Front view of the Sisters' residence on Garrison Hill, St. John's, 1971. (SOSA 9-06.40.1-27-8)
Archbishop P.J. Skinner (centre), the Sisters and the residents at the official opening of the residence at 7 Garrison Hill, St. John's, November 11, 1953. L-R: Sisters Frances Church, Mary O'Kane and Theresa Duffley. (SOSA 9-06.40.1-OB42)
Sister Theresa Duffley at residence Halloween party, St. John's, October 1954. (SOSA 9-06.40.1-OB42)
Sisters Frances Church, Theresa Duffley, Nora Fitzpatrick and residents sit in front of the Christmas tree at the St. John's residence, 1954. (SOSA 9-06.40.1-2-11)
Sister Nora Fitzpatrick with residents wrapping Christmas gifts for St. Patrick's Home, St. John's, December 1960. (SOSA 9-06-40.1-OB42)
Sister Alena Bryden accepts a cheque from auxiliary members of the St. John's residence, 1966. (SOSA 9-06.40.1-9-11, The Field at Home-January 1967)
At the request of Archbishop Patrick Skinner of St. John’s and the support of Father George Daly, two Sisters arrived in September 1953 to open the last of the institute’s seven women’s residences in Canada. In the view of St. John the Baptist Basilica, the residence at 7 Garrison Hill opened a month later and accommodated up to 20 women. The Sisters provided a home-like, faith-based atmosphere with social events, study and craft clubs. An auxiliary association organized fundraising for much-needed items for the residence.
While living at the residence, Sister Joan Coffey taught at St. John Bosco, the first alternative school in St. John’s. The residence was sold in July 1973 to a relative of the Parker family from whom the Sisters had purchased it 20 years earlier.
In 1973, the Sisters moved into an apartment on the first floor of a large home on 23 Rennie’s Mill Road in the Cathedral parish. Sisters Adua Zampese and Barbara Kowalski taught in schools five kilometres apart (Goulds and Petty Harbour) about 50 kilometres outside St. John’s. Sister Kowalski moved to a school in St. John’s when Sister Zampese moved to St. Julien’s. The mission closed in 1979.
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