Plainfield church to exhibit replica of Shroud of Turin Saturday and Sunday

Come examine, learn about and reflect on a replica of the Shroud of Turin on Saturday and Sunday at St. Mary Immaculate Parish in Plainfield.

Many believe the Shroud of Turin is the burial cloth of Jesus, said Georgette Wurster, the parish confirmation director who arranged for the free “Man of the Shroud” exhibit to come to the church.

“We invite people during this Lenten season to come and have a chance to actually decide for themselves: Could this be the burial cloth of Jesus?” Wurster said.

The exhibit will include the cloth replica, which is 14 by 3 feet and shows the images on both sides of the shroud, Wurster said.

“It’s really something one can’t comprehend, a 14-foot-long piece of cloth that shows the front and back of a person with all the markings – to just sit and gaze on that,” Wurster said. “And it just really sinks in, the great price that was paid to redeem us as Christians.”

Attendees will learn about the scientific and forensic studies of the shroud through photos, illustrations and an optional 20-minute informational video, Wurster said.

“It [science] can’t understand how a 3D image comes onto a 2D piece of material,” Wurster said. “And so little is known about who this man of the shroud actually is.”

Attendees also will see a statue of a crucified man that overlays all the images of the wounds and marks of the cross to get the sense of what it was like to stand at the foot of the cross, Wurster said. People are invited to “spend some time contemplating his passion and resurrection,” Wurster said.

Wurster is expecting 500 people from St. Mary Immaculate Parish alone to view the exhibit. She said she can’t begin to estimate how many people from the community will attend.

In fact, Wurster said one person called and make a reservation for a group to ensure they won’t wait for a long period in line, as they did four years ago when St. Mary Immaculate Parish also hosted the exhibit, she said.

Because Lent is a time for Christians to “turn toward Jesus’ passion,” Wurster said. So perhaps the shroud is Jesus’ “gift” to us, she said.

“It’s a gift that he left for us to help us in our humanity, to be in touch with that our mind can’t fully comprehend,” Wurster said. “So he leaves little gifts like this to help us draw closer to him.”

Wurster said the confirmation program examines the relationship between faith and science. The Shroud of Turin is one item that remains a mystery, despite scientific analyses and forensic studies, she said.

“In this case, it actually leads us to believe this very well could have been Jesus who laid in the shroud,” Wurster said.

Viewings for the “Man of the Shroud” exhibit will be 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday and 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sunday at St. Mary Immaculate Parish, 15629 S. Route 59 in Plainfield. Free will offerings will be accepted.

For informatioin, visit kolbeshrine.org/shroud and smip.org.