The Challenge

The decreasing numbers of sisters in United States suggests a greater urgency in developing a plan for keeping the mission, charism, and history of sisters alive. Based on 2020 statistics from the National Religious Retirement Office (NRRO), of 404 congregations surveyed nationwide:

 

 

 

 

 

A Regional and National Plan

The Women Religious Archive Collaborative (WRAC) is currently working on a two-track plan: the creation of a regional space – A “Heritage Center” located in Northeast Ohio to serve a resource center for congregations that have and part of this community and, second, planning with other regional centers (Boston College, Santa Clara University, and HARC at St. Mary’s College) to create a national network of archives centers under one “virtual roof.”  It will have a coordinated approach to support the management and long-term preservation of archives of women religious.

ACB is proud to work closely with the following WRAC congregations and communities:

  • Carmel of the Holy Family; Cleveland Hts., OH
  • Congregation of St. Joseph; Chicago, IL
  • Sisters of Charity of Saint Augustine; Richfield, OH
  • Sisters of Divine Providence, Pennsylvania; Allison Park, PA
  • Sisters of St. Francis of Tiffin, Ohio; Tiffin, OH
  • Sisters of St. Joseph of the Third Order of St. Francis; Garfield Hts., OH
  • Sisters of the Holy Spirit; Garfield Hts., OH
  • Sisters of the Humility of Mary; Villa Maria, PA
  • Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament; Parma Hts., OH
  • Sisters of the Precious Blood; Dayton, OH
  • Ursuline Sisters of Brown County; Fayetteville, OH
  • Ursuline Sisters of Cincinnati; Cincinnati, OH
  • Ursuline Sisters of Cleveland; Mayfield Hts., OH
  • Ursuline Sisters of Louisville; Louisville, KY
  • Ursuline Sisters of Toledo; Toledo, OH

 

“The creation of this archive center will offer future generations a great resource and gift.  Those who may never be directly impacted by a vowed religious will now have the advantage and knowledge to seek and learn.”

~ Sr. Susan Durkin, WRAC Project Manager, Ursuline Sisters of Cleveland, OH