UD’s expansive Catholic library displayed in exhibit
&’ async type=’text/javascript’>&’ async type=’text/javascript’>&’ async type=’text/javascript’>&’ async type=’text/javascript’>&’ async type=’text/javascript’>&’ async type=’text/javascript’>&’ async type=’text/javascript’>&’ async type=’text/javascript’>&’ async type=’text/javascript’>&’ async type=’text/javascript’>&’ async type=’text/javascript’>&’ async type=’text/javascript’>&’ async type=’text/javascript’>&’ async type=’text/javascript’>&’ async type=’text/javascript’>
By: DEVYN GIANNETI – Staff Writer
“Charism, Character and Calling” is a religious exhibit on display through March 31 in the Roesch Library. It includes three library collections dedicated to Mary, the mother of Jesus; the University of Dayton’s Marianist background and extensively detail the history of the Catholic Church.
Nichole Rustad, digital projects and graphic design manager for University Libraries, played a crucial role in the development process. In regards to the reason why this exhibit was chosen,
“Pope Francis decreed 2015 the year of consecrated life, which is a celebration of vowed religious men and women.” Colleen Hoelscher, librarian and archivist, and I decided to create an exhibit from University Libraries’ three special collections,” Rustad said.
The collections are named U.S. Catholic Special Collection, the Marian Library and University Archives and Special Collections.
The Marian Library and International Marian Research is globally recognized for the Mary. It holds the largest collection of printed materials and artifacts on her and includes more than 10,000 books and pamphlets.
The U.S. Catholic Special Collection keeps records of the Catholic Church and Catholic life. This collection shows documents of the Catholic Church history and its popular traditions.
University Archives and Special Collections show the University of Dayton and its standing as a top Catholic, Marianist institution of higher education. This includes records, rare books, maps and photographs.
Some works and artifacts included in the exhibit are photographs and books from important consecrated men and women through history, videos showing the day-to-day activities of vowed religious men, and religious artwork.
Personal items were also submitted to the exhibit, such as Brother Tom Pieper’s postcard to his family saying that he had safely gotten to the University of Dayton. There are also more than 30 personal reflections from vowed religious that describe the campus and community of Dayton.
“I love the reflections and profiles submitted by vowed religious from all over,” Rustad said. “The reasons they were called to this spiritual life, what they do in their spare time, what community means to them…all of these stories are why I wanted to work on this exhibit. We can all learn so much from just taking the time to ask questions. I hope students will take the time to walk through the exhibit. They will find humor, history, spirituality, creativity, innovation and community all in one place.”
The exhibit is free and open to the public during library hours. For directions and library hours, visit udayton.edu/libraries or call 937-229-4265.