Brainstorm Session: Acknowledging Loss and Archiving Experience in the Wake of Catholic Church Closures

July 23, 2021, 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. *new time!*

Join historian Margo Shea in a reflective conversation about how historical societies, museums and other history organizations can participate productively in addressing and archiving a history happening in our midst — the closure of Catholic churches across the Commonwealth. For over 150 years, churches have served as important neighborhood institutions, archives of ethnic, immigrant histories, reflections of changing neighborhoods, town and cities and spaces for gatherings of all kinds. They are multi-generational touchstones for many families, sites of memory rich with history.  The grief Catholics and former Catholics are experiencing at the demolition of churches or their sale and renovation into condos, offices, etc. is complicated by the closures’ links to the clergy sexual abuse crisis.  We will explore the layers of history in play and consider how history organizations can participate and take the lead in processes that respond to church closures.

Registration is free. REGISTER HERE.

This Conversation will be livestreamed. We will do our best to monitor your questions and comments during the livestream. A recording will be publicly available in the Conversations on the Commons Archive.



Questions? Be in touch with Caroline Littlewood: commons@masshistoryalliance.org


Conversations on the Commons

Where people from Massachusetts history organizations get to vent, empathize, laugh, complain, think, collaborate, brainstorm, plan, and in general be up to no good.