Shroud Museum Sparks Family’s Hope for Evangelization
As The Shroud of Turin: An Immersive Experience opens to the public, Orange County is experiencing a renewed spirit of evangelization. This world-class exhibit on the Christ Cathedral campus is the latest milestone in a sacred space built through donor generosity, a place that continues to grow as a vibrant center of Catholic faith.
Long before the museum’s initial plans took shape, Hank Evers, the late Director of Development and Communications for The Orange Catholic Foundation (OCF), was among the dedicated group of visionaries who saw the Shroud of Turin as a powerful conversation starter.
So, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the world’s most studied artifact, which is thought by many to be the burial cloth of Jesus Christ, was the topic of many discussions Hank had with Nora Creech, North American Director of Othonia and partner to the Diocese of Orange on this exhibit.
Just days before the dedication ceremony and opening of the museum in November, Creech emphasized, “Hank is moving mountains for us in heaven. We are confident he is opening some doors for us.”
Throughout his courageous battle with cancer, Hank drew strength from his faith, keeping a framed 3D holographic image of the Shroud and Christ’s face beside his hospice bed. His wife, Lori Evers, knows he would have been thrilled to learn that the museum is poised to inspire young people and bring hope to those who feel lost because the Shroud is “an external sign of God’s eternal love for us.”
In fact, in a 2019 Orange County Catholic article, Hank was quoted saying, “Young people are leaving the Church because they believe that science disproves religion. The Shroud of Turin is the real deal. It can make a huge difference to the evangelization efforts of all Christians.”
Hank passed away in October 2021, yet his legacy lives on in the many ways he helped advance the mission of the Catholic Church. As a graduate, parent and grandparent of Catholic education, Hank also had a great love for Catholic schools. He elevated OCF’s Conference on Business & Ethics to one of the top-rated events in the county, which raises funds for Catholic school scholarships.
“With the Shroud exhibit opening and OCF celebrating its 25thanniversary in the same year, he would have been so excited,” Lori said, who is also on staff at Santa Margarita Catholic High School.
The Shroud of Turin: An Immersive Experience is located on the second floor of the Richard H. Pickup Cultural Center at Christ Cathedral in Garden Grove. Although the actual Shroud of Turin is rarely put on display for conservation purposes, the museum will have two high-quality and highly detailed replicas of the Shroud, along with three immersive theaters and a series of exhibits detailing the life and passion of Christ. To check out The Shroud of Turin: An Immersive Experience for yourself, purchase your tickets here.
Discover more about the museum and the many people behind it in a special Orange County Catholic issue, Who is the Man of the Shroud? Click here to read.
Whether it’s this exhibit or another Catholic cause, The Orange Catholic Foundation is here to help you further the mission of Christ through tax-smart, efficient ways to give. Our philanthropy team can be reached at 714.282.3021 or info@OrangeCatholicFoundation.org.