February 25, 2026

By Mary Beth Bracy
Contributing Writer

A replica of the original Shroud of Turin is coming to the Highway to Heaven 2026 event on May 16 at Sacred Heart Church in Massena.

Dave and Cathy Witkowski and Leslie Marvel, all of Plattsburgh, will drive to the National Shrine of St. Maximilian Kolbe in Marytown to pick up the life-size canvas replica and exhibit. It will be transported in a 14-foot-by-11-foot 3-inch trailer weighing 2,360 lbs.

“We are honored to be asked to assist in ensuring the safe transfer of the replica of the Shroud of Turin from Chicago to the Sacred Heart in Massena for the Highway to Heaven event,” noted Dave Witkowski, a member of Monsignor Morris L. Dwyer Knights of Columbus Council #255, and Cathy Witkowski, chair of the Board of the Eastern Region Commissioned Lay Ministers. “What an awesome way to help with evangelization in our diocese by playing a small role in ensuring the display of the beautiful exhibit.”

Marvel, Holy Cross Parish office manager, agreed.

“What an honor to pick up the replica of the Shroud of Turin and bring it to Massena for so many Catholics to experience,” she said. “The thought of seeing the replica, the burial cloth of Jesus’ Passion is mind boggling. It touches my soul so deeply.”

Amy Schirmer, a founding member of the Highway to Heaven organizing committee from Ogdensburg, reflected on the significance of this exhibit.

“Something that is difficult with Eucharistic Events is finding an ecumenical, even evangelistic component,” she said. “How do we draw people to an interest in the Eucharist, when partaking may not be a possibility for them? Certainly, this would be an issue for our Protestant brothers and sisters. They love Our Lord dearly, but do not believe Him to be present in the most Blessed Sacrament. The Shroud of Turin is a wonderful answer. Recent interviews and YouTube videos have made the Shroud a point of interest or curiosity to anyone with a computer! Having a life-sized replica along with professional signage and ‘explainers’ will be a draw for even those with no faith background.”

However, this is much more than an opportunity to see an exhibit, added Schirmer.

“As people are viewing the replica and reading the story of Christ’s Passion, Catholics will be praying before the Blessed Sacrament, as well as hearing teaching from a gifted and holy priest (Father Jonathan Meyer),” she said. “The impulse of curiosity being upheld with the power of prayer and deepening faith … this is like dynamite. So powerful we cannot begin to imagine the far-reaching nature of this ‘explosion.’”

Indeed, the power of the Shroud’s mystery continues to touch the hearts of the faithful and those in the scientific world. Dr. Gilbert Lavoie, who conducted his own experiments and research, authored the book “The Shroud of Jesus.” He wrote of its impact, “God is at work, visually communicating to us through his Son’s shroud and his Son’s image – his Son’s hour of glory: the crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension of his Son moving upward toward his Father. Yes, what you see is what you get. Set before us, in a captured moment in time, is the occurrence of the final dynamic event of the whole story of salvation, our salvation.”

Deacon Tom Gaida, who coordinates visitations of the Shroud replica, shared, “The exhibit was originally created by the Center of the Passion of Christ of the Holy Shroud many years ago, before I came to Marytown. We updated it in 2021. The exhibit presents the latest, most up-to-date scientific information available concerning the origin of the shroud and its age. Also, the life size corpus of Jesus on the cross is a very detailed, powerful, and accurate depiction of the wounds Christ suffered according to the information revealed by the Shroud.”

Deacon Gaida said science has confirmed the original shroud is not of human origin.

“The information contained in the shroud from strictly a scientific point of view basically rules out that the image on the Shroud was produced by human effort,” he said. “Ultimately this is a journey of faith. There will always be skeptics. But the exhibit presents a very convincing argument for the authenticity of the Shroud of Turin and Christ’s Resurrection.”

This isn’t just about looking back at history; it points us to the Real Presence of Jesus: The Eucharistic Face of our Savior with us now.

“Along with the Shroud Exhibit, there will be an encore presentation of the Eucharistic Miracles that St. Carlo Acutis catalogued before his death,” Schirmer said. “How often do ‘BEFORE’ and ‘AFTER’ pictures draw the same expressions of amazement and awe?”

“One other thing: If we do have the general public coming out of curiosity, then faithful Catholics need to be ready with joyful answers as to the faith we hold so dearly,” emphasized Schirmer. “It’s never too early to be ready to give an accounting!”

It’s all about a personal relationship with our Lord, said Schirmer.

“The Shroud tells us how much He loved us,” she said. “The Miracles tell us how much He continues to love us. The Eucharist is truly our Highway to Heaven. Let us bring as many as we possibly can on this journey!”

For more information, visit https://www.rcdony.org/h2h