Archivist has a passion to connect people with information

By Mike Krokos

Julie Motyka loves helping people.

That trait fits perfectly in her role as archivist for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.

Motyka, who succeeded longtime archivist Karen Oddi earlier this year, notes, “I really have a passion helping to connect people with information.”

“There is lots of stuff there,” she adds about the plethora of historical information in the archives located in the Xavier Building, 1435 N. Illinois St., in Indianapolis, across the parking lot of the Archbishop Edward T. O’Meara Catholic Center.

The office houses historical items and information for the Church in central and southern Indiana dating back more than 175 years, including chalices used by Bishop Joseph Chartrand and Msgr. August Bessonies, a longtime pastor of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Indianapolis.

“I want people to know that it’s there. I want to help them,” she says.

A graduate of Hanover College near Madison with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and a minor in theology, Motyka went on to attend The Catholic University of America in Washington, where she earned a master’s degree in library science.

Her last name may look familiar: Her husband, Andrew, is director of archdiocesan and cathedral liturgical music. The couple has three children—ages 10, 8 and 3—and the family are members of SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral Parish in Indianapolis.

In her initial months in her new position, Motyka has begun an archdiocesan archives’ Facebook page, www.facebook.com/archindyarchives, and helped organize archival information in several offices within the Catholic Center.

“One of my goals is to help parishes, too,” she says.

A reason to do that, she notes, is because their office regularly receives requests for parish histories as significant anniversaries approach.

As she continues to settle into her new role, Motyka says she is eager to partner with parishes in meeting their needs.

“I would love for parishes to share historical items, like history books. I would love copies for the archives,” she says. “I would also be more than happy to visit parishes or meet with their staff about historic pieces.

“People are also welcome to come to the archives if there is anything they are looking for.”

Motyka also spearheaded the effort to begin the “From the Archives” series.

“Having seen some of the old [historic] photos, I am thinking this is a good way to expand our audience,” she says. “I hope this is a good way to spur a back and forth with readers.”

Her office will also be leading a pilgrimage on Nov. 2, All Souls Day, to visit and pray at priests’ graves. More information on the pilgrimage will appear in a future issue of The Criterion. †