Experience the Holy Shroud

By Bianca de Mattos (Consecrated Woman of Regnum Christi)

November 4th, 2024 - Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center

One of the experiences that the Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center offers its guests and visitors is the Exhibition of the Shroud, inaugurated here in 2006. An important fact to expand our knowledge is understanding that it is part of a larger entity, called OTHONIA.

OTHONIA is a Research Center on the Shroud of Turin, headquartered at the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum in Rome, Italy. Currently, Othonia organizes and coordinates 15 exhibitions: 9 permanent and 6 traveling. These exhibitions include locations such as Jerusalem, Israel (2006), Rome, Italy (2006), Ann Arbor, Michigan (2022) [previously in Sacramento, California (2010)], Brazil (traveling, 2011), Portugal (itinerant, 2011), Netherlands (itinerant, 2012), Krakow, Poland (2012), Huixquilucan, Mexico (2012), Monterrey, Mexico (itinerant, 2017), Santiago, Chile (2018), Mexico City (itinerant, 2020), Cancún (Mary Undoer of Knots Shrine, 2020), Italy (itinerant, 2020), Atlanta, Georgia (2020), and San Antonio, Texas (2011-present, 2023).

Gradually, there has been increased cooperation, coordination, and exchange of materials between those managing these exhibitions, which benefits all parties involved. For example, Mrs. Nora Creech, who oversees the exhibition in the United States, maintains constant communication with us here in Jerusalem. Recently, she had the incredible opportunity to present the Holy Shroud exhibition at the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis last July. We wanted to learn more about her experience, so we conducted a brief interview with her. Below, we share her responses:

Notre Dame: Nora, could you introduce yourself and explain your current role with the exhibition "Who is the Man in the Shroud?"

Mrs. Nora Creech: Hi! I am a volunteer with Othonia, the international organization responsible for educating people about the Holy Shroud through exhibits, educational materials, conferences, and lectures. I work with the Othonia leadership team and its Scientific Committee members to update Othonia's "Who is the Man in the Shroud?" exhibit. The first Othonia exhibit was developed by Fr. Guerra in Jerusalem in 2006. Since then, multiple exhibits have been developed around the world. These exhibits provide powerful testimony to the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus as depicted on the Shroud. People are deeply impacted by the experience of learning about Jesus through the "mirror of the Gospels" presented by the Shroud. The Othonia team aimed to update the exhibit with the latest historical and scientific information and to create a stronger link to the Scriptures. It starts with the question, "Who is the Man in the Shroud?" and unfolds through 24 panels that logically cover the history of the Shroud and the scientific scrutiny it has undergone. The focus then shifts to how the Shroud aligns with the Gospel narratives of Jesus’ Passion, death, and burial. The exhibit concludes by asking each visitor the same question Jesus asked His disciples: "Who do you say that I am?" Every visitor must personally answer this question.

Notre Dame: Like here at Notre Dame Center in Jerusalem, other countries also have similar exhibitions. In the United States, which cities currently host these exhibits?

Mrs. Nora Creech: We currently have permanent Othonia exhibits in Ann Arbor, Michigan, San Antonio, Texas, and Cumming, Georgia. We also have a traveling exhibit based in Alabama. Multiple teams are working to establish both permanent and traveling exhibits across the USA!

Notre Dame: Could you tell us how the exhibition "Who is the Man in the Shroud?" found a place at the Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis?

Mrs. Nora Creech: We provided a traveling exhibit for the National Eucharistic Congress because of the close connection between the Holy Shroud and the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. On the Shroud, we can see Jesus' blood poured out for the salvation of the world. We estimate that around 10,000 people were able to visit the exhibit and learn more about the Shroud from our volunteer team. We had about 25 volunteers from across the United States who guided visitors through the exhibit and shared their knowledge. Many of the volunteers were graduates of the postgraduate course in Shroud Studies offered by the Science & Faith Institute of the Regina Apostolorum Pontifical University in Rome, Italy.

Notre Dame: What specifically did the exhibition offer to Congress participants? Was there written material, explanations, or photos?

Mrs. Nora Creech: Visitors were greeted by volunteers and shown a 6-minute introductory video about the Holy Shroud. They were then guided into the exhibit space, which included 24 large explanatory panels, each 4' x 8'. Numerous artifacts enhanced the experience, such as two life-size replicas of the Holy Shroud, a Sudarium replica, a scale model of the tomb, and a Passion display including three nails, two flagra, one sword, and a crown of thorns. We also displayed a life-size replica of the man in the Shroud and a bust created by an American artist. Additionally, we partnered with The Orareo Collection to showcase precious artworks from the 14th and 15th centuries that document some of the Shroud's ostensions. This collection included lenticular images of the Shroud, highlighting its three-dimensional qualities. We had many knowledgeable volunteers available to answer questions and provide additional information, along with internationally known speakers who gave lectures every afternoon.

Notre Dame: In your opinion, what were the outcomes of this experience?

Mrs. Nora Creech: Many people have never heard about the Shroud, while others know about it but aren’t aware of its full significance. This exhibit allowed us to share the remarkable facts about the Shroud with a new audience and to connect these facts with the truth of our faith in Jesus as our Lord and Savior.