Page Six


OUR DIOCESAN FAMILY


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Parishes ce P The figure of Jesus is seen clearly in the negative picture at the entrance to the exhibition


Shroud of Turin creates wonder


The Shroud of Turin, hailed as the true burial cloth of Jesus, appeared at the Cathedral in March but only in exhibition form. The actual cloth remains at Turin Cathedral in Italy but the exhibits, photographs, displays and explanations brought the story to life for many people.


Most Catholics and other Christians remain confident that the body of Jesus did indeed rest in the tomb after the crucifixion in the shroud despite claims by some scientists in the 1980s that carbon dating tests had proven it was a medieval fraud.


Since that time doubt has been cast upon the reliability of the tests and the question remains an open one.


Looking at the cloth in the cold light of day it is difficult to see the outline marks of the face and the body.


When photography allowed negative pictures to be produced, the full picture emerged of the flagellation, the marks of the


nails, the wound in the side, the thorns and the face of Jesus lying in the tomb. The full horror and suffering of the crucifixion is there for all to see. It also gave an insight into Jesus as a man of about 5ft 11ins (1.8m) tall and medium build. The exhibition also outlined the researches of physicist and artist Dame Isabel Paczek who created a 3-D model of the body of Jesus from the impression left on the shroud. In her notes she said that the image was not distorted on the shroud which meant it was rigidly taught around the body.


It also meant a perfect image was produced and this inspired artists to paint the real face and body of Jesus.


Many people of all ages, school students and casual visitors came to St John the Baptist Cathedral to learn and wonder about the shroud and many went away with their faith boosted or with a sense of the extraordinary.


eople from parishes a over the Diocese of Eas Anglia came to th


Cathedral on the first Sunda in Lent to celebrate the Rite o Election.


This was the last leg of their journe


to become full members of th Catholic Church and they had a studied the faith by taking part in th RCIA programme that leads reception at the Easter Vigil.


Diocesan Administrator Fr David Bagstaff addresses Candidates, right, and Deacon Patrick Limacher at the Cathedral with some of those signing the Book of Life, above


Pictures from the Chrism Mass


The detail on the shroud has allowed a detailed 3- D animation to be created and many painters have been inspired by this as shown above. The exhibition also depicted the tomb and also its detailed panels attracted many visitors


The Cathedral was packed, right, for the Chrism Mass and the oils were brought to the altar with the communion gifts, above. The deacons are pictured top


Cathedral lighting project for mo


Work has started to replace lighting in St John the Baptist Cathedral because many of the halogen and halide lamps are breaking down and the system, which was first installed about 18 years ago, has reached the end of its life.


The project to update the whole system is likely to take more than a year and cost £50,000. About £5,000 has already been raised.


Part of the new system has already been installed at the High Altar end of the nave, for the Stations of the Cross and Blessed Sacrament chapel.


LED lighting systems are to be installed as they use a fraction of the power of the existing lamps - 50 watts compared to 300 watts for the older system.


It is hoped this will be reflected in the overall cathedral electricity bill which is expected to fall by several thousands of


pounds once all the lights have Deacon Patrick Limacher is and said it would have a mainte more than 15 years.


“But individual lamps cost as we are swapping old lamps for “The new lamps are dark gr background much better but I h to have them mounted in the cannot be seen.


“Stage three will be to ha monitor lighting levels accordi As the Cathedral becomes d of the lighting will automatical summer when the building is b


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