Two traveling religious exhibits are scheduled to come to Salt Lake City within the next few weeks, offering an inside look at the life of a Catholic saint and a multi-media immersion in Jewish history and practice.
The relics of St. Therese of Lisiexu, a young Carmelite nun who died in 1897 at age 24, will be on display Jan. 25 from 7:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. at the Carmelite Monastery, 5714 S. Holladay Blvd. They will then be transported to the Cathedral of the Madeleine, 331 E. South Temple, for display from 4 to 7:30 p.m.
Bishop George Niederauer, Catholic bishop of Salt Lake City, will celebrate Mass in the presence of the relics at 5:30 p.m. in honor of his fifth anniversary as bishop.
Known as "the little flower," St. Therese was born Jan. 2, 1873, in Alencon, France, one of nine children of Louis and Zelie Martin. While her mother died when she was 4, the child was deeply spiritual and in her later writings described her own spiritual conversion to spread the love of God on Christmas Eve of 1886. At age 15, she entered a convent in Lisiexu to devote her life to God.
Her devotion is chronicled in her autobiography, "Story of a Soul," which was written before her death from tuberculosis.
Canonized in 1925, St. Therese was declared a Doctor of the Church in 1997 by Pope John Paul II, the only such designation during his pontificate.
Encased in an ornate jacaranda wood and gilt silver reliquary, her earthly remains will be displayed in 120 U.S. cities before being flown to the Philippines on Jan. 28.
They have already been greeted by millions of faithful Catholics in nations throughout Europe and South America.
While Catholics "don't worship or idolize relics, we venerate tangible symbols of the saint in order to be inspired to draw closer to God.
It is like visiting a cemetery to honor and be reminded of a family member and friend," according to Carmelite Father Robert Colaresi, director of the Society of the Little Flower in Darien, Ill.
"They lead us beyond."
A second display — which will focus on Jewish history and culture — will be offered beginning Feb. 2 at the Utah State Fairpark, 155 N. 1000 West.
The Jewish Expo 2000 is a traveling multimedia museum and exposition featuring an 8,000-square-foot maze of animated exhibits on the six days of creation, the slavery of the Israelites in Egypt and the Passover; the parting of the Red Sea; construction of the temple of David; and a secret Seder ceremony held in the Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz.
The two-hour walking tour culminates with an arts and crafts workshop for children, who are encouraged to "create a permanent memento of their experience," according to a news release from Chabad Lubavitch of Utah, which is sponsoring the exhibit's visit to Salt Lake.
The five-day event will draw Jewish schoolchildren from throughout the state, according to Rabbi Benny Zippel, and daytime hours are reserved for them.
Evening hours and the entire day Sunday, Feb. 6, will provide a chance for the public to view the exhibit, he said.
"The beauty of this program is that it appeals to all people — irrespective of religion, age, background or affiliation," Rabbi Zippel
said. It "truly exemplifies Jewish unity in that it underscores the rich history and heritage that binds us together as one harmonious nation."
There is an admission charge for the exhibit. For tickets, information and group reservations, call 467-7777.