About Othonia
We make Jesus known through the Shroud of Turin
Othonia is a team of specialists — scientists, historians, scholars, and believers from many backgrounds — united by a fascination with the Shroud of Turin. Through exhibits, education, and research we lead people to encounter Jesus, inviting them to look with the eyes of both reason and faith and to “see and believe.”
How we bring the Shroud to the world
Exhibits
Traveling, permanent, and intro-to-the-Shroud exhibits for parishes, schools, and dioceses worldwide.
Curriculum
A five-part classroom series where science, history, and faith meet — launching Fall 2026.
Research & Conferences
Scholarship, talks, and events through our Research Group in Rome, in partnership with APRA.
Two organizations, one mission
Othonia brings together two organizations under a shared Joint Steering Committee — the scholarship of Rome and the reach of a U.S. non-profit, anchored by our partnership with APRA.
Othonia Research Group
Our academic home at the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum (APRA) in Rome, founded by Fr. Rafael Pascual, with a postgraduate program in Shroud Studies.
- Research — new research on the Holy Shroud
- Digital & Physical Archives — a climate-controlled facility to house tangible Shroud artifacts, and an open-access digital platform so Shroud data is universally accessible
Othonia Inc.
Our U.S. non-profit, bringing the Shroud to parishes, schools, and dioceses across the country and beyond.
- Operations — exhibit and product sales, content creation, and educational materials
- Financials — sales revenue, donations, and grants
It began with one dedicated priest
Othonia began with Fr. Hector Guerra, whose first Shroud exhibit opened at Jerusalem’s Notre Dame Center in 2006. In 2009 he founded Othonia with Fr. Rafael Pascual in Rome, envisioning a global hub for education, research, and encounter with the Shroud.
Leadership & Team
Fr. Rafael, LC
Fr. Pascual is a Catholic priest with the Legionaries of Christ. He holds a Doctorate in Philosophy from the Gregorian University in Rome. He established the Othonia Research Group at the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum and the postgraduate program in Shroud Studies. Fr. Pascual also coordinates Othonia exhibits and conferences.
Fr. Andrew, LC
Fr. Dalton is a well-known international speaker on the Shroud. His approach bridges the gap between scientific observation and theological interpretation. Fr. Dalton is a Catholic priest of the Legionaries of Christ. He teaches Synoptic Gospels and Biblical Greek and Hebrew. He is also the author of Fulfilled Israel: Matthew’s Plerosis Paradigm.
Fr. Alex Yeung, LC
Fr. Alex Yeung, LC serves with the Othonia Research Group at the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum (APRA) in Rome, advancing research and education on the Shroud of Turin.
Russ
Russ is an entrepreneur with over 40 years in Business Development and Operations. He has founded several different companies with a diverse international portfolio that includes Arizona, Georgia, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and Italy. Russ has founded businesses in Real Estate, Retail, Restaurants, Oil and Gas and AI.
Dennis
Dennis is an executive with over 40 years of experience in business systems and supply chain contractor management. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Old Dominion University. Dennis has a global background working with markets and cultures across North America, Europe, Asia, and West Africa.
Nora
Nora Creech is an experienced lecturer on the history, science, and pastoral implications of the Shroud. She graduated from the University of Colorado with degrees in Business and English. After working in industry and raising her family, she earned a Master of Arts in Faith and Culture from the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas.
Lori
After many years of supporting philanthropic endeavors, Lori created a family foundation to encourage the next generation to support the issues she is passionate about, Catholic education and formation. She is also very dedicated to efforts to strengthen and support families.
Alex
Alex is a postgraduate student at the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum. He holds a BBA in International Business from St. Edward’s University, and has 5+ years of AI/ML experience at Apple. Raised in Monterrey, México, Alex is fluent in Spanish, English, and French, and loves bringing people together, especially to promote truth, goodness, and beauty.
Aline
Aline is an entrepreneur with a passion for innovating. She graduated from MIT with her own interdisciplinary concentration in Chemical and Biological Engineering. Her career includes roles at Procter & Gamble, the OSV Institute for Catholic Innovation, and SENT Ventures. Aline is driven by a love of solving problems and bringing people together.
Ezra
Ezra is a graduate of Mays Business School at Texas A&M University. He has worked in commercial real estate sales, home building, and in churches ranging from brand-new church plants to multi-campus megachurches. This diverse professional background uniquely equips him to partner with organizations of all types to leverage Othonia exhibits for people to encounter Jesus through the Shroud of Turin.
Andrea
Andrea holds a Bachelor's Degree in Biomedical Engineering and spent over 15 years in the biopharma industry researching cancer therapies. Today, she channels her passion for sharing the profound love of Jesus by coordinating Holy Shroud speaking events for Othonia. Andrea delights in gardening with her young family and finds deep joy in the Gospel woven into everyday life—John 15:4 and Matthew 13:8 are among her favorite Scriptures.
Laura
Laura is a versatile professional with a lifelong passion for learning and growth. She began working at age 13, taking on many roles at once, and found long-term growth with the Scaramellas after meeting them 20 years ago. Her roles have included special projects, marketing, administration, events, design, and HR across their portfolio of businesses. Passionate about helping people and animals, Laura also values living a healthy lifestyle.
Melinda
Melinda Sabol Pearson combines relationship building with strategic thinking across diverse projects. Whether developing websites, producing podcasts, teaching art, writing marketing strategies, or researching genealogy, she brings a problem-solver's mindset and a talent for making complex ideas accessible.
Send Us a Message
Have a question, or want to discuss ways to support Othonia? We’d love to explore options with you.