GROUNDBREAKING MUSEUM DEDICATED TO SHROUD OF TURIN TO
OPEN AT CHRIST CATHEDRAL CAMPUS
PAGE 5
instagram.com/orangediocese
youtube.com/dioceseorange
To report sexual abuse by clergy or church personnel please call: 1 (800) 364-3064
Healing and Hope After Abortion: 1 (800) 722-4356
Our senior sisters, brothers, and religious order priests need your help. Decades of caring for others with little or no pay have left many communities without sufficient retirement savings. Over 20,500 elderly religious depend on the Retirement Fund for Religious for health care, medication, and daily living expenses. Your gift helps ensure they receive the care they deserve. Please give back to those who have given a lifetime. Follow the Diocese of Orange on social media And stay informed of news and events at Christ Cathedral facebook.com/orangediocese
instagram.com/christcathedralca
Please give to those who have given a lifetime.
New Hope Peer-to-Peer Support Line | Mon - Fri 7:30 AM - 9:30 PM | Sat - Sun 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM: 1 (714) NEW-HOPE or 1 (714) 639-4673
BÁO CÁO LẠM DỤNG TÌNH DỤC
Nếu bạn là nạn nhân bị lạm dụng tình dục bởi một linh mục/ tu sĩ hay một thành viên trong Giáo Hội gây ra, xin hãy gọi và báo cáo cho Giáo phận ở số điện thoại miễn phí sau đây: 1-800-364-3064, và đồng thời báo cáo cho nhà chức trách địa phương.
본당내의 성적학대 신고
성직자나 성당 사목을 대표하는
교구청의 무료 신고 전화 번호, 1-800-364-3064 및 관할
Please donate at your local parish, December 13–14, or by mail at: National Religious Retirement Office/ORAS 3211 Fourth Street NE Washington DC 20017-1194 Make check payable to Retirement Fund for Religious.
NOVEMBER 16, 2025
PROUD OF THE SHROUD
Dr. August Accetta, a former Huntington Beach parishioner, served as inspiration for the museum opening at Christ Cathedral.
12
13
16
18
MAKING JESUS KNOWN THROUGH THE SHROUD
Othonia is an international organization dedicated to sharing knowledge about the Shroud of Turin.
MY JOURNEY INTO THE SHROUD OF TURIN
Fr. Robert Spitzer reflects on the events that drew him to study the Shroud.
THE SHROUD: AN IMAGE OF HIS LOVE
The artifact is living proof of Jesus’ sacrifice for us.
GRATITUDE: A SHORTCUT TO HEAVEN
The upcoming holiday is a reminder to feel thankfulness every day.
ORANGE
COUNTY CATHOLIC MISSION STATEMENT
The Orange County Catholic Newspaper seeks to illuminate and animate the journey of faith for Catholics within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange – building solidarity among the faithful and inviting a deeper understanding and involvement in the mission of Christ – through the timely sharing of news, commentary and feature content in an engaging, accessible and compelling format.
ORANGE COUNTY
CATHOLIC
The Official Newspaper of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange Diocese of Orange Pastoral Center, 13280 Chapman Ave., Garden Grove 92840
Publisher: The Most Reverend Kevin W. Vann, Bishop of Orange
Director of Custom Content: Caroline Wong, cawong@scng.com
SCNG CUSTOM CONTENT
Managing Editor: Caitlin Adams Art Director: Ryann Beveridge
Delivered weekly to parishes and homes throughout Orange County, Calif., Orange County Catholic is published by SCNG Custom Content, a division of Southern California News Group that offers content development and design expertise to businesses and nonprofit institutions. The Orange County Catholic editorial staff and editorial council are responsible for the content contained herein. Events and products advertised in Orange County Catholic do not carry the implicit endorsement of the Diocese of Orange or SCNG Custom Content.
NATIVITY SCENE
READER CALL-OUT
Do you have a special Nativity Scene you’d like to share with OC Catholic readers?
Please share a photo and tell us why it is meaningful to you. Please include your name and parish, and send to: editor@occatholic.com C
“ We must not be content with repeating the same things as always.”
— Pope Leo XIV
SAINT PROFILE
ELIZABETH OF HUNGARY 1207 - 1231
ELIZABETH'S SHORT LIFE WAS nonetheless full; she had a happy marriage and children, was a secular Franciscan, and was so devoted to the poor and sick that she gave away royal robes and founded hospitals. The daughter of a Hungarian king, Elizabeth married a nobleman of Thuringia, Louis, at age 14. He complained about the expense of her many charities until he witnessed a miracle involving Elizabeth, bread and roses. After he died during a Crusade, she became a Third Order Franciscan at Marburg, Germany, where she founded a hospital to care for the sick. Elizabeth, who was declared a saint in 1235, is the patron of bakers, young brides, widows, those falsely accused, countesses and secular Franciscans.C
1 MACCABEES 6:1-13; PSALM 9:2-3, 4 AND 6, 16 AND 19; LUKE 20:27-40
SUNDAY
2 SAMUEL 5:1-3; PSALM 122:12, 3-4, 4-5; COLOSSIANS 1:1220; LUKE 23:35-43
PHOTO BY NICK FEWINGS ON UNSPLASH
WHO IS THE MAN OF THE SHROUD?
GROUNDBREAKING MUSEUM DEDICATED TO SHROUD OF TURIN TO OPEN AT CHRIST CATHEDRAL CAMPUS
BY BRADLEY ZINT
AGROUNDBREAKING mu-
seum dedicated to the Shroud of Turin — the world’s most studied artifact that’s believed by many to be the actual burial shroud of Jesus of Nazareth — is opening to the public on Nov. 19 at the Christ Cathedral campus.
“The Shroud of Turin: An Immersive Experience” will have a total exhibition area of 10,000 square feet. As the largest museum of its kind, visitors will be taken on a historical journey into the life of Jesus, His torturous death, Resurrection and the burial shroud He left behind.
Inspired by the technological marvels of the “Van Gogh Exhibition” and “Immersive King Tut,” the 90-minute experience will offer the latest evidence and scientific research about the Shroud through a series of 360-degree projection-room theaters, interactive kiosks, a life-size Jesus corpus, new artwork, Shroud replicas and more.
The museum is located inside the Richard H. Pickup Cultural Center at the Christ Cathedral campus in Garden Grove until at least 2030. It is presented by Papaian Studios in partnership with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange and Othonia Inc., a Rome-based group dedicated to the study and dissemination of information about the Shroud of Turin. Papaian Studios is a newly formed media company dedicated to creating and supporting projects that illuminate faith, inspire hope and positively impact culture. “The Shroud of Turin: An Immersive Experience” at Christ Cathedral
is its inaugural project.
The $5-million museum was approved by the Bishops of Orange and privately funded through the generosity of donors. It is operated by a separate nonprofit, the Shroud Experience at Christ Cathedral.
A majority of the museum’s written content and research was completed by Othonia for use in the museum. The creative direction came from FiveHive Studios, a Vista-based group of industry professionals who crafted the animation, immersion theaters, kiosks and video content.
“The Shroud of Turin: An Immersive Experience” is divided into two main sections: the first is theater encounters explaining who Jesus Christ was and what the Shroud of Turin is; the second section explores the intriguing debate, evidence and history surrounding the Shroud itself. A highlight will be a re-creation of the Resurrection, with guests sitting in the tomb of Jesus and witnessing a flash of light — an experience of the desolation of Good Friday and the awe-inspiring wonder of Easter Morning.
“We’re inviting all into the tomb to see what Jesus’ Apostles John and Peter saw,” said Nora Creech, North America director of Othonia. “And then we’re encouraging them to explore and question, just like Jesus told Thomas. Put your hands here and probe around, examine, ask all your questions. The Shroud holds up to it. It encourages curiosity and it holds up to every level of scrutiny.”
Pat Powers, vice president of the Shroud Experience, added, “If all we do is prove that the Shroud was the shroud
A HIGHLIGHT OF "THE SHROUD OF TURIN: AN IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE" IS A NEWLY COMMISSIONED STATUE OF JESUS BY ITALIAN ARTIST LUIGI ENZO MATTEI, WITH A SHROUD OF TURIN REPLICA BEHIND IT. THE 10,000-SQUARE-FOOT MUSEUM CONTAINS IMMERSIVE THEATERS, REPLICAS AND OTHER MUSEUM IMAGERY. PHOTO BY EVERETT JOHNSON/ DIOCESE OF ORANGE
PHOTOS BY EVERETT JOHNSON/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
PHOTOS BY EVERETT JOHNSON/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
of Jesus, without the Resurrection, all we’ve done is prove it’s a shroud of a guy who lived 2,000 years ago. But it’s a lot more than that. We’re going to show people that their faith is not in vain. The Shroud shows us that Jesus was, in fact, resurrected. The museum shows us how we can discern that from the Shroud.”
Doors will be open seven days a week. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and $10 for children ages 10 to 14. Given the mature topics and subject materials, children under 10 will not be admitted. Tickets are available by visiting TheShroudExperience.com.
School and group discounts are available. Catholic school officials in the Diocese of Orange and neighboring dioceses are working to incorporate a visit to the museum into their standard seventh-grade curriculum.
Though located within a Catholic campus, “The Shroud of Turin: An Immersive Experience” will have an ecumenical approach that helps visitors of all faiths and backgrounds learn more about the historic figure of Jesus of Nazareth and His mysterious Shroud: a linen cloth that bears the faint image of a crucified man. Subject to vigorous debate for many decades, the Shroud of Turin — named after Turin, Italy, where it has been kept since 1578 — has been extensively subjected to review by more than 100 different scientific disciplines.
Though the actual Shroud will not be present in the museum — it has not left Italy in centuries and is rarely on display due to its fragility — the highly detailed Shroud replicas and kiosks within “The Shroud of Turin: An Immersive Experience” will permit guests their own close examination.
“We are confident that ‘The Shroud of Turin: An Immersive Experience’ will prove to be an important evangelization tool throughout the Diocese of Orange and beyond with Catholics, other Christians and people of all faith persuasions,” said Terry McGaughan, president of the Shroud Experience. “We will let our
guests decide: Who was this man? We’ll provide the data and the evidence. We believe the facts will lead many people to agree with our conclusion: The man of the Shroud was truly Jesus Christ.”
WHAT TO EXPECT: THE FIRST TWO ROOMS
The museum occupies the entire second floor of the Richard H. Pickup Cultural Center, designed by famed architect Richard Meier and completed in 2002. The second floor had been a flex space for meetings and other gatherings but has now had new walls and infrastructure installed to accommodate the museum.
Guests start in the Welcome Hall, highlighted by the first of the two Shroud replicas. The first replica is a detailed copy of the original Shroud approved by the archbishop of the Catholic archdiocese in Turin, Italy. Visitors can closely examine the Shroud and explore its many remarkable features. The Welcome Hall
also has a small corpus of Jesus lying on top of a Shroud print — a hint of what’s to come.
Next, the doors open to the Prologue Hall, which features a short video highlighting the upcoming experience. It contains artistic animations and a Shroud of Turin 101: what it is and why it has mattered to so many people.
THREE IMMERSIVE THEATERS
After the Prologue Hall, guests enter the first of three theaters featuring 360-degree immersion technology. Images will be projected onto the floor and walls. Each experience lasts 18 minutes, and guests will sit as the rooms transform around them.
The first room is titled “Immersive Life of Jesus.” It tells 12 short stories about the life of Jesus, each connected to an element of transformation: such as when He walked on water, the Transfiguration and the Nativity birth (which features Mary’s belly glowing with light).
The videos feature photo-realistic imagery, akin to scenes from “The Chosen” that transport guests back to Jesus’ time. The video ends with an image of a stone rolling away, which segues into the second theater.
The second experience, “Interactive Shroud of Jesus,” is a re-creation of Jesus’ tomb. The walls resemble real stone and were crafted by Rancho Cucamonga artist Shane Grammer, who based his work on pictures of authentic burial tombs of Jesus’ era. “Interactive Shroud of Jesus” will show a short documentary on the Shroud of Turin, featuring testimony from Shroud expert Fr. Robert Spitzer, S.J.
Fr. Spitzer is the founder of the Magis Center, which is based at the Christ Cathedral campus and explores the intersections of science, reason and faith. The film builds the case for the authenticity of the Shroud through exploration of the evidence: archaeological, historic and
EMMA WAGNER OF OTHONIA INC., LEFT, UNVEILS THE LUIGI ENZO MATTEI STATUE OF JESUS AS PAT POWERS LOOKS ON DURING A SPECIAL BLESSING CEREMONY FOR “THE SHROUD OF TURIN: AN IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE” ON SEPT. 8. PHOTO BY EVERETT JOHNSON/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
anthropological. The video concludes with a re-creation of the moment of the Resurrection, replete with special effects and a burst of light.
This transitions into the third theater, “Immersive Risen Jesus,” which at first resembles an ancient chapel from 1st-century Jerusalem. It contains pews to sit in and projected frescoes on the walls by famed artists like Caravaggio, Michelangelo and da Vinci. Through special animation, the frescoes will come alive to tell post-Resurrection stories of Jesus.
The scenery then continues transforming into the modern day and asks the underlying question: Who is the man of the Shroud?
A SERIES OF EXHIBITS
After exiting the immersive theaters, visitors will continue their visit through another five areas of the museum. The first area is the Scripture Exhibit, which contains detailed replicas of the Passion, such as a Roman spear, flagrum whip and the Crown of Thorns.
The second is the History Exhibit, highlighted by a diorama re-creation of Jesus’ tomb. Nearby is a pair of interactive kiosks, one of which lets guests closely examine all the layers of the Shroud of Turin, such as the blood stains, water damage and burn marks. The kiosk is the first of its kind in the world.
The second kiosk explores the Sudarium of Oviedo: a bloodstained piece of cloth that, like the Shroud of Turin, is believed to have covered the face of Jesus after his Crucifixion. Notably, the kiosk shows how there are 120 points of congruence matching the Sudarium of Oviedo to the Shroud of Turin.
Behind the History Exhibit, a handmade replica statue of Jesus on the crucifix will be installed after the museum’s opening date. The crucifix is a replica of one originally by Monsignor Giulio Ricci, former Vatican archivist and a prominent sindonology expert (the word for the scientific study of the Shroud of Turin).
The cross is a graphic depiction showing around 300 wounds from more than 100 scourgings of Jesus. It will be in a tuckedaway corner of the museum so guests can choose to view it at their discretion.
Monsignor Ricci, who died in 1995, studied the Shroud of Turin for more than 50 years, penning numerous books and giving many lectures. He was a pivotal contributor to the scientific, iconographic and medical study of sindonology, having been accredited by the Vatican to provide qualified studies on the subject.
After the History Exhibit is the Science Room, which features video and explanations of the many studies on the Shroud, such as the Shroud of Turin Research Project (STURP) of 1978. Next is the Fr. Spitzer Room, where two kiosks allow guests to ask the Jesuit priest 17 questions and hear pre-recorded videos with his responses.
The next space is the Historical Timeline: a 30-foot graphic of Shroud-related imagery throughout history. It covers the Shroud’s movements and aspects that were highly influenced by it.
THE FINAL ROOM
The remaining space is called the Reflection Room. It is highlighted by a full-size, backlit Shroud replica. The Reflection Room is darkened, making the replica easy to examine.
Next to the replica is a pair of lenticulars highlighted by spotlights. The lenticulars provide a front and back view of the man of the Shroud, giving a visual representation of the three-dimensional information captured in the Shroud.
There is also a new bronze sculpture by Italian artist Luigi Enzo Mattei. The sculpture depicts Jesus lying on his back, with the tension and energy reflecting the split second before He opens His eyes in resurrected glory. Notably, the corpus was made to resemble how the Shroud of Turin suggests Jesus looked: a bearded man, about 5 feet, 11 inches. The final touch is an empty cross on the exit wall, reminding guests that Jesus has risen. C
ABOUT THE SHROUD OF TURIN
The Shroud of Turin is considered to be the most studied artifact in the world, and for good reason. It is believed by some to be the actual linen burial cloth that wrapped the body of Jesus Christ after His Crucifixion, a practice common among the 1st-century Jewish people. There has been such extensive interest in the Shroud that there is a name for the formal study of it: sindonology.
However, it is important to note that the Catholic Church has not taken an official position on the Shroud of Turin’s authenticity but recognizes its importance as an object of veneration and reflection. The church acknowledges the ongoing scientific investigation into the Shroud’s origins and properties, entrusting scientists with the task of finding satisfactory answers to questions surrounding it. Popes have consistently recognized the Shroud’s significance as a powerful image that points to the Passion and death of Jesus, inviting believers to deeper contemplation and conversion.
The original shroud — kept in a state of careful preservation and not currently on display — has been in the formal possession of the Holy See since 1983. Its history prior to 1354 is not well-documented. Its name is derived from its longtime home in Turin, Italy, where it has been since 1578.
It was first photographed by Secondo Pia in 1898, an effort that first uncovered the startling face of a man whose features are consistent with traditional depictions of Jesus of Nazareth.
PROUD OF THE SHROUD
DR. AUGUST ‘GUS’ ACCETTA, FOUNDER OF THE SHROUD CENTER OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, SERVED AS INSPIRATION FOR THE NEW MUSEUM
BY GREG HARDESTY
WHEN FR. ANGELOS
Sebastian arrived from his native India to the Diocese of Orange in 2007, he began his new assignment as parochial vicar of St. Bonaventure Church in
Huntington Beach.
Fr. Angelos recalls meeting a parishioner who enthusiastically discussed with him the Shroud of Turin, one of the world’s most studied artifacts that is believed to be the actual burial shroud of Jesus Christ.
That parishioner, Dr. August “Gus” Ac-
cetta, a pelvic reconstructive surgeon and women’s health physician who returned to Catholicism as an adult, had begun studying the Shroud intensively in 1992.
Four years later, Accetta founded the Shroud Center of Southern California, which houses a docent-led exhibit and reams of research about the Shroud history and numerous efforts to authenticate the ancient burial linen.
Fr. Angelos eventually visited the Shroud Center of Southern California, which started in Huntington Beach and relocated to Fountain Valley before finding its permanent home in the Baker
Canyon area of Silverado Canyon, deep in the foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains.
The two became friends.
At the Sept. 8 special blessing ceremony for the new interactive Shroud of Turin museum in the Cultural Center on the Christ Cathedral campus, Fr. Angelos gave tribute to Accetta and the center he founded.
Accetta wasn’t at the ceremony (although his sister and brother were) and was not directly involved in creating “The Shroud of Turin: An Immersive Experience,” which opens to the public on Nov. 19, but he was a key inspiration for it, Fr. Angelos said.
His comments were echoed by Terry McGaughan, president of the Resurrection Center at Christ Cathedral, the nonprofit that funded and will operate the museum.
“We were inspired by the work of Gus,” McGaughan said.
Remarked Fr. Angelos: “God’s ways are amazing.”
‘NOTHING LIKE IT’
Accetta, who now lives in Bakersfield, said he plans to be in Orange County for the opening of the museum, whose 10,000-square-foot space features a groundbreaking series of 360-degree theater rooms, interactive displays, new sacred art and other exhibits.
“I’m thrilled about it,” Accetta said. “The Shroud Center of Southern California is like going camping in the hills. The new Shroud museum at Christ Cathedral is like Disneyland. This will be by far the biggest Shroud exhibit in the U.S. There’s nothing like it.”
The Shroud Center of Southern California, Accetta noted, remains a vibrant venue for visitors to learn about the Shroud, attracting some 25,000 high school students annually who soak up the science and research behind it.
Accetta is a leading authority on the Shroud of Turin whose scholarly contributions to the artifact include four research papers that involved nuclear
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10
imaging of human subjects — including himself.
Although the Vatican takes no official position on the Shroud’s origins, according to a 2021 National Catholic Register story on Accetta, it has encouraged the faithful to venerate it as an image of the crucified Christ.
Neither the Shroud Center of Southern California nor the new museum at Christ Cathedral exhibit the actual Shroud, but rather high-quality and
highly detailed replicas.
For conservation purposes, the actual Shroud in Turin is rarely put on display. It is housed in the Chapel of the Holy Shroud within the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Turin, Italy, and kept in a climate-controlled shrine.
SCIENCE AND FAITH
At the blessing ceremony in September, Bishop Kevin Vann remarked: “We live in a very skeptical age for a lot of reasons. And this exhibit is an exhibit of faith that
reminds us, yes, Jesus lived and died and rose and yes, He is still with us.”
Auxiliary Bishop Timothy Freyer called the new museum “an opportunity for us to reach young people and say, ‘Let us show you through science and faith that God does exist. And more than that, that he loves you.’”
Accetta, who has retired from orthopedic surgery but still practices women’s health, is happy that more people will learn about the Shroud of Turin.
Growing up a Catholic in Huntington
Beach, but later becoming a Protestant who considered science and religion incompatible, his studies about the Shroud, he said, flipped that thinking.
“I’m pleased that the new museum will bring the message of the Shroud to even more people,” he said. “It’s very complementary to what our center does, and I feel very strongly that I’ll be getting involved there.”
For more information and to learn about pre-sale tickets, visit TheShroudExperience.com C
DR. AUGUST ‘GUS’ ACCETTA, JOAN JACOBY AND FR. ROBERT SPITZER ARE PICTURED AT CHRIST CATHEDRAL CAMPUS IN 2019. PHOTO BY THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE
MAKING JESUS KNOWN THROUGH THE SHROUD
BY
OTHONIA, THE international organization responsible for sharing knowledge about the Shroud, is excited to partner with the Diocese of Orange to create “The Shroud of Turin: An Immersive Experience.”
Othonia is a part of the Science and Faith Institute of the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum located in Rome, Italy.
Othonia is the Greek word used in the Gospel of John to describe the grave clothes left behind in the tomb on that first Easter morning. John the Evangelist wrote that when he saw the empty othonia lying just where they had been placed on Friday evening, “he saw and believed” (Jn 20:8).
The first “Who Is the Man of the Shroud?” exhibit was developed by Othonia for the Pontifical InstituteNotre Dame of Jerusalem Center in 2006. Since then, the exhibit has helped people all over the world learn how the Shroud is a bridge between faith and science. The exhibit invites visitors to examine the Shroud and the Scriptures together to answer the question that Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do you say that I am?”
In 2024, Othonia completely updated the “Who Is the Man of the Shroud?” exhibit and debuted the new display at the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, Ind., to long lines and rave reviews. The focus of the updated exhibit is the Shroud as a “Mirror of the Gospels.” Study of the Shroud helps us more fully understand and appreciate the sacrifice that Jesus made on our behalf. Othonia is changing the conversation about the Shroud from being a “death cloth” reflecting only the suffering and death of Jesus — to seeing it as a sign of hope. The Shroud also documents the split second before Jesus opened His eyes
in Resurrected life. The Shroud is a wonderful tool for evangelization because it helps people connect the dots between the Old Testament prophecies about the promised Messiah and the New Testament accounts about Jesus. It is also a great way to capture the attention of people who think that science and faith are in conflict. As the most scientifically studied artifact in history, it intrigues scientists who try to understand and explain how the mysterious image was formed. Despite the intense scientific scrutiny, the Shroud remains an enigma and a challenge to everyone who encounters it. The scientific study of the Shroud provides evidence that our faith is true.
This new Immersive Experience will bring people to an encounter with Jesus by looking through the lens of the Shroud. Visitors will learn about the life of Jesus and how the Shroud documents His Passion, death, burial and Resurrection. They will also learn how Jesus remains with us today through the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. This modern exhibit pairs beautifully with the soaring architecture of the Christ Cathedral campus and the state-of-the-art Cultural Center. This will be Othonia’s flagship exhibit — designed to introduce an entirely new audience to the Shroud in an engaging and memorable way, with the ultimate goal of making Jesus known through the Shroud. C
NORA CREECH, NORTH AMERICAN REPRESENTATIVE FOR OTHONIA
NORA CREECH, NORTH AMERICAN REPRESENTATIVE FOR OTHONIA, AN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION RESPONSIBLE FOR SHARING KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE SHROUD. PHOTO COURTESY OF DENNIS CREECH
MY JOURNEY INTO THE SHROUD OF TURIN
BY FR. ROBERT J. SPITZER, S.J., PH.D.
WHEN I WAS IN THE Jesuit novitiate at age 22, I happened upon a book in the novitiate library entitled, A Doctor at Calvary, by Pierre Barbet. He made an extensive medical investigation of the Shroud of Turin and described all the major events of Christ’s Passion by the blood and image evidence on the Shroud. I found the evidence so compelling and the description of our Lord’s passion so moving that I decided to investigate the Shroud more fully.
Between 1974 and 1988 (the time of the carbon-14 dating test), I accumulated a large amount of evidence of the Shroud’s authenticity as the burial cloth of Jesus Christ, most of which was discovered by the 1978 Shroud of Turin Research project (STURP) investigation. Two significant examples are:
■ The strong likelihood that the 130+ bloodstains are real human blood as manifest by AB blood type, human immunoglobulins, human hemoglobin, bilirubin and whole blood.
■ Dr. John Jackson’s compelling paper on the strong likelihood that collimated radiation from the body produced the highly unusual image on the Shroud. This image is the most unique image in history — it is a three-dimensional photographic negative image emblazoned on a non-photographically sensitive linen cloth. It has imaging in places where the cloth never touched the body, imaging from inside the body (e.g. the backbone), and it is intrinsic to the Shroud—not produced by any liquids (such as paints and dyes), vapors, rubs, powders or any other extrinsic substance. All of this points strongly to an intense burst of collimated radiation (which dead bodies do not naturally produce).
Then came the 1988 carbon dating, which dated the Shroud to between 1260 to 1390 A.D. Given the significant amount
of data in favor of the Shroud’s authenticity and supernatural origin from the STURP investigation, I and other researchers were shocked. The three labs who performed the carbon dating had stellar reputations which led to an eight-year period where Shroud research was eclipsed by the obvious discontinuity between the 1978 STURP investigation and the 1988 carbon dating.
Research results began to change remarkably in favor of the Shroud in 1996. Three discoveries were particularly important:
I. Four new dating tests that date the Shroud to the mid-1st century A.D.—a wide angle x-ray scattering test (in 2022) which dated the Shroud to between 55 to 74 A.D. Additionally, a Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy, a Raman laser spectroscopy and a mechanical compressibility intention test, which when weighted yields a date of around 90 A.D.
II. Evidence from the pollen grains that shows the Shroud had to have been in Jerusalem and Northern Judea for several centuries.
III. The work of Tristan Casabianca, et al, and later Robert Rucker, indicating that the 1988 carbon dating had a glaring systematic error which was not (but should have been) reported in publication. This completely invalidated the 1988 C-14 dating test. The systematic dating error is very probably attributable to an intense burst of neutron radiation which is combined with N-14 in the linen cloth to produce a huge overabundance of C-14.
To make a very long story short, when the dating evidence was combined with the considerable evidence in favor of an intense burst of particle radiation producing the image and explaining all 46 enigmas on the Shroud, I moved from moderate to very strong conviction about the Shroud’s authenticity and the supernatural origin of its image.
To sum up what very likely happened,
about 36 hours after the body was put in the Shroud, isotopes throughout the body began to fission (without a natural cause), giving rise to a low temperature nuclear reaction as well nuclear decay. This had four major effects:
■ A strong fluence of protons, deuterons and alpha particles that produced the image on the uppermost surface of the Shroud.
■ A strong fluence of neutrons that explains the bright red color of the blood, the strong carbonyl bonds in the linen and the superabundance of C-14 that caused the C-14 dating error.
■ Considerable radiation pressure which built up underneath the bloodstains, causing the bloodstains to be perfectly transferred (with retraction halos and edges) from the skin onto the Shroud.
■ The body had to disappear from inside the Shroud immediately after the blood was transferred from the skin to the
Shroud, otherwise the blood would have reconnected with the skin and the bloodstains on the Shroud would not be perfect, but filled with fragmenting, smearing, segmenting, etc.
When I considered that there is no natural explanation for fissioning in the body or for the disappearance of the whole body immediately after the perfect transfer of the bloodstains, I had little trouble believing that this was not only the authentic burial cloth of Jesus, but also a relic of His supernaturally caused resurrection. In subsequent investigations we should be able to confirm this by the presence of cosmogenic isotopes (e.g. CL-36 and CA41) which only occur in close proximity to nuclear reactions. If this subsequent evidence lines up, it will be very difficult to deny that this is the burial cloth of Jesus who died of injuries from a very unique crucifixion, and who rose in power supernaturally from the dead. C
FR. ROBERT SPITZER, S.J., ADDRESSES ATTENDEES DURING A SPECIAL BLESSING CEREMONY FOR “THE SHROUD OF TURIN: AN IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE” ON SEPT. 8. PHOTO BY EVERETT JOHNSON/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
CREWS WORK ON GETTING ONE OF THE THREE IMMERSIVE THEATER ROOMS READY DURING A SHIFT IN OCTOBER FOR “THE SHROUD OF TURIN: AN IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE,” WHICH OPENS AT THE CHRIST CATHEDRAL CAMPUS ON NOV. 19. PHOTO BY IAN TRAN/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
JASON PEARSON OF FIVEHIVE STUDIOS, WHICH PROVIDED CREATIVE DIRECTION FOR “THE SHROUD OF TURIN: AN IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE,” GIVES A SITE TOUR WHILE CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES ON AUG. 21. PHOTO BY EVERETT JOHNSON/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
THE
WITH HOLY WATER DURING THE SEPT. 8 ANNOUNCEMENT DAY FOR “THE SHROUD OF TURIN: AN IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE.” PHOTO BY EVERETT JOHNSON/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
BISHOP THANH THAI NGUYEN BLESSES
CONSTRUCTION SITE
ALWAYS INNOVATIVE
JSerra is always moving forward! INQUIRE. VISIT. APPLY.
From a renovated Quad and state-of-the-art Medical Magnet classroom to a brand-new gym floor, each upgrade reflects our commitment to excellence giving our Lions the best spaces to learn, grow, and thrive Siempre Adelante!
26351 Junipero Serra Rd | San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675 949.493.9307 x 2 | admissions@jserra.org
#LionNation
At Rosary Academy, your daughter will be known, challenged, and supported. With a 17:1 faculty–student ratio, a 100% college acceptance rate, and an 83% AP pass rate, Rosary empowers young women to excel academically and grow in faith. Through seven unique academic pathways and the Rosary Support Program, she’ll discover her purpose, deepen her faith, and find her voice.
Early Application Deadline: Friday, December 5, 2025
“More than anything, Rosary is a community rooted in faith, sisterhood, and purpose. It has pushed me to dream bigger, lead with heart, and live each day with courage and compassion. Rosary prepares me for the future, while always reminding me to stay grounded in who I am and the values I believe in.” – Sasha Bella Reglado ‘26
Give your daughter an environment where she can deepen her faith and find her voice. Apply today! www.rosaryacademy.org/apply
THE SHROUD: AN IMAGE OF HIS LOVE
BY LUIS CHAVEZ
HOW CAN IT BE THAT a humble piece of linen cloth with a faint image provokes such fervent devotion, wonder and scientific puzzlement? This cloth known as the Shroud of Turin has been venerated by Catholics for centuries since its first documented appearance in the mid-1300s. If not for the advent of modern science and technology, perhaps the Shroud would have remained just another prized relic in the history of the Church. The Shroud’s physical evidence and unexplained features have made it not only a mystery but something that every person, whether a believer or not, must reckon with.
There have been several monumental research projects on the Shroud, starting with the famous Shroud of Turin Research
Rosary Beads
If you would like to share a photo of your Rosary Beads with our readers, please send a photo and brief description.
Include your name and parish to: editor@occatholic.com
Project (STURP) analysis of 1978 and the most recent Wide Angle X-Ray Scattering (WAXS) report of 2022. While these critical research projects have unlocked the unique characteristics of the Shroud, it remains an intriguing point that the Shroud is irreplaceable and its features unexplainable. Man has been to the moon and back, discovered nuclear reactions and developed never-before-fathomed technology, and yet we cannot reproduce or explain a seemingly simple image on an ancient piece of cloth.
Beyond the tapestry of scientific data lies perhaps an even greater question, why the Shroud and who is the man on the image? The Shroud offers an invitation for believers and non-believers alike to look deeper into the background story of its origins. It leads the observer to question and look at the man behind the image of the Shroud: a man whom many recognize as Jesus of Nazareth.
Indeed, a conversation about Jesus and the Gospel message may very well begin with walking someone through the story of the Shroud and a reflection of its mysteries. Beginning in 1898 with Segundo Pia’s encounter with the unusual results of the negative photograph of the Shroud that stunned the world. Pia’s photograph shows light captured on the linen fabric in a way that has never been seen and could not be replicated today. Because of the mysterious way that the light is captured on the fabric, it has been aptly related to the moment of Jesus’ resurrection.
form of a scourged, crucified man. It is not the product of an artist.” The report confirms that it was a real human body with unique suffering marks which match those in Jesus’ passion and death account. A real human body, and not an artist, left the impression which makes the body the true “artist” of the image. One person in history happens to match the peculiar account of the man on the Shroud image, Jesus. Thus, the findings of the STURP team align themselves with the Gospel narrative and offer profound reflection on Jesus’ earthly existence.
There is also the mind-boggling reality of the confirmed presence of real human blood on the Shroud. What makes the blood on the Shroud unique is that it is not normal red blood, but a bright red blood indicative of a man that has undergone severe torture before death. This incredible account aligns itself with how Jesus’ body would have chemically responded while undergoing suffering and death on the cross.
“The Shroud image is that of a real human form of a scourged, crucified man. It is not the product of an artist.”
— STURP team report
In the study of the story of the Shroud, one enters a powerful reflection on the life of Jesus Christ. The Shroud not only draws us into the mysteries of faith but may very well
be the beginning of someone’s interior conversation with God. In the Shroud, we encounter the Paschal mystery and the image of our salvation. With the help of God, he or she who studies and contemplates the Shroud will come to realize that Jesus did this all because “He loves me.” C
REFERENCE
Just as astonishing was the conclusion of the STURP team report which stated, “the Shroud image is that of a real human
STURP Summary Report: www.shroud.com/78conclu.htm
LUIS CHAVEZ IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF PARISH EVANGELIZATION AND FAITH FORMATION IN THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE. PHOTO BY THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE
GRATITUDE –A SHORTCUT TO HEAVEN
BY SR. DIANE HEISS, SDSH
THE FEEL OF AUTUMN crispness in the air plus cornucopias, pilgrims and turkeys as decorations are all reminders that Thanksgiving is rapidly approaching. Has it really been an entire year since last Thanksgiving? Do we remember all the gifts and blessings we have received since then? Have we counted or even noticed them? With so much violence and negativity abounding, it can be easy for positive and joyful events to be overlooked.
Let’s begin with the Eucharist, a Greek word meaning Thanksgiving. We live in a free country where we can safely attend Mass and receive the gift of Jesus, present in the Blessed Sacrament, daily if we wish. We are free to attend Catholic schools, colleges and universities without fear of reprisals or other consequences. We can post our religious thoughts and prayers online or in print without censorship. We can listen to God speak to us in the silence of our hearts, through the Bible, the Church, others and the beauty of Creation. In addition, what about the countless gifts provided by God such as our health (even if not the greatest, we can at least read or hear this article); our families and friends; our faith; and the gift of each new day as another opportunity to know, love and serve God. And do we remember the overwhelming gift of the love of God the Father in sacrificing his beloved Son who
died for each one of us as if we were the only one of us, in order to offer us the opportunity for eternal life?
Sometimes we can fall into the temptation of noticing what others have — their wealth, possessions, talents, abilities, opportunities, appearance — and fail to recognize and rejoice in our own gifts and blessings. When we can focus on our good and loving God and rejoice in all we have received, we will not only be better prepared to celebrate Thanksgiving, but also well on our way to Heaven, for gratitude is a shortcut to Heaven.
FOR YOUR FAMILY:
■ Prepare a Litany of Thanksgiving and pray it as a Grace before your dinner.
■ Send thank you cards to those who
have been good to you.
■ Write letters of gratitude to your loved ones, telling them what they mean to you.
■ Invite someone who would otherwise be alone, to come and join you for Thanksgiving dinner.
■ Prayerfully reflect on some of the following quotes by the saints on gratitude and talk to God about them:
“No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks.” — St. Ambrose.
■ “The best way to show my gratitude to God is to accept everything, even my problems, with joy.” — St. Theresa of Calcutta.
■ “Prayer is an aspiration of the heart. It is a simple glance directed to heaven. It is a cry of gratitude and love in the midst of trial as well as joy.” — St. Thérèse of Lisieux.
■ “The secret of happiness is to live moment by moment and to thank God for what He is sending us every day in His goodness.” — St. Gianna Beretta Molla. C
CLASSIFIED ADS
PHOTO BY PRISCILLA DU PREEZ ON UNSPLASH
OC Catholic Afar
Natalie Tung visited the Basílica del Voto Nacional, located in the historic center of Quito, Ecuador.
This monumental 19th-century neo-Gothic church is considered the largest neo-Gothic basilica in the Americas.
—Natalie is a parishioner of St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church in Yorba Linda.
We want your photos! Send your pictures of “OC Catholic Afar” — of you, family or friends visiting Catholic churches and other interesting places — to editor@occatholic.com. Please include a brief description of the photo, the name of the person(s) featured in the photo and their home parish.
