Sisterhood of St. John the Divine
CELEBRATING 125 YEARS OF CARE
For 125 years, the Sisterhood of St. John the Divine has led the way in providing needed healthcare based on the latest scientific knowledge and a holistic, spiritual approach.
The Sisters are a growing community of approximately 40 women, founded in Toronto, Canada in 1884. The Sisters are a prayer and gospel-centred monastic community, nurtured by a founding vision, open and responsive to the needs of the church and the contemporary world, continually seeking guidance of the Holy Spirit in life and ministry.
Pioneers in health care since 1884, the Sisters opened St. John's Convalescent Hospital in 1937 as Ontario's first hospital focusing on rehabilitation care. The Sisterhood continued to administer and manage Ontario's most comprehensive, and specialized rehabilitation hospital, until June 1996 when the hospital appointed its first layperson chief executive officer.
Today members of the Sisterhood continue to play a vital role on the hospital's Board of Directors, senior management team, and other administrative positions such as the hospital library. Having pioneered a unique, multi-faith approach as spiritual care providers, the Sisters take an active part in patient-care teams. They focus on patients’ individual faith needs and help patients remain positive and active.
Canada’s only indigenous Anglican women’s religious order marks a tremendous milestone in 2009. St. John’s Rehab Hospital is proud to celebrate, recognize and thank the Sisterhood of St. John the Divine for 125 remarkable years of dedication to rebuilding people’s lives.