Our Day in Joliet

 

Marian, Malachy, Mary and Joan with the Blues Brothers at the Joilet Museum



Entrance to the museum

 On Saturday October 2, 2010, three CARA members, Malachy McCarthy, Mary Hennessey and Joan Sweeney, met at the Joliet Area Historical  Museum for a special day of tours, exhibits and archives.   Sister Marian Voelker, Congregation Archivist from the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate (the Joliet Franciscans), was our guide for the day.



Sr. Marian Voelker, OSF at the exhibit

 First, we quickly toured through the Joliet Museum itself since none of us had ever been there before.  It opened in 2002 - part of it is a converted Methodist Church and it still has the beautiful stained glass windows.  Here we viewed a special exhibit of the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immacualate celebrating 145 years serving God and the community. 

Lunch followed at a little cafe in downtown Joliet where the food was plenty and the prices very reasonable!  It was right across the street from the Joliet Public Library - a beautiful stone building.  Stone and steel is what Joliet is known for - in the past anyway.

Then we were off - up the hill - to visit the archives at the University of St. Francis.  Linnea Knapp, the archivist, gave us a tour and showed us their special collections, processing and storage areas located in the library on campus.  Linnea just published a book this year called The University of St. Francis (Campus History) - part of the Campus History Series with Arcadia Publishing. 

Mother Alfred Moes, Foundress

The last stop on the tour, about 10 minutes from the campus, was the administrative offices of the Sisters of St. Francis.  Here is where their archives are located and where Sr. Marian works.  We visited the display room and her facilities.  Thanks Marian for a wonderful day in Joliet and getting to know the history of the Joliet area, the university and your congregation. 

Congratulations on 145 years in ministry there!