JEFFERSON CITY, MISSOURI | November 2026
What does it take to bring the Shroud of Turin to an entire diocese? In central Missouri, a dedicated group of volunteers is showing what is possible when local Catholics come together to share the history, science, and spiritual significance of this remarkable cloth.
The Shroud Exhibitors of Central Missouri (SECMO), a lay-led nonprofit organization in the Diocese of Jefferson City, has been bringing Othonia’s Who Is the Man of the Shroud? traveling exhibit to communities throughout the region. Their efforts have attracted local media attention, including coverage in The Catholic Missourian, the newspaper of the Diocese of Jefferson City.
This November we give thanks that the the National Shrine of Mary, Mother of the Church in Laurie, Missouri, is hosting the exhibit, giving pilgrims and visitors an opportunity to examine the Shroud and reflect on its possible connection to Jesus Christ.
A Local Mission with a Wider Vision
SECMO has brought Othonia’s traveling exhibit to central Missouri, including educational panels and a life-size replica of the Shroud of Turin.
The exhibit invites visitors to investigate the question, “Who is the Man of the Shroud?” through history, scientific research, Scripture, and the physical characteristics of the cloth.
Behind each installation is a team of volunteers who transport, assemble, and present the exhibit. The Missouri Knights of Columbus have helped support the transportation and setup of the displays, allowing the exhibit to reach different communities.
This locally organized approach allows the exhibit to travel between parishes, schools, shrines, and other venues without requiring a permanent exhibition space or full-time staff.
The Shroud Comes to Mother’s Shrine
From November 5 through 15, 2026, SECMO is presenting the exhibit at the National Shrine of Mary, Mother of the Church, also known as Mother’s Shrine, in Laurie, Missouri.
The Shrine offers a setting for visitors to encounter the Shroud during a pilgrimage or visit for prayer and reflection.
Through the exhibit’s life-size replica and educational displays, visitors can investigate the evidence surrounding the cloth and contemplate its relationship to the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The exhibit is free and open to visitors of all ages and faith backgrounds.
By welcoming traveling exhibits like SECMO’s, shrines and other Catholic institutions can help make educational resources available to new audiences. SECMO’s visit to Mother’s Shrine provides an example of how existing pilgrimage destinations can help bring the Shroud to more people.
An Invitation to Come, See, and Believe
For SECMO’s volunteers, sharing the Shroud is ultimately an invitation to encounter Christ.
As one SECMO representative expressed:
“When you consider that, from all eternity, Our Lord knew His burial cloth would become the most studied and debated artifact in the world, and that at a time when relativism and scientism have obscured Truth, He has graced us with a way to come, see, and believe.”
This conviction is at the heart of SECMO’s efforts: to make the Shroud accessible to those who may never have encountered it and to invite visitors to examine its evidence for themselves.
A Model for Other Dioceses
Othonia’s vision is to make a Shroud exhibit accessible in every diocese, allowing more people to encounter the evidence and consider the central question of Christianity: Who is Jesus Christ?
SECMO offers an example of how that vision can become a reality.
With local leadership, committed volunteers, support from the Knights of Columbus, and opportunities to exhibit at Catholic institutions, a single traveling exhibit can serve numerous communities over time.
Othonia provides educational exhibits and resources, while local groups like SECMO undertake the practical work of organizing exhibitions, coordinating volunteers, and arranging venues.
The result is a community-led approach that other dioceses and organizations can consider adapting.
Bring the Shroud to Your Community
Interested in visiting the exhibit, supporting the Missouri volunteers, or inviting SECMO to your parish, school, or organization?
Visit Shroud Exhibitors of Central Missouri to learn more, volunteer, support their work, or request the exhibit.
For organizations interested in establishing a traveling Shroud exhibit in their own region, visit Othonia to explore the possibilities.
Together, we can make Jesus known through the Shroud of Turin.