Groundbreaking Ceremony Held for Heritage and Research Center at Saint Mary's
The Sisters of the Holy Cross are preparing for a new Heritage and Research Center (HARC) at Saint Mary’s, a new facility to house the rich histories and collections of nine women’s religious congregations and Saint Mary’s College. A groundbreaking ceremony was held Friday, July 26, 2024, at the site behind the Welcome Center off The Avenue.
In a press release from the Sisters of the Holy Cross, HARC will be a vital asset to the tri-campus (Saint Mary’s College, University of Notre Dame, Holy Cross College), regional and digital communities for study, research and scholarship, the center will highlight the lives and ministries of thousands of religious sisters. “These women launched and grew institutions of education, health care and public outreach that became the standard and backbone of development within these fields in the United States,” the release stated. “The collection will highlight these efforts and institutions, many of which still thrive today, and the lasting impacts of sisters’ presence and service.”
According to Donna Schmeichel, communications director for the Sisters, the extensive collection will shine a light on the sisters’ models of leadership and organization and their processes for growing community development and advancing social justice.
“We are excited about this collaboration that will deepen and advance the continued research and stories of women religious who have brought so much to the communities in which they served,” says Sister Suzanne Brennan, CSC, general councilor and treasurer of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Cross.
Though supported by each of the participating congregations, HARC will operate as an independent entity, employing an executive director, archivists and curators to manage the center’s collections, exhibits and programming. Part of the National Archives Project for Women Religious, HARC will share a technology platform with three other archival hubs—Cleveland, Ohio, Santa Clara University and Boston College—allowing users access to all four repositories.
“HARC is a significant new archives institution bringing together the historical records of nine Midwestern congregations of women religious,” says Monte Abbott, chair of HARC’s board of directors and director of archives for the Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd, St. Louis, Missouri. “More than just a repository, HARC will actively share the heartwarming stories of sisters in service to those in need over the past two centuries.”
The building which formerly housed the College’s Welcome Center will be renovated to meet the needs of the new archival center. In addition, construction will begin on an expansion off the back of the building.
Julianne Wallace, vice president for Mission at Saint Mary’s, said “When complete, the new facility will provide great research opportunities for our faculty and students. We look forward to the completion of this transformative initiative and the academic enrichment it will bring to our campus.”
The nine members of HARC’s Council of Partners
Ladysmith Servite Sisters (Sister Servants of Mary), Ladysmith, Wisconsin
Our Lady of Victory Missionary Sisters, Huntington, Indiana
Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Indiana
Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Dubuque, Iowa
Sisters of Mercy of the Holy Cross, Merrill, Wisconsin
Sisters of Saint Agnes, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Cross, Green Bay, Wisconsin
Sisters of St. Casimir, Chicago, Illinois
Sisters of the Holy Cross, Notre Dame, Indiana
Sisters of the Most Precious Blood, O’Fallon, Missouri
July 26, 2024
