Archives

SOCIETY OF SAINT EDMUND ARCHIVES
Committees

Arrangement
This record group is divided into series.  Each committee is its own series.  This record group will continue to grow, and new committees may be added to this record group as records are transferred. 

General Note
The Superior General of the Society of Saint Edmund appoints committees as needed to offer additional advice to him and his council.  The Superior General gives the committee a mandate, but it may establish its own rules of procedure.  Some committees, such as the Finance Committee and the Investment Committee, are standing committees and assist with the regular operations of the Society.  Most, however, are formed with specific achievable goals in mind.  Such committees are usually disbanded after their mandate has been filled.

Committees

Apostolate 1970-1978 Folder List
Audit 2000-present  Folder List
Board of Hearing 1970-1980 Folder List
Committee on Centenary 1943 Folder List
Committee on Studies 1955 Folder List
Committee on Youth 1967 Folder List
Constitutions 1968-1986 Folder List
COSATA 1967-1969 Folder List
Development 2000-2002 Folder List
Edmundite Development Commission 1962-1967 Folder List
Evangelism Committee 1994 Folder List
Finance Committee  1967-present Folder List
Formation 1969-1990 Folder List
Government Committee 1968-69 Folder List
Investment Committee 1982-present Folder List
Poverty 1977 Folder List
Retirement 1971-1983, 1993-1994 Folder List

 Apostolate committee (1970-1978)

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History
The apostolate committee existed from 1970-1978.  Its primary purpose was to review works and make recommendations regarding SSE apostolates and use of personnel.  Some of the areas studied in depth by this committee include prioritizing the apostolates for the 1974 Chapter, a look at the conversations between the Bishops and religious as regards the apostolates, and how to make use of Fairholt, the estate once owned by the society.

Scope
This series consists of correspondence, minutes, and the 1974 Manpower Report.

Folder List
1          Correspondence
2          Minutes
3          Manpower
 

Audit Committee (2000-  )
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History/Scope
The audit committee held its first meeting on January 24, 2000.  The committee, made up of three members, including the Treasurer General as chair and two other members, was charged with recommending the auditors, discussing the scope of thaudit and okaying any special arrangements.  The committee was also charged with reviewing the auditor’s statements and the conduct of the audit and making advisory comments. The Superior General of the Society appoints the committee members. 

The series consists of minutes of meetings. 
Minutes            2000-

COSATA (1967-1969)
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History
The Commission on Studies and Apostolate (COSATA) was instituted on Sept. 20, 1965, to assist the Superior General in studying the program of studies and the apostolate.  Its formation complied with the request of Pope Pius XII to set up such an organization.  Its role was to observe and make recommendations on the academic, spiritual, and pastoral programs for Novices and college and seminary studies for both scholastics and coadjutator brothers.  Also, the Superior General charged the committee with making recommendations for graduate studies and to coordinate the programs once begun.  The Committee was in existence until the Apostolate Committee superceded it.

Scope
The series consists of correspondence, minutes, and reports.

Folder List
1          Correspondence
2          Minutes            9/30/65-10/13/67
3          Minutes            1/68-5/16/69
4          Reports proposals
 

Board of Hearing (1970-1980)
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History
The Board of Hearing formed as a result of a resolution at the 1970 General Chapter.  It was in existence from 1970-1980 and provided a means for mediation and arbitration of conflict involving the exercise of administrative authority in the SSE.  It was set up as a safeguard against the possible misuse of authority.  There were 5 members of the committee, 2 appointed and three, a priest, a scholastic and a brother, elected.  It does not appear to have been particularly active during the ten years of its existence.

Scope
The collection consists of general materials related to the board, including a detailed explanation of its charge and some correspondence.

Folder List
1          General

Development committee (2000-2002)
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 History/Scope
The Development Committee was established as an ad hoc committee to create a long range fund raising strategy for the society and to advise facilitate, consult and help coordinate Edmundite appeals at all its apostolates.  Membership was made up of a mix of members of the Society, Lay employees and laypersons.  One of the first actions of the committee was to recommend the hiring of a new Development Director who would work with all the apostolates of the society.  Most of the work of the committee revolved around hiring that position.  Although this position was never realized, the discussion of centralizing the Society’s  development needs was very valuable.  The development committee ceased meeting in 2002. 
The series consists of minutes, reports and correspondence related to both the committee and the development Director position. 

Folder List
General 2000-

Retirement (1971-1983, 1993-1994)
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History
The Retirement Committee, also known as the Committee on the Retired, existed from 1971-1983 and was very active for much of that time.  It was briefly revitalized in 1993.   At a time when an increasing number of SSE were approaching retirement, the Superior General appointed this committee to study the issue.  The Committee performed a great deal of research on the general issue of retirement among religious and different ways to handle to number of SSE’s who would be retiring in the coming years.  By the time the committee was disbanded, the Society had increased its retirement funding substantially, made provisions for health care and living accommodations for the retired, and set up some general guidelines and policies about the retired. 

Scope
The collection consists of collected materials, correspondence, minutes, newsletters and many reports and proposals.  It provides insight into what was an enormous issue for the Edmundites in the last half of the 20^th century.

Folder List
1          Background    1990s
2          Collected materials
3          Correspondence     1971-1977
4          Correspondence     1981-1982
5          Minutes         1971-1983
6          Minutes         1993-1994
7         Newsletters     1972-1974
8          Reports, proposals…   1971-73
9          Reports, proposals…   1974-83
 

Poverty (1977)
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History
This Committee was set up to study the vow of Poverty and what role it should play in the Constitution of the Society.  All members of the Society of Saint Edmund take a vow of poverty at their perpetual profession and annually thereafter.  Over the years, the vow of poverty meant different things.  This committee was formed to determine the role and meaning that poverty would play under the new constitutions of the Society.  Its work is represented in the chapter on poverty in the SSE Constitution (1986).   

Scope
This collection consists of general documents related to the work of the committee.
 

Folder List
1          General
 

Committee on Youth (1967)
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History
The Committee on Youth was formed to study the manner in which Edmundites could work with and promote Christian activities among teens and pre-teens.  The Society worked with youth as both a public service and a way of increasing vocations.  Eventually, individuals and apostolates began to undertake independent projects that fulfilled the mission of the committee, and the committee was phased out.   

Scope
The collection consists of general items from the committee’s work, notes, minutes, and sketches of ideas.

Folder List
1          General
 

Committee on Studies (1958-1963)
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History
The Committee on Studies was formed in 1958 to consider Sedes Sapientiae, a document issued in 1957 by the Sacred Congregation of Religious.  This document decreed that religious orders set up committees to determine if the structure of the seminary conformed to the rulings of the Holy See.  The SSE Committee on Studies considered the document and discussed what could be done to bring the the seminary program into conformity.  In 1958, the committee made some recommendations, a copy of which is included in the file.  In 1960, the committee was reformed as the Commission on Studies, and recieved an expanded charge from the Superior General.  This charge, which can be found in the files, includes studying the entire educational structure of the Society, writing a ratio studiorum,  and studying the work of the teaching Brotherhood.

Scope
This file consists of documents generated by the committee.

Folder List
1          1958-1959
2          1960-1963
 

Formation (1969-1990)
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History
The SSE Formation Committee was an active committee during the 1970’s and 1980’s.  The committee studied the role of formation, defined by the SSE Constitutions as “the process of becoming more and more a disciple of Christ, growing in union with and in configuration to Him.  For the Edmundites, formation is lifelong process that begins with postulancy. 
Throughout most of the 1970’s, the Formation Committee spent a great deal of time studying formation outside the society, in particular through the Bishops Committee on Priestly Formation.  In the 1980’s, the committee worked particularly hard at updating the Formation Handbook.  The committee disbanded in 1990, when the handbook was completed.

Scope
This collection is arranged alphabetically.  It includes correspondence, minutes, and reports of the committee, as well as drafts of the 1990 Formation Handbooks.  The bulk of the collection is from the Bishop’s Advisory Council and the Bishops Committee on Priestly Formation however, and is classified as research materials.    

Folder List
Box 1
1          Correspondence
2          Formation Handbook / 1986
3          Formation Handbook / 1989 (drafts)
4          Formation Handbook / 1989
5          Formation Handbook / 1990
6          General
7          Minutes / 1969-1977
8          Minutes / 1978-1986
9          Reports / 1970-1978
Box 2
10        Research Materials       Bishop’s Advisory Council / 1969-73
11        Research Materials       Bishop’s Advisory Council / 1974
12        Research Materials       Bishop’s Advisory Council / 1975
13        Research Materials       Bishop’s Committee on Priestly Formation / July 1974
14        Research Materials       Bishop’s Committee on Priestly Formation / 1975
15        Research Materials       Bishop’s Committee on Priestly Formation / 1975
16        Research Materials       Bishop’s Committee on Priestly Formation / 1975
17        Research Materials       Bishop’s Committee on Priestly Formation / 1/30-31/75
Box 3
18        Research Materials       Bishop’s Committee on Priestly Formation / 1/30-31/75
19        Research Materials       Bishop’s Committee on Priestly Formation / 4/28-30/75
20        Research Materials       Bishop’s Committee on Priestly Formation / 8/25-26/75
21        Research Materials       Bishop’s Committee on Priestly Formation / 1976
22        Research Materials       Bishop’s Committee on Priestly Formation / Jan. 1976
23        Research Materials       Bishop’s Committee on Priestly Formation / 4/25-26/76
24        Research Materials       Bishop’s Committee on Priestly Formation / 8/25-26/76
25        Research Materials       Bishop’s Committee on Priestly Formation / 1976-77
26        Research Materials       Bishop’s Committee on Priestly Formation / 1977
Box 4
27        Research Materials       Bishop’s Committee on Priestly Formation / 1/26-27/77
28        Research Materials       Bishop’s Committee on Priestly Formation / 5/18-19/77
29        Research Materials       Bishop’s Committee on Priestly Formation / 9/7-8/77
30        Research Materials       Bishop’s Committee on Priestly Formation / 9/7-8/77
31        Research Materials       Bishop’s Committee on Priestly Formation / 6/6-7/78
32        Research Materials       Bishop’s Committee on Priestly Formation / Visitations
33        Research Materials       Re: Homosexuality
34        Research Materials       Recruitment and Education of Indigenous Priests

Finance Committee (1967-present)
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History
The Finance Committee is one of the few standing committees of the Edmundites.  The SSE Constitution states that “a finance committee, whose members are appointed annually by the Superior General, shall advise him and his council on matters of ordinary and extraordinary financial administration concerning the Society.”  The Treasurer General is the chairman of this committee.  This committee hears reports and makes recommendations on the approval of budgets and financial reports.  The budgets and reports are submitted to the Treasurer General, who has the ultimate authority in approving them.

Scope
This collection is arranged alphabetically into subseries.  It consists mainly of minutes and correspondence, both of which contain comments or questions about financial reports and budgets.  The Treasurer General’s Office retains the record copies of financial reports and budgets.

Folder List
1          Assessments                 1972-1977
2          Correspondence           1968-1970
3          Correspondence           1970-1974
4          Correspondence           1974-1978
5          Correspondence           1978-1982
6          Correspondence           1982-1986
7          Correspondence           1982-1986
8          Correspondence           1982-1986
9          Correspondence           1986-1990
10        Correspondence           1994-1998
11        Correspondence           1998-2002
12        Edmundite Investment Ethics
13        Miscellaneous
14        Minutes                        1967-1970
15        Minutes                        1970-1974
16        Minutes                        1974-1978
17        Minutes                        1978-1982
Box 2
18        Minutes                        1982-1986
19        Minutes                        1986-1990
20        Minutes                        June 8, 1989
21        Minutes                        Nov. 27,28 1989
22        Minutes                        1990-1994
23        Minutes                        1994-1998
24        Minutes                        1998-2002
25        Minutes                        2003-2006
 

Investment (1982-present)
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History
The Investment Committee has been a subcommittee of the Finance cCommittee since 1982.  It was formed to advise specifically about investments.  When the Society first began dealing with larger sums of money, it became necessary to invest it and manage it.  The Investment Committee advises the Treasurer General and the Finance Committee on investments after studying reports and the portfolios of the various SSE accounts. 

Scope
This collection, which is arranged alphabetically, is made up primarily of minutes and supporting documents, although some correspondence and reports are included.  Most correspondence regarding specific stock/bond sales and trades was not retained. 
 
Folder List
Box 1
Correspondence Paul Devlin     1982-1985
General                        1996-1997
Investment Advisors Report      1983
Minutes,Memos,Supporting Documents            March 1984-July 1984
Investment Advisor Report       1984
Minutes,Memos, Supporting Documents           Aug. 1984-Dec. 1984
Minutes,Memos, Supporting Documents           Feb.- May 1984
Minutes,Memos, Supporting Documents           June – Dec. 1985
Box 2
Minutes                        1986
Minutes                        1987-1990
Minutes                        1999-2001
Minutes                        2001-2002
Minutes                        2003-2004
Reference Book          
Stock Portfolio S.Missions        1984                  

Constitutions (1968-1986)
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History
The Constitutions Committee was formed in 1968 to draft a new version of the SSE Constitution.  All religious orders were given this task following the Second Vatican Council.  The drafting of the SSE Constitution was a long process that began as a committee assignment but ended as the work of one man, Rev. Richard Myhalyk.  The records of the Constitutions Committee offer incredible insight into the Edmundites, as they include information from all aspects of the society, and document the processes used by the Edmundites both in and out of committee. 

The process of drafting the constitution was quite lengthy.  The committee needed to understand not only the governance of the Society, but also the spiritual life of the Society.  They also needed a working knowledge of Canon Law in order to create the new Constitutions in the proscribed manner.  The committee consulted works from scholars, religious organizations, other religious orders and material from the Edmundites own files.  They also consulted with Edmundites.  The Committee drafted a Provisional Constitution in 1970; it then went through two drafts that were never submitted to Rome for approval.  The drafts languished for a number of years before Superior General Edward Leary appointed Rev. Richard Myhalyk,SSE the Principal drafter of the constitution.

Myhalyk worked on the constitution for four years before it was sent to Rome.  He consulted all the materials left by the committee members, worked with other SSE committees, including former members of the constitutions committee, and held a series of cluster meetings at Edmundite apostolates.   He created a great number of drafts over the years, based in part on the feedback and input he received.  In 1986, the constitution was approved by the General Chapter and then sent to Rome, where it received final approval. 

 Scope
This collection is arranged into subseries by each Standing Centennial Committee and the files of the individual drafter, Rev. Richard Myhalyk, SSE.  It also includes a bibliography of materials accumulated during the 18-year drafting period.  The 1968-70 series contains many drafts.  The 1970-74, 74-78, and 78-82 series contain correspondence, drafts, and protocols, which are sometimes actually minutes of meetings.  The 1974-78 series also includes a list of the documents consulted by the committee.  The Principal drafter subseries is the largest.  It includes correspondence, many drafts, reports from the cluster meetings and consultations, and some commentary.     
 

Processing notes.  Over the many years that this committee was in existence, it accumulated a large number of documents from a number of different sources.  For the most part, these documents were only consulted, or looked to for examples, rather than used in any substantive way.  The committee collected articles on all aspects of constitution writing and canon law, in addition to requesting copies of constitutions from many other religious orders.   For reasons of space and condition, most of these documents were not preserved with the collection.  In the case of most of the documents from the SSE archives, these are found with other record groups.  The 1974-78 Committee bibliography contains a complete bibliography of all documents consulted.
 

Members of Committee:
J. McLaughlin   1973-1980
R. VanderWeel 1973-4, 1979-80
R. Berube         1974-1979
R. Doherty       1978-9
D. Cray            1976-78
C. Ranges        1975-76            
P. Couture        1973-74
F. Donnellan     1973-4
R. Myhalyk      Principal drafter           
 

Folder List
Box 1
1          Bibliography
2          1968-70           1970 constitutions        
3          1968-70           pre-chapter communication
4          1968-70           provisional constitution n.d.
5          1968-70           provisional constitution  8-1-70
6          1968-70           reports
7          1970-74           1970 constitution revised 1971
8          1970-74           1970 constitution revised nov. 1971
9          1970-74           1974 constitution
10        1970-74           letters received (icludes partial register)
11        1970-74           letters sent  (includes partial register)
12        1970-74           miscellaneous
13        1970-74           protocol numbers 1-28
14        1970-74           protocol numbers 29-58a
15        1970-74           protocol numbers 100-140
Box 2
16        1974-78           1974 constitutions French translation)
17        1974-78           From Pontigny… by J. McLaughlin (French translation)
18        1974-78           letters received (includes register) 200-309
19        1974-78           letters received  310-378
20        1974-78           letters received  379-427
21        1974-78           letters sent (including register)  200-338
22        1974-78           letters sent   339-449
23        1974-78           list of documents consulted/select documents
Box 3
24        1974-78           protocol numbers          200-239
25        1974-78           protocol numbers          240-269
26        1974-78           protocol numbers          270-295
27        1974-78           protocol numbers          296-325
28        1974-78           protocol numbers          326-345
29        1974-78           reports
30        1978-82           commentary on constitutions
31        1978-82           letters received (including register)
32        1978-82           letters sent (includes partial tregister)
33        1978-82           protocol numbers          500-532
Box 4
34        1978-82           protocol numbers 533-562
35        1978-82           protocol numbers 601-602
36        Principal drafter            background material on formation
36a      Principal drafter           charism
36b      Principal drafter            charism
37        Principal drafter            cluster meetings 1983
38        Principal drafter            cluster meetings 1985
39        Principal drafter            cluster meetings summary 1986
40        Principal drafter            commentary n.d.
41        Principal drafter            consultations     Constitutions and Directory March 1984
42        Principal drafter            consultations     first 1983
43        Principal drafter            consultations  Formation 2006
44        Principal drafter            consultations  Formation Comm. 1984
45        Principal drafter            consultors 1985
46        Principal drafter            correspondence  Chapter Prep Comm
47        Principal drafter            correspondence  Cong for Sacred and Rel.
48        Principal drafter            correspondence  General
49        Principal drafter            correspondence  Gokey
50        Principal drafter            correspondence  SSE form letters
51        Principal drafter            drafts 1983 1001 (2 10v 83)
52        Principal drafter            drafts 1983 1002-1004 8/83-10/83

Box 5
53        Principal drafter            drafts 1984 basic
54        Principal drafter            drafts 1984 doc # 1500-1502 (Authority and govt)
55        Principal drafter            drafts 1600-1607 (material on chapters)
56        Principal drafter            drafts 1984 may
57        Principal drafter            drafts 1984 june basic 2
58        Principal drafter            drafts 1985 1^st basic 3 (may ?)
59        Principal drafter            drafts 1985 2^nd
60        Principal drafter            drafts 1985 3^rd
61        Principal drafter            drafts 1985 4^th
62        Principal drafter            drafts 1985 5^th
63        Principal drafter            drafts 1985 6^th
64        Principal drafter            drafts 1985 7^th
Box 6
65        Principal drafter            drafts 1985 8^th
66        Principal drafter            drafts 1985 9^th
67        Principal drafter            drafts 1986
68        Principal drafter            drafts 1986 approved
69        Principal drafter            drafts formation 2001-2007 (9/16/83-2/13/84)
70        Principal drafter            drafts formation 5^th 6^th (1985?)
71        Principal drafter            drafts formation A-F
72        Principal drafter            drafts Formation handbook, Temporal goods (8/29/85)
73        Principal Drafter           Sources            1983 code of Canon Law
74        Principal Drafter           Sources            Muard’s Rule
75        Principal Drafter           Sources            T. Geno Articles
         

Edmundite Development Commission, 1962-1967

History
The Edmundite Development Commission was organized in 1966 to study and establish a formal development program for the whole of the Society of Saint Edmund.  The committee organized a conference, studied the possible role of a Development Coordinator, and studied how various facets of the society could work with such a director.  Their findings included establishing the need for a better public relations.  The work of the commission resulted in a formal Edmundite Devlopment Program and the appointment of a Development Coordinator.  The Commission ceased once the coordinator was appointed.

Scope
The records are arranged chronologically and consist of correspondence, meeting minutes and reports. 

Folder List
1     Aug 1962-Nov1966    
2     Dec 1966-May 1967

Evangelization Committee, 1993-1994

History
The Evangelization Committee was a short-lived committee with a specific task.  Superior General Joseph Hart convened the commiittee to discuss the role evangelization would play in the future of the community.  At the October 1993 meeting of the committee, they agreed that their deliberations should be stated in terms of  "A Compelling Vision for the Future."  The committee met and deliberated on a specific set of questions set forth by Hart.  The committee presented its findings  to the 1994 General Chapter.  A summary of their statement can be found on page 9 of the 1994 Chapter Report.

Scope
Material is arranged chronologically and includes supporting documents.

Folder List
General 1993-1994

Government Committee, 1968-1969

 History
The Government Committee was a limited term committee which studied the role of government and authority in religious life.  The Committee submitted proposals to the 1968-9 Renewal Chapters.

Scope
Material is arranged chronologically and includes supporting documents.

 Folder List
General 1968-1970

Committee on the Centenary, 1943
The Committee on the Centenary was formed in 1943 to prepare for a celebration on the 100th anniversary of the Society of Saint Edmund.  The Committee included Father Alliot (chairman, Father Dodge, Father Gosselin and Father Petty.  The celebration was held on August 20, 1943.  Materials include congratulatory letters as well as business files.  The business files include minutes, financial matters and other correspondence as well as some interesting items related to the history of the Society. 

Folder List
Business files
Congratulatory letters

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Maintained by Elizabeth Scott, last update - Thursday April 12, 2007