The Heritage and Research Center (HARC) at Saint Mary's is a collaborative archive that preserves and honors the history of women religious. Our collections and exhibits highlight the long legacy of service and activism of Catholic sisters.
HARC is a collaboration between ten congregations of Catholic sisters to collect and maintain their documents and artifacts. These records trace more than 175 years of ministry across the United States and around the world. They reveal how Catholic sisters have shaped education, healthcare, and social justice in the communities they serve. The archives also provide insight into how the congregations have grown and adapted to changes in society and religious life.
HARC makes these rich histories accessible to scholars and the public through our digital collections and physical archives. Visitors can explore documents, photographs, audio-visual materials, scrapbooks, paintings, and other artifacts.
Together, these materials tell the inspiring stories of the lives of women religious, their activism, and their enduring impact. From founding schools and hospitals to prison ministry, they have positively influenced the lives of immigrants, people living with poverty, and other vulnerable and marginalized communities.
HARC now ensures these stories are told and preserves them for future researchers and learners.
HARC is committed to illuminating and preserving the contributions of Catholic sisters. By making their stories available for research and scholarship, we aim to inspire others to carry forward their legacy of service and leadership.
Our work is guided by four core values:
We support research by making the archival materials of women religious available for scholars, students, and teachers.
We share the stories of Catholic sisters and their ongoing contributions to community organizations, institutions, education, social justice, and women's leadership.
We aim to inspire laity to consider how they can build on current and past global ministries to serve people in need.
We create opportunities for laity and women religious to come together and create new forms of collective outreach for those in need.
As congregations of women religious across the country consider how to preserve their legacies, HARC stands as a leading example of what collaborative action can look like. Recognizing that many congregations face an urgent question: what will happen to all their stories and materials? A group of Midwestern sisters chose to respond together rather than alone.
The History of the Center and Our Collaborations
As congregations of women religious across the country consider how to preserve their legacies, HARC stands as a leading example of what collaborative action can look like. Recognizing that many congregations face an urgent question: what will happen to all their stories and materials? A group of Midwestern sisters chose to respond together rather than alone.
In April 2018, the Sisters of the Holy Cross Motherhouse hosted a Day of Dreaming at Saint Mary's College in Notre Dame, Indiana, to address this concern. Representatives from several congregations in the Midwest gathered to brainstorm ways to preserve and share their histories.
This event led to the founding of HARC. From the very beginning, HARC has been built on collaboration and a desire to share knowledge. We bring together women religious and laity to educate the public about the ministries and social justice advocacy of Catholic sisters. Our archives contain a rich array of materials from ten congregations serving communities across the globe.
We've also partnered with Saint Mary's College to house the materials and provide access to the public. In July 2024, we held a groundbreaking ceremony to kick off construction of the new Heritage and Research Center. The building will include classrooms, exhibition space, and a vault to protect the congregations' physical materials.
HARC is a partnership between Saint Mary's College and ten congregations, including:
Sisters of Mercy of the Holy Cross
Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Our Lady of Victory Missionary Sisters
Sisters of St. Agnes
Sisters of the Divine Savior
Sisters of the Holy Cross
Servants of Mary
Sisters of the Most Precious Blood
Servants of St. Casimir
Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Cross
Women religious have spearheaded change and innovation in communities worldwide. Your support helps carry on their legacy and inspire future generations of advocates and leaders.
