Descriptive Summary
The American Catholic Research Center and University Archives
1987-1989, 2012
Father Thomas Stransky
Religious Communities and Missions Survey Collection
10 linear feet; 8 boxes
The Religious Communities and Missionaries Survey Collection is an 8 box collection reflecting scholarly research into the history of American Catholic missionary work. This ambitious undertaking was begun in 1987 through a one page survey mailed to over 400 individual religious orders by Fr. Thomas Stransky, "rector emeritus" of Tantur Ecumenical Institute and former president of the Paulist Fathers. Working with tandem with the US Catholic Mission Association, Stransky encountered Sister Mary Jo Maher and Sister Angelyn Dries who, as religious scholars, went on to publish about these surveyed orders. This collection contains original research and correspondence between the three.
198
English
Historical Note
The Religious Communities and Missionaries Survey Collection contains original research performed by Fr. Thomas Stransky, a leader and former president of the Paulist Fathers USA from 1970-1986. In his next position as rector of the Tantur Ecumenical Institute for Theological Studies in Jerusalem, he was afforded the opportunity to explore the history of overseas missionary work performed by American Catholic religious orders. Working in conjunction with the United States Catholic Mission Association (USCMA), Stransky surveyed over 400 individual orders requesting information on their history and mission. That information is collected here. While the Paulists are logically included among those surveyed, this research suggests an independent attempt to objectively document the entire range of holy orders, both male and female, in existence as of 1987.
While this survey was intended to provide the basis of a book proposal put forth to the USCMA, Stransky withdrew from the project leaving the research in the hands of Sister Mary Jo Maher who was on the Board of Directors. Thanks to guidance from the Overseas Ministries Study Center of New Haven, work was revived soon after with help from religious historian, Sister Angelyn Dries. This resulted in collaboration in 1990 between Protestant and Catholic researchers to document the Overseas Missionary Movement. Sister Angelyn ultimately completed the broad history initiated by Fr. Stransky in 1998 with the publishing of "The Overseas Missionary Movement of the U.S. Catholic Church 1853-1990." She has authored several books on Catholic History and has been published in in American Catholic Historian. Sister Mary went on to complete a book on the missionary history of her order based in Monroe, Michigan.
The USCMA stems from the US Catholic Mission Council that was founded in 1970 in an effort to coordinate the missionary activities of the individual orders with those directed by Rome under the Second Vatican Council. The original USCMC supplanted the post-WWII Mission Secretariat system which until 1969 had represented the last pontifical mission directive linked to Pope Gregory XV's 17th century De Propaganda Fide.
Scope and Contents
It is well known that the Paulists, founded in the United States by Isaac Hecker, are among the most active practitioners of Catholic evangelism and outreach within the spectrum of religious orders. While this helps explain some of the American tilt to the survey, more importantly it points to Fr. Stransky's knowledge of the range of current missionary practices. Accordingly the survey focuses specifically on those orders maintaining a presence in the U.S., albeit with consideration that some (eg. the Spiritists) were founded in other countries. Other groups among the survey are distinctly home grown. Regardless, it is worth noting that this survey was conducted almost a century after Hecker's passing which provides the reader opportunity to reflect on the modernist legacy in today's overseas missions.
For researchers and historians, what is perhaps most notable about the Religious Communities and Survey Collection is that invites one to consider the nature of missionary activity in America both before and after 1908 when the papacy officially removed the United States from its prior status as mission territory. This set the stage for American based orders to pursue an external or "overseas" focus over the next 80 years as many of the survey responses indicate.
While some responses are quite detailed, Fr. Stransky may have faced some challenges in developing the survey materials housed in this collection. But what exactly caused him to abandon the book project is not entirely clear from the correspondence in Box 8. What is evident is that a number of these holy orders are intensely private, and did not respond to the survey, though they are in communion with the Catholic Church. Non-participants are also included in the collection. Many of those that did participate were indeed quite generous in supplying books and records of their activities. All in all, some 40 volumes of hardbound materials are contained in the collection in addition to the roughly 200 survey responses. Though most survey questions address overseas mission affiliates, one of the more thought provoking questions elicits whether an order's constitution addressed evangelism and/or ecumenism.
Though it is possible that some Catholic holy orders may have been overlooked, those targeted for the survey present a significant portrait of those active circa 1985. In Box 8 one may observe that Stransky's research was presented in context of a speech he gave to the U.S. Catholic Mission Association and the NCCCUSA Division of Overseas Ministries in September 1987. The speech notes, many handwritten, are illuminating and provide some helpful insights into the history of Catholic missionary activity in the US. Further correspondence contained herein reveals additional research for the book project post-Stransky and letters exchanged with Sister Angelyn Dries. The American Catholic Research Center and University Archives are grateful to Sister Angelyn for her cooperation in assembling these notes.
Arrangement
The Religious Communities and Missions Survey Collection has two series:
- Series 1: Survey responses and assorted publications; 1987, Boxes 1-8
- Series 2: Original research and personal correspondence 1987-1989, 2012, Box 8
Access Restrictions
None
Related Material
American Catholic History Research Center and University Archives:
Dolan, Father Luis, C.P. Papers
Propagation of the Faith Records
Index Terms
This record series is indexed under the following controlled access subject terms.
Persons:
Anderson, Gerald
Dries, Sister Angelyn
Maher, Sister Mary Jo
Stransky, Fr. Thomas
Organizations:
Maryknoll Sisters
Paulist Fathers
Overseas Ministries Study Center
United States Catholic Missions Association
Places:
New Haven, CT
New York, NY
United States of America
Jerusalem
Subjects:
Ecumenism
Evangelism
Catholic Missions
Overseas Missionary Movement
Theology
Acquisition Information
Thomas Stransky via John Lynch of the North American Paulist Center in 2004.
Processing Information
Processing completed in 2012 by Carter Rawson. EAD markup completed in 2013 by Carter Rawson.
Bibliography
Dries, Sister Angelyn (1998). The missionary movement in American Catholic history. Maryknoll NY: Orbis Books
Hill, Samuel S.(1983). Religion in the southern United States: A historical study. Macon, GA: Mercer Press
McBrien, Richard (1995). Harper Collins encyclopedia of Catholicism, New York: Harper Collins pp 871-874
Overseas Ministries Study Center: http://www.omsc.org/. Accessed 12.17.2012
Notes supplied by Sister Angelyn Dries 1.2.2013
Detailed Description of the Collection
Series One,
1987
(8 boxes)
Series One: Boxes 1 -7 contain folders of survey responses by individual orders along with supplementary books and pamphlets. A list of non- responsive orders is included with Box 8.
1
1
59. Holy Ghost Fathers - CSSP, Bethel Park, PA
1987
1
2
62. Jesuits - SJ, Bronx, NY,
1987
1
3
64. Jesuits - SJ, New Orleans, LA,
1987
1
4
67. Jesuits - SJ, Chicago, IL,
1987
1
5
68. Jesuits - SJ, Portland, OR,
1987
1
6
69. Jesuits - SJ, Detroit, MI,
1987
1
7
70. Jesuits - SJ, Milwaukee, WI,
1987
1
8
70A. Jesuit Conference, Washington DC,
1987
1
9
73. Marist Fathers -SM, Chestnut Hill, MA,
1987
1
10
77. Marianists - SM, Dayton, OH,
1987
1
11
78. Marianists - SM, St. Louis, MO,
1987
1
12
79. Marianists - SM, Cupertino, CA,
1987
1
13
81. Oblates of Mary Immaculate - OMI, San Antonio, TX,
1987
1
14
84. Oblates of Mary Immaculate - OMI, St. Paul, MN,
1987
1
15
87. Vincentians - CM, St. Louis, MO,
1987
1
16
90. Trinitarians - OSST, Pikesville, MD,
1987
1
17
92. Missionaries of LaSalette- MS, Attleboro, MA,
1987
1
18
93. Missionaries of LaSalette - MS, St. Louis, MO,
1987
1
19
96. Passionists - CP, Chicago, IL,
1987
1
20
97. Paulists - CSP, Scarsdale, NY,
1987
1
21
137. Alexian Brothers - CFA, Elk Grove Village, IL,
1987
1
22
138. Congress of Christian Brothers - CFC, New Rochelle, NY,
1987
1
23
139. Congress of Christian Brothers - CFC, Romeoville, IL,
1987
1
24
140. Brothers of Christian Instruction - FIC, Alfred, ME,
1987
1
25
149. Holy Cross Brothers - CSC, Notre Dame, IN,
1987
1
26
151. Holy Cross Brothers - CSC, New Rochelle, NY,
1987
1
27
156. Brothers of Sacred Heart -SC, Belvidere, NJ,
1987
1
28
157. Xaverian Brothers - CFX, Kensington, MD,
1987
2
1
102. Precious Blood Fathers - CPPS, Dayton OH,
1987
2
2
103. Norbertines - O Praem, De Pere, WI,
1987
2
3
104. Redemptorists - CSSR, Brooklyn NY,
1987
2
4
106. Redemptorists - CSSR, SF, CA,
1987
2
5
109. Josephite Fathers - SSJ, Baltimore, MD,
1987
2
6
110. Priest of the Sacred Heart - SCJ, Hales Corners, WI,
1987
2
7
111. Congregation of the Sacred Heart - SSCC, Fairhaven, MA,
1987
2
8
112. Missionaries of St. Charles - CS, NY, NY (Scalabrinians),
1987
2
9
113. Society of St. Columbian - SSC, St Columbans, NE,
1987
2
10
114. Society of St. Edmund - SSE, Burlington, VT,
1987
2
11
116. Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, Toledo OH,
1987
2
12
118. Salesians -SDB, New Rochelle, NY,
1987
2
13
123. Missionaries of Africa - M. Afr (White Fathers), Washington DC,
1987
2
14
124. Xavierian Missionary Fathers - SX, Wayne, NJ,
1987
2
15
125. Missionhurst - CICM, Arlington, VA,
1987
2
16
128. Suplicians - SS, Baltimore MD,
1987
2
17
131. Sons of Mary Missionary Soc. - FMSI, Framingham MA,
1987
2
18
132. Pauline Fathers - OSP, Doylestown, PA,
1987
3
1
168. Benedictine Sisters - OSB, St. Joseph, MN,
1987
3
2
171. Missionary Benedictines - OSB, Norfolk, NE,
1987
3
3
172. Olivetan Benedictine Sisters - OSB, North Jonesboro, AR,
1987
3
4
173. Corpus Christi Carmelites,
1987
3
5
174. Discalced Carmelite Nuns - OCD, Towson MD,
1987
3
6
176. Discalced Carmelite Nuns - OCD, Santa Fe, NM,
1987
3
7
178. Sisters of Charity of Incarnate Word - CCVI, Grapevine, TX,
1987
3
8
180. Daughters of Charity - DC, Emmitsburg, MD,
1987
3
9
181. Daughters of Charity - DC, St. Louis, MO,
1987
3
10
182. Daughters of Charity - DC, Evansville, IN,
1987
3
11
183. Daughters of Charity - DC, Albany, NY,
1987
3
12
187. Sisters of Charity (Grey Nuns) - SGM, Lexington, MA,
1987
3
13
188. Sisters of Charity - SC, Mt. St. Joseph, OH,
1987
3
14
189. Sisters of Charity - St. Hyacinth - SCSH, Lewiston, ME,
1987
3
15
191. Sisters of Charity - Leavenworth - SCL, Leavenworth, KS,
1987
3
16
192. Sisters of Charity of Nazareth - SCN, Nazareth, KY,
1987
3
17
194. Sisters of Providence - SP, Seattle WA,
1987
3
18
195. Sisters of Providence - SP, Spokane. WA,
1987
3
19
196. Sisters of Charity of St. Elizabeth, Convent Station, NJ,
1987
3
20
198. Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent, Bronx, NY,
1987
3
21
199. Sisters of Charity of Seton Hall - SC, Greensburg, PA,
1987
3
22
202. Sisters of Charity of BVM - BVM, Dubuque, IA,
1987
3
23
208. Sisters of Good Shepherd - RGS, St. Louis, MO,
1987
3
24
213. Sisters of Divine Savior - SDS, Milwaukee, WI,
1987
3
25
217. Dominican Sisters - OP, Columbus, OH,
1987
3
26
419. Sisters of St Joseph - SSJ, Holyoke, MA,
1987
3
27
420. Sisters of St Joseph - CSJ, Wichita, KS,
1987
3
28
421. Sisters of St Joseph Carondelet, St Louis, MO,
1987
3
29
422. Sisters of St. Joseph Carondelet, St Paul, MN,
1987
3
30
423. Sisters of St. Joseph Carondelet, St Paul, MN,
1987
3
31
425. Sisters of St. Joseph Carondelet, Honolulu, HI,
1987
3
32
426. Sisters of St. Joseph of Chamberg, West Hartford, CT,
1987
3
33
428. Sisters of St. Joseph of Medaille, New Orleans LA,
1987
3
34
430. Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace, Englewood Cliffs, NJ,
1987
3
35
431. Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace, Bellevue, WA,
1987
3
36
435. Society of St. Ursula, Rhinebeck, NY,
1987
3
37
436. Ursuline Nuns - OSU, Bronx NY,
1987
3
38
437. Ursuline Nuns - OSU, Chrystal City, MO,
1987
3
39
439. Ursuline Nuns - OSU, Dedham, MA,
1987
3
40
440. Ursuline Nuns - OSU, Louisville, KY,
1987
3
41
441. Ursuline Nuns - OSU, Cleveland, OH,
1987
3
42
442. Ursuline Nuns of Tildork - RU, Jamaica, NY,
1987
3
43
443. Vincentian Sisters of Charity - VSC, Pgh, PA,
1987
3
44
448. Sisters of Lamb of God - AD, Philpot, KY,
1987
3
45
452. Poor Clare Missionary Sisters - MC, Santa Ana,CA
1987
4
1
218. Dominican Sisters - OP, Sinsinawa, WI,
1987
4
2
219. Dominican Sisters - OP, San Rafael, CA,
1987
4
3
220. Dominican Sisters - OP, Amityville, NY,
1987
4
4
222. Dominican Sisters - OP, Racine, WI,
1987
4
5
223. Dominican Sisters - OP, Springfield IL,
1987
4
6
224. Dominican Sisters - OP, Sparkill, NY,
1987
4
7
226. Dominican Sisters - OP, Adrian, MI,
1987
4
8
227. Dominican Sisters - OP, Grand Rapids, MI,
1987
4
9
228. Dominican Sisters - OP, Blauvelt, NY,
1987
4
10
233. Dominican Sisters - OP, Kenosha, WI,
1987
4
11
234. Maryknoll Sisters - MM, Maryknoll, NY,
1987
4
12
254. Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph - FSSJ, Hamburg, NY,
1987
4
13
259. Sisters of St. Francis - OSF, Glenn Riddle, PA,
1987
4
14
260. Sisters of St. Francis - OSF, Pgh, PA,
1987
4
15
262. Missionary Sisters of Immaculate Conception - SMIC, Patterson, NJ,
1987
4
16
264. School Sisters of St. Francis - SSSF, Milwaukee, WI,
1987
4
17
267. Servants of the Holy Infancy - OSF, N. Plainfield, NJ,
1987
4
18
268. Sisters of the Infant Jesus - IJ, Daly City, CA,
1987
4
19
269. Sisters of St. Francis - OSF, Green Bay, WI,
1987
4
20
271. Sisters of St. Francis - OSF, Denver, CO,
1987
4
21
277. Sisters of St. Mary - SSM, St. Louis, MO,
1987
4
22
281. Franciscans of Mary Immaculate - FMI, Amarillo, TX,
1987
4
23
283. Sisters of St. Francis - OSF, Milwaukee, WI,
1987
4
24
286. Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother - SSM, Milwaukee, WI,
1987
4
25
288. Sisters of St. Francis - OSF, Rochester, MN,
1987
4
26
289. Franciscan Sisters of Allegany - OSF, Allegany NY,
1987
4
27
290. Sisters of Immaculate Heart - SCIM, Saco, ME,
1987
4
28
291. Sisters of the Holy Cross - CSC, Notre Dame, IN,
1987
4
29
292. Sisters of the Holy Cross - CSC, Pittsfield, NH,
1987
4
30
294. Servants of the Holy Spirit - SSPS, Techny, IL
1987
4
31
295. Sisters of the Holy Spirit - SHSP, San Antonio, TX,
1987
4
32
296. Sisters of Holy Family - SSF, NO LA,
1987
4
33
299. Sisters of Holy Family of Nazareth, Phila, PA,
1987
4
34
335. Sisters of IHM, Scranton, PA,
1987
4
35
343. Sisters of Mercy - RSM, W. Hartford, CT
1987
4
36
346. Sisters of Mercy - RSM, Pgh PA,
1987
4
37
349. Sisters of Mercy - RSM, Rochester, NY,
1987
4
38
350. Sisters of Mercy - RSM, Burlingame, CA,
1987
5
1
237. Monastery of St. Clare- OSC, Mpls, MN,
1987
5
2
239. Bernadine Sisters - OSF, Villanova, PA,
1987
5
3
240. Franciscan Sisters - FSPA, LaCrosse, WI
1987
5
4
241. Sisters of St. Francis - OSF, Oldenburg, IN,
1987
5
5
242. Sisters of St. Francis - OSF, Joliet, IL,
1987
5
6
243. Felician Sisters - CSSF, Livonia, MI,
1987
5
7
248. Franciscan Missionaries of Mary - FMM, New York, NY,
1987
6
1
1. Society of African Missions - SMA, Tenafly, NJ,
1987
6
2
3. Franciscans of Atonement - SA, New York, NY,
1987
6
3
5. Augustinians - OSA, Olympia Fields, IL,
1987
6
4
10. Benedictine Fathers - OSB, Collegeville, MN,
1987
6
5
11. Benedictine Fathers - OSB, Achison, KS,
1987
6
6
13. Benedictine Fathers - OSB, Lisle, IL,
1987
6
7
14. Benedictine Fathers - OSB, Richardton, ND,
1987
6
8
17. Benedictine Fathers - OSB, St. Meinrads, IN,
1987
6
9
19. Benedictine Fathers - OSB, St Joseph, LA,
1987
6
10
20. Benedictine Fathers - OSB, St Benedict, OR,
1987
6
11
22. Benedictine Fathers - OSB, Benet Lake, WI,
1987
6
12
28. Capuchin Friars - OFM Cap, Pgh, PA,
1987
6
13
33. Legion of Christ - LC, Cheshire, CT,
1987
6
14
34. Claretion Priests and Brothers - CMF, LA, CA,
1987
6
15
40. Franciscan Friars - OFM, Cincinnati, OH,
1987
6
16
42. Franciscan Friars - OFM, Pulaski, WI,
1987
6
17
48. Conv. Franciscans - OFM, Conv, Baltimore, MD,
1987
6
18
55. Holy Cross Fathers - CSC, South Bend, IN,
1987
6
19
333. Sisters of I.H.M., Monroe, MI,
1987
6
20
363. Xaverian Missionary Society - XMM, Worcester, MA,
1987
6
21
364. Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa, Washington DC,
1987
6
22
365. Comboni Missionary Sisters - CMS, Richmond, VA,
1987
6
23
366. Mission Helpers of Sacred Heart - MHSH, Baltimore, MD,
1987
6
24
368. Religious Teachers of Filipinni - MFP, Morristown, NJ,
1987
6
25
369. Our Lady of Victory Missionary Sisters, Huntington IN,
1987
6
26
370. Adorers of Blood of Christ - Red Bud, IL,
1987
6
27
371. Adorers of Blood of Christ - Wichita, Kansas,
1987
6
28
372. Sisters of Precious Blood - CPPS, Dayton, OH,
1987
6
29
373. Sisters of Precious Blood - CPPS, O'Fallon, MO,
1987
6
30
374. School Sisters of Notre Dame - SSND, Milwaukee, WI,
1987
6
31
375. School Sisters of Notre Dame - SSND, Baltimore, MD,
1987
6
32
376. School Sisters of Notre Dame - SSND, St. Louis, MO,
1987
6
33
383. Sisters of Notre Dame - SND, Ipswich MA,
1987
6
34
386. Sisters of Notre Dame - SND, Cincinnati, OH,
1987
7
1
249. Franciscan Missionaries for Africa. Brighton, MA,
1987
7
2
250. Franciscan Missionary Sisters - OSF, Soquel, CA,
1987
7
3
253. Franciscans of Christian Charity, Manitowoc, WI,
1987
7
4
302. Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception - Montreal CANADA,
1987
7
5
306. Ancilla Domini Sisters - PHCJ, Donaldson, IN,
1987
7
6
307. Religions of Jesus and Mary - RJM, Hyattsville, MD,
1987
7
7
312. Society of the Holy Child Jesus - SHCJ, Drexel Hill, PA,
1987
7
8
317. Marist Missionary Sisters - SMSM, Waltham MA,
1987
7
9
318. Religious of heart of Mary - RSHM, Tarrytown, NY,
1987
7
10
325. Sisters of Presentation of Mary - PM, Manchester, NH,
1987
7
11
327. Sisters of Presentation - PBVM, Dubuque, IA,
1987
7
12
328. Sisters of Presentation - Newburgh, NY,
1987
7
13
329. Sisters of Presentation - PBVM, SF, CA,
1987
7
14
334. Sisters of IHM, Immaculata, PA,
1987
7
15
352. Sisters of Mercy - RSM, Chicago, IL,
1987
7
16
355. Sisters of Mercy, RSM, Dobbs Ferry, NY,
1987
7
17
357. Sisters of Mercy - RSM, St. Louis, MO,
1987
7
18
391. Daughters of St. Paul - DSP, Jamaica Plain, MA,
1987
7
19
392. Little Sisters of the Poor - LSP, Queens Village, NY,
1987
7
20
395. Sisters of Divine Providence - CDP, Allison Park, PA,
1987
7
21
396. Sisters of Divine Providence - CDP, Melbourne, KY,
1987
7
22
397. Sisters of Providence - SP, Holyoke, MA,
1987
7
23
398. Sisters of Providence - SP, St Mary of Woods, IN,
1987
7
24
399. Sisters of Resurrection - CR, Chicago IL,
1987
7
25
401. Religion of Holy Union - SUSC, Fall River, MA,
1987
7
26
404. Congress of St. Agnes - CSA, Fond du Lac, WI,
1987
7
27
408. Missionary Sisters of St. Columbian, Chicago, IL,
1987
7
28
411. Sisters of St Joseph - CSJ, Brighton, MA,
1987
7
29
414. Sisters of St. Joseph - SSJ, Erie, PA,
1987
7
30
415. Sisters of St. Joseph - SSJ, Nazareth, MI,
1987
7
31
416. Sisters of St. Joseph - CSJ, Baden, PA,
1987
7
32
418. Sisters of Joseph - CSJ, Concordia, KS,
1987
Series Two,
1987-1989, 2012
(1 box)
Box 8 contains correspondence pertaining to the Religious Communities and Missions Survey along with original research and VHS tapes of Stransky lecture
8
1
Religious Communities and Missionaries Survey Collection Notes
2012
8
2
Dries, Angelyn,
1988
8
3
Loretto Sisters - China,
1987
8
4
Kennelly, Karen,
1988
8
5
Maher - USCMA Writing of History,
1987-1989
8
6
SSND Missions,
(n.d.)
8
7
Stransky Ideas: History of American Missions,
1987
8
8
Stransky Talk September 1987,
1987
8
9
Bibliography - Missions,
1987-1988
8
10
USCMA - Annual Missionary Survey,
1982-1987
8
11
USCMA - Attitudes Toward Mission,
1977, 1984
8
12
USCMA - Archives,
(n.d.)
8
13
Assorted Stransky research,
ca.1987
8
14
Stransky Talk VHS,
1987
(2 VHS tapes of lecture)