Letter to Members: Central Catholic Archive
An update for CoR members on the possibility of developing a shared central Catholic archive for Religious congregations.
Dear Members,
Re: Central Catholic Archive
As you will know, CoR held one of its Collaboration events in 2025 on the subject of a shared Catholic Archive for Religious who are seeking a shared repository for their Archives.
Dr Jonathan Bush, who many of you will know from his work with Durham University and as Vice Chairman of the Catholic Archives Society, spoke of the need for a shared Catholic Archive and the work that had been ongoing for some time in trying to identify such a facility.
At that time Downside Abbey was discussed at the time as a potential shared facility, and we now understand that they are focusing on collecting Archives from English Benedictine Communities, male and female.
At the CoR AGM in May this year, some of you who had previously expressed interest in such a shared Archive facility, approached me asking if any other options for a central Archive were being considered.
With the permission of the Congregation, I can share with you that one female Congregation are now actively considering if such a central Archive could be developed on a site they have in the Midlands.
As you will appreciate, it is important that they are allowed to go through their own feasibility study, including the impact on finance and buildings, with the help of their key staff and professional advisors, without pressure, and before engaging with other Congregations. I believe this feasibility study, which I am personally involved in, will take around 6 months.
As the project develops, if it appears to be a likelihood of this option proceeding, then I will suggest an initial online meeting with all CoR members to gauge the amount of interest and share any information we may have by then.
In the meantime, if CoR members have any questions or information to offer, then please do let us know.
Best wishes,
Susan Thoams
CoREW General Secretary
Letter from the CoR Collaboration Committee: 2026 Workshops
Building on the success of our previous workshop series, we are pleased to share details of our upcoming workshops.
6th January 2027
Dear Members,
I hope that you have had a blessed and restful Christmas and a peaceful entry into 2026!
First of all, we want to thank you very much for completing the evaluation forms following last year’s Collaboration workshops. We were greatly encouraged and helped by your appreciation of the individual sessions as well as the annual programme as a whole, and we were most grateful for your suggestions for topics for this coming year. When we met to reflect on your feedback, it was clear to us that one or two topics need revisiting and could appropriately and usefully be held on-line rather than in person. In addition, we noted that issues other than those we have prioritised for the past two years - leadership, governance and management – are also in need of mutual exploration and collaboration.
We are therefore offering the following programme for 2026:
1. Vocations and Initial Formation.
On Thursday 26th February from 10.45am (coffee 10.15) to 3.30pm at Selly Park Conference Centre, Birmingham. This session will be an opportunity to explore the topic in the context of today’s world and the current life of Congregations. Sr. Liz Dodd SSJP will join others in contributing their thoughts and experiences.
2. Archives – a follow-up workshop
On Wednesday 11th March from 1.30 – 3.30pm. This will be held on-line by Zoom and will be led by Ms Jenny Smith, whose practical input was so much appreciated when she spoke at last year’s workshop.
3. Community dynamics and working with challenging behaviours.
On Wednesday 10th June from 10.45am (coffee 10.15) to 3.30pm at Selly Park Conference Centre, Birmingham. A psychologist will explore some of the dynamics at work in community relationships and how these can be better understood and worked with.
4. Transitioning to CIO – managing Governance and trusteeship.
On Thursday 9th July from 1.30 – 3.30 pm. This will be held on-line by Zoom and will be led both by professional advisors and religious leaders who have successfully transitioned to CIO.
5. Spirituality of Ageing.
On Thursday 1st October the Convent of the little Sisters of the Poor, Vauxhall, London.
As previously, we invite up to two representatives of each Member Congregation to attend the workshops. Attendees do not need to be the Provincial or leader, and could also be a lay colleague or collaborator involved in a particular area of the administration, community life, etc.
There is no cost for attendance and sandwich lunch will be provided; this is covered by your annual subscription.
Nearer the time, we will send out invitations relating to each of the workshops and ask you to book your place.
The booking form for the first two workshops is available here and should be completed and returned to admin@corew.org.
We look forward to seeing you at the 2026 Workshops, and to all our Members collaborating together as we move forward into the future.
Wishing you every blessing on you and your Congregation for the coming year,
Jane Maltby RSCJ
On behalf of the CoR Collaboration Committee