Preserving stories of the past for future generations
By Catherine Sheehan
Catholic Archivists from dioceses around Australia recently gathered in Hobart to discuss the many and varied aspects of their important vocation within the Church—preserving and keeping alive the stories of the past.
The 23rd Annual Meeting of the Catholic Diocesan Archivists of Australia was held from 9 to 11 September, hosted by the Archdiocese of Hobart’s Archives and Heritage Collection, and bringing together 21 Archivists.
Following a special Mass celebrated by Archbishop Tony Ireland at St Mary’s Cathedral, the Meeting was convened at Rydges, Hobart, where presentations were given by guest speakers from around the county.
Topics covered included digitisation, access, collection management, preservation, institutional memory and current archival projects underway around Australia.
“I wanted delegates to leave with ideas they could take back and apply in their own archives, regardless of the size of their collection or organisation,” said Naomi Skelly, event organiser and Manager of the Archdiocese’s Archives.
“We had not met face-to-face for two years and there were several newer Archivists attending for the first time,” she said.
“The conference became an opportunity not only to share professional knowledge, but also to reconnect, build relationships and strengthen the network that supports Catholic archives across Australia.”
Naomi said it was the casual conversations between Archivists over afternoon tea or lunch that proved the most valuable.
“Those informal conversations allow people to share ideas, seek advice, discuss challenges and discover they are not facing those challenges alone.
“Archives are often thought of as being about documents and records, but in many ways archives are really about people. They are about preserving the stories, faith journeys and history of our communities for future generations.”
Archivist from the Archdiocese of Brisbane, Brendan Kelly, said the best aspect of the conference was having the opportunity to connect with other Archivists.
“Some of the most useful discussions happened outside the formal sessions, where we could speak openly about our experiences and exchange practical ideas,” he said.
“The location in Hobart also provided a wonderful opportunity to engage with the history and heritage of Tasmania and to see how other institutions are caring for and presenting their collections.”
Perth Archdiocese Archivist, Odhran O’Brien said he gained valuable insights into how Archivists in other dioceses are serving the Church through their work.
“The meeting was an important reminder that Archivists perform a service to the Church through a ministry of memory, preserving its records and the tangible reminders of the work of so many who have spread the Gospel message throughout Australia,” he said.
“In doing so, we safeguard the Church’s rich cultural heritage and make its history available to support its present life and future mission.”
Jessica Attard of the Melbourne Archdiocese said she enjoyed hearing how other dioceses were managing digitisation initiatives and modern preservation challenges.
“As my first conference, it completely exceeded my expectations,” she said.
“It was a wonderful, engaging few days. Naomi did an amazing job getting it all together, and ensuring that everyone was taken care of. I’m already looking forward to returning to Hobart one day to explore more of its rich history at a slower pace.”
In his homily, Archbishop Tony spoke to the Archivists about the true value of preserving the stories of the past within the Catholic Church.
“We preserve the story because the story leads somewhere,” he said.
“The names in baptismal registers, the letters of bishops, parish correspondence, photographs, sacramental records, minutes, diaries and all those documents which someone once wondered whether it was worth keeping—together they preserve something of the mysterious movement of grace in and through human lives.”
“Archivists preserve the story so that others may learn the story, and still others may tell the story.
“In the Catholic tradition, the story is certainly about people and places, about communities that flourished and institutions that changed. And, all those stories lead us back to Nazareth.
“They lead us to Jesus Christ.”