Rev. James D. Conley, D.D., S.T.L. | Diocese of Lincoln website

St. John the Apostle Parish in Lincoln is gearing up to host a presentation on the Shroud of Turin on March 17. The event, scheduled to take place at St. John Church at 76th and Vine streets in Lincoln, will be conducted by Jim Bertrand, M. Ed., a retired teacher and a member of the American Confraternity of the Holy Shroud.

Bertrand, who has given numerous talks on the Shroud around the nation, will utilize a life-size replica of the artifact during the 90-minute program. The replica, measuring 14.5 feet long and 3.5 feet wide, was acquired with the assistance of the Knights of Columbus and the PCCW of St. Peter Parish in Lincoln.

Speaking about the significance of the Shroud, Bertrand said, "The science and history behind the Shroud was just fascinating to me." He added, "It helped my faith to see actual signs that our Lord was truly here and suffered so much for us."

Kathy Beran, administrative assistant at St. John Parish, expressed her admiration for Bertrand's presentation, stating, "It brought the sorrowful mysteries of the rosary to life, knowing what He endured for us." She invited Bertrand to share his insights with the parish community during Lent, aiming to make the experience more impactful for attendees.

The origins of the American Confraternity of the Holy Shroud, founded in 2014 by Dr. John Jackson and Bishop Michael Sheridan, trace back to a mission to educate individuals about the Shroud and foster a deeper connection to Jesus. Bertrand played a pivotal role in creating a PowerPoint presentation of the organization's Critical Summary, which has been used to train individuals across dioceses to present factual information about the Shroud.

The presentation is open to all, with no admission fee. However, free-will offerings will be collected to support the American Confraternity of the Holy Shroud.