The Women Religious Archives Collaborative announced it was awarded a $4.7 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. through its National Storytelling Initiative on Christian Faith and Life. The grant will fund a five-year project to share the stories of Catholic sisters, past and present, as examples of vibrant Christian lives and service.
WRAC is one of four collaborative repositories in the country that will hold the archives of Catholic sisters. It can accommodate the archives of up to 75 congregations. Forty-five congregations already are participating.
“This is truly a transformative gift that will ensure that when the WRAC Heritage Center opens in (spring) 2027 the public and researchers will be able to engage with the collections in WRAC’s care and learn from the stories of women religious about the role of faith and service, women’s leadership, and the power of community to make meaningful change to better our world. We are humbled and filled with gratitude for this significant opportunity,” said Margaret Eigsti, managing director of WRAC.
The focus of Lilly Endowment’s National Initiative on Christian Faith and Life is to help organizations identify, produce and share compelling stories that portray the vibrancy and hope of Christian faith and life. The Women Religious Archives Collaborative is one of 60 organizations in the country that have received grants through the initiative since 2024.
Eigsti said WRAC’s five-year project will connect a diverse multigenerational audience with stories of Catholic sisters by drawing on the histories within their archives. “Visitors and researchers will encounter the real lives and struggles of these faith-filled women through multimedia in-person and online exhibits, storytelling programs and a research fellowship in the future heritage center. The project aims to increase awareness of the role of women religious, inspire reflection on Christian faith and service, and provide practical wisdom for personal and communal growth,” Eigsti said.
The grant will amplify WRAC’s mission to preserve and share the histories of Catholic sisters in the United States by supporting the processing of archival collections, identification of compelling stories within them, and the sharing of these stories in relatable and engaging ways, she added. Most notably, Eigsti said the grant will assist WRAC in developing its in-person and online exhibits in the heritage center, add archival staff to process collections so that they can be made accessible, and host a fellowship to encourage research on Catholic sisters.
Ground was broken in July for the 30,000-square-foot heritage facility at 2490 E. 22nd St. in Cleveland’s Central neighborhood. WRAC is across the street from the Sisters of Charity Health System headquarters building. The area has been served by Catholic sisters since 1865, when the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine opened St. Vincent Charity Hospital in the neighborhood shortly after the Civil War ended.
Click here to learn more about WRAC, which also is featured in the December 2025 Northeast Ohio Catholic Report.