St. Joseph's Hospitality Centre

About St. Joseph's Hospitality Centre

St. Joe's Café, formerly known as St. Joseph's Hospitality Centre, is a community ministry located on Queens Ave in the Woodfield neighbourhood of London. It serves as a kitchen that welcomes and nourishes those most in need within the local community, providing approximately 400 meals per day. The ministry is designed as a place of encounter, dignity, and belonging for guests who may be persevering through issues such as poverty, homelessness, loneliness, mental health challenges, and substance abuse. The facility is operated by the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada, who describe the ministry as a living expression of their commitment to responding to the needs of the time. The kitchen is supported by staff and roughly 120 volunteers who work together to provide hospitality and nourishment. This initiative is part of a broader spiritual mission to create a more hospitable world and build a community where everyone has a place at the table. The congregation has a long history of service, with roots dating back to 1650 in France. The London congregation was established in 1868, and in 2012, several Canadian congregations joined to form the current unified congregation. Beyond the café, the organization is involved in systemic justice work addressing climate change, affordable housing, and refugee rights, as well as a Spiritual Ministries Network that provides links to healing ministries like spiritual direction, massage therapy, and family counselling.