History
The Heritage and Research Center preserves and advances the shared history, mission, and legacy of women religious and their sponsored ministries. Below is an overview of our founding and impact.
Founding & Mission
The Mission of the Heritage and Research Center at Saint Mary’s is to preserve and honor the rich history of women religious and their sponsored ministries through partnership and collaboration with congregations and Saint Mary’s College.
How Did It Begin?
Recognizing that many congregations were nearing completion, several Midwest congregations explored collaborative preservation efforts. In April 2018, a Day of Dreaming convening launched discussions that led to HARC.
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Impact
These communities founded hospitals, schools and outreach programs — HARC preserves those stories and makes them accessible for research and public understanding.
Partners
In addition to our partnerhsip with with ten congregations, HARC is a founding member of the National Archives Project for Women Religious (NAPWR). This initiative focuses on creating and enhancing repositories to preserve the legacies of women religious in the United States. The initial set of repositories will serve as a model for future centers, and existing archives can connect to this national network, fostering collaboration and connectivity.
National Archives Project of Women Religious (NAPWR)
A resource for congregations and a coordinating portal effort that supports discovery, metadata exchange, and outreach for women religious archives.
Our Lady of Victory Missionary Sisters
Our Lady of Victory Missionary Sisters commit to Gospel non-violence and serving those living in poverty and oppression.
Servants of Mary
The Servants of Mary serve in educational, healing, and pastoral ministries across the U.S.
Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The BVM Sisters live a vowed life of prayer, ministry, and community in education and outreach.
Sisters of Mercy of the Holy Cross
Sisters of Mercy of the Holy Cross serve the poor, inspired by compassionate love.
Sisters of St. Agnes
The Sisters of St. Agnes minister in education, health care, social service, and community outreach.
Sisters of Saint Casimir
Sisters of Saint Casimir serve in education, healthcare, social justice, and pastoral care.
Sisters of Saint Francis of the Holy Cross
The Sisters of Saint Francis serve as educators, caregivers, ministers, advocates, and missionaries.
Sisters of the Divine Savior
The Sisters of the Divine Savior minister across five continents, serving diverse communities.
Sisters of the Holy Cross
The Sisters of the Holy Cross serve globally in ministries of healthcare, education, and justice.
Sisters of the Most Precious Blood
The Sisters of the Most Precious Blood serve those in need through education, art, music, healthcare, and pastoral ministry.
