History of Project OPUS and the McGreal Center
1982–the Present
The program of research in American ؿζSM history, Project OPUS, was launched in 1985 at the ؿζSM Study Center in Chicago. In 2007, Project OPUS relocated to ؿζSM. A brief chronicle tells of its development.
1982
The ؿζSM Sisters of Sinsinawa voted at the 17th General Chapter to establish a Study Center and formed a commission to solicit ideas concerning its purpose and location.
1984 April
Report of study commission concerning sisters’ responses; Sister Mary Nona McGreal, OP assigned as coordinator.
1984 ff.
Study Conferences for U.S. ؿζSMs, archivists, historians and congregation secretaries sponsored by Project OPUS and the Parable Conference for ؿζSM Life and Mission. ؿζSM friars, nuns, sisters, laity and the DLC supported conferences known as In Our Keeping.
1985 August
ؿζSMs of the United States invited to participate in historical research at the new center, located at St. Martin de Porres Parish, 5082 W. Jackson Boulevard, Chicago. Early responses came from Sisters of Akron, Newburgh, Grand Rapids, Adrian; Friars, St. Albert and St. Joseph Provinces, Laity, ؿζSM Nuns.
1985 ff.
Documentary gathering; research for Project OPUS: History of the Order of Preachers in the United States.
1989 ff.
OPUS officially sponsored the ؿζSM Leadership Conference.
1994
Publication of Friar in the Wilderness: Edward Dominic Fenwick, OP, by Sr. Loretta Petit, OP.
2000
Publication of ؿζSMs at Home in a Young Nation: 1786–1865 Vol. I of The Order of Preachers in the United States: A Family History.
2001–2006
Research continues for Vol. II, 1865–1910.
2007
Project OPUS relocates to the Mary Nona McGreal, OP Center for ؿζSM Historical Studies at ؿζSM, River Forest, Illinois
2008
In Our Keeping Conference resumes – 2008, 2010, 2012
2009
The McGreal Center becomes a part of ؿζSM; McGreal Center acquires the archives of The Parable Conference for ؿζSM Life and Mission.
2010 to the Present
McGreal Center is the repository for 27 ؿζSM family collections.
2011
The McGreal Center hosts the ؿζSM Archives for the 21st Century: A Family Conversation conference.
2014
“Think Tank”: formulation of design and topics for Volume II: ؿζSM on Mission.
2014–2019
Research and writing for Volume II continues.
2020
Volume II, Preaching with Their Lives: ؿζSMs on Mission after 1850 is published on November 3, 2020, by Fordham University Press. Fordham University Press to purchase.
2022
Forthcoming issue of U.S. Catholic Historian will be published in the Summer of 2022 to commemorate the 200th Anniversary of ؿζSM Women Religious in the United States.