999

        Description of relationship

        Mary Jackson was a Sister of Service.

        Related entity

        Deland, Ella Georgianna (1902-2000)

        Identifier of related entity

        Category of relationship

        associative

        Dates of relationship

        1935-2000

        Description of relationship

        Ella Deland was a Sister of Service.

        Related entity

        MacLellan, Rita Cecilia (1913-1997)

        Identifier of related entity

        Category of relationship

        associative

        Dates of relationship

        1935-1997

        Description of relationship

        Rita MacLellan was a Sister of Service.

        Related entity

        Trautman, Leona Marie (1913-2006)

        Identifier of related entity

        Category of relationship

        associative

        Dates of relationship

        1933-2006

        Description of relationship

        Leona Trautman was a Sister of Service.

        Related entity

        Dwyer, Mary Agnes (1904-1978)

        Identifier of related entity

        Category of relationship

        associative

        Dates of relationship

        1931-1978

        Description of relationship

        Agnes Dwyer was a Sister of Service.

        Related entity

        Morrison, Domitilla (1909-2005)

        Identifier of related entity

        Category of relationship

        associative

        Dates of relationship

        1929-2005

        Description of relationship

        Domitilla Morrison was a Sister of Service.

        Related entity

        Quinn, Mary Alice (1902-1980)

        Identifier of related entity

        Category of relationship

        associative

        Dates of relationship

        1928-1980

        Description of relationship

        Mary Quinn was a Sister of Service.

        Related entity

        Hearn, Agnes Felix (1906-2006)

        Identifier of related entity

        Category of relationship

        associative

        Dates of relationship

        1928-2006

        Description of relationship

        Agnes Hearn was a Sister of Service.

        Related entity

        Barton, Magdalen (1906-2003)

        Identifier of related entity

        Category of relationship

        associative

        Dates of relationship

        1927-2003

        Description of relationship

        Madge Barton was a Sister of Service.

        Related entity

        Regan, Mary Florence (1882-1972)

        Identifier of related entity

        Category of relationship

        associative

        Dates of relationship

        1925-1972

        Description of relationship

        Florence Regan was a Sister of Service.

        Related entity

        Schenck, Kathleen Margaret (1892-1976)

        Identifier of related entity

        Category of relationship

        associative

        Dates of relationship

        1923-1976

        Description of relationship

        Kathleen Schenck was a Sister of Service.

        Related entity

        Guest, Margaret Helen (1901-1987)

        Identifier of related entity

        Category of relationship

        associative

        Dates of relationship

        1923-1987

        Description of relationship

        Margaret Guest was a Sister of Service.

        Related entity

        Donnelly, Catherine (1884-1983)

        Identifier of related entity

        Category of relationship

        associative

        Dates of relationship

        Description of relationship

        Sr. Catherine Donnelly was the co-foundress of the Sisters of Service.

        Related entity

        Coughlan, Arthur (1868-1943)

        Identifier of related entity

        Category of relationship

        associative

        Dates of relationship

        Description of relationship

        Fr. Coughlan was a co-founder of the Sisters of Service.

        Related entity

        McNeil, Neil (1851-1934)

        Identifier of related entity

        Category of relationship

        associative

        Dates of relationship

        Description of relationship

        Archbishop McNeil was a co-founder of the Sisters of Service.

        Related entity

        Daly, George Thomas (1872-1956)

        Identifier of related entity

        Category of relationship

        associative

        Dates of relationship

        Description of relationship

        Fr. Daly was a co-founder of the Sisters of Service.

        Access points area

        Subject access points

        Place access points

        Occupations

        Control area

        Authority record identifier

        http://viaf.org/viaf/154722535

        Institution identifier

        USMC

        Rules and/or conventions used

        Status

        Level of detail

        Dates of creation, revision and deletion

        Added by F Rousselle, 2 Oct 2024.
        Revised by F Rousselle, June 27, 2025.

        Language(s)

          Script(s)

            Sources

            The Sisters of Service of Canada

            I Have Come to Serve, by MC Havey [SOS congregational archivist]. Independently published, 2022.

            Maintenance notes