Our past, present, and future depicted beautifully in new Loretto Heritage Center Particular honor paid to Loretto’s teaching tradition
The Center was dedicated on April 22 in Nerinx, Ky., complete with a blessing, ribbon-cutting ceremony, and reception for major donors and honored guests. The Loretto Community enjoyed a similar celebration and open house two days later as a part of the Community’s 200th Anniversary Jubilee Homecoming at the Motherhouse.
Denise Ann Clifford SL, left, leads the parade to the Loretto Heritage Center: Archives and Museum.
Timeline 2000: Concept of an Archives/Heritage Center was raised. 2002-2005: Initial concepts explored with The Westerly Group, Inc., Madison, Ind., and consulting architects Donovan & Donovan, Vincennes, Ind. A death within Westerly Group put the project on hold. 2006: Loretto Administration reexamined, reevaluated the project. 2007: Exeutive Committee approved Phase 1: Renovation of the historic Loretto Auditorium, once two-thirds of funding was raised. Campaign launched to secure funding for Phase I. 2008: Renovation began. 2009: Loretto Archives relocated to newly renovated space. Archives opened for business on second level of Heritage Center. Museum opened to the public on first level with temporary exhibits. 2010: Funding received for Phase 2: Overall design and permanent exhibits. Professional designers contracted; Loretto team appointed to work with them to design and present Loretto’s story. 2011: Special Appeal to create and install permanent exhibits. April 2012: Formal Dedication/Blessing of the Loretto Heritage Center: Archives & Museum.
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Magazine
Photos by Donna Mattingly SL
“N
ever in my wildest, most fantastic dreams did I think the Loretto Heritage Center would look and feel the way it does,” said Loretto Development Director Denise Ann Clifford SL. “I had dreamed about what it would look like, but when I actually walked in there — to be enveloped by all this beauty and history, and all the spirit that goes into that kind of project — it was like a dream come true. Who knew back in the year 2000 that this would be real? I felt like the Velveteen Rabbit. This is real, at last!”