We hope that you’ve enjoyed these excerpts from the annals. Today we share the opening section of Sister Marie Menard’s early annals which details how annals came to be an SCN tradition. Without the directive from Mother Frances Gardiner and Sister Marie Menard’s skill as a historian, much of the earliest SCN history would be lost. Our hope in sharing these excerpts is that you now feel inspired to help continue this tradition of preserving a record of the beautiful ministries that the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, called by God, are inspired to undertake.

Sister Marie Menard, the young Sister mentioned here, details how the oldest SCN annals were written and gives credit to the Sisters who helped her record the history of the Congregation’s earliest days.

Annals are due September 30th (this Saturday). When you write your annals, if you have not done so already, please be sure to include the year and the name and location of the community or your address if you are living independently. Include the names of all who are living at that location and specify each Sister’s ministries. The names of those in your faith groups are also a welcome addition. From there, record entries by date as you might in a diary or journal. If you think a happening is worth including, then it should be included! Archival Center staff has never yet discovered annals that were too detailed. Changes in ministries, notable visitors, special celebrations or events, discussions and decisions, illnesses, deaths, trips that you take, building renovations, and amusing anecdotes are all possibilities for things that you can include in your annals.

Please send all completed annals to Kelly McDaniels at the SCN Archival Center via email (kmcdaniels@scnky.org), standard or campus mail, or feel free to stop by and deliver them in person — we’d love to see you!