by Holly Fiedler, FCA

Our work has been possible through partner matching grants from the Academy of American Franciscan History (AAFH), contracts, and volunteer expertise provided by our partners and advisors. The board has expanded from four to eight members.

Six committees further our work: Council of Partners; Archive; Education, Outreach, and Publications (rich newsletters and a soon to be launched new website); Advancement (seeking a one-year contract Advancement Director); Business Plan; and Building.

Legal support has expanded:

• Tiffany Gorman Thompson, of KGG LLC provides counsel related to real estate,
  land use and development, construction, municipal law, and business matters.
• Sister Marlene Weisenbeck, FSPA, offers us canonical counsel and is reviewing
  the possibility of the FCA joining or creating a public juridic person (PJP).
• Sister Amy Hereford, CSJ, consults on archival agreements.
• Peter Jaszi and Brandon Butler of Jaszi Butler agreed to work on archives and
  intellectual property rights issues.

Progress continues related to our future home in Frankfort, Illinois, on the grounds of
the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart. Together with JLK Architects, we held an
initial meeting with the village concerning various legalities. The FCA has assembled
the design and construction team:

• Owner’s representative: RLE Project Management
• Construction Management: Bulley & Andrews
• Civil Engineer: V3
• Structural Engineering: TYLin

We are working with Bradford Systems for compact storage needs and Daniel Michaels, Ph.D., of Keypoppy for Digital Infrastructure and Collections. Concept design has begun and will conclude by mid-summer.

The FCA is pleased to be growing in relationship with the Franciscan Federation, the Commission on the Franciscan Intellectual-Spiritual Tradition (CFIT), and the Academy of American Franciscan History (AAFH).

In closing, we wish to share two points from the February 13th, Global Sisters Report article, “Franciscan Central Archive to gather archives from 11 communities from across US” by Dan Stockman:

Sr. Mary Elizabeth Imler, general community minister of the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart, “This initiative strengthens our commitment to carry on the Franciscan charism for years to come… What has been planted in faith on this campus will now be nurtured with renewed vision and hope for future generations.”

Sr. Mary Serbacki, FCA board member and 40-year archivist for the Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity in Stella Niagara, New York, spoke of her archive, “It’s a life story of both individuals and of communities… But it’s also the story of the people who were served, and that makes it even more important. It’s not just our legacy, it’s the legacy of the people who went to our schools, who were cared for in their last moments, or were made whole and sent home.”