The “Journey of Faith” exhibit, featuring artwork and artifacts from St. John the Baptist Parish in Folsom and the Sisters of Mercy of the Auburn regional community, is a virtual timeline of the Catholic presence in California from the discovery of gold in the 1850s to the 21st century.

The exhibit runs from April 28 to July 15.

Visitors walking through the door at the Folsom History Museum will be greeted by a life-sized statue of St. John the Baptist, patron saint of the historic Folsom church, as well as three other of the pioneer church’s original statues.

Artifacts on display from St. John the Baptist Church, built in the late 1850s, include wire mesh offering baskets, an old clapper, a wooden instrument used in the 1800s as a substitute for bells, the church’s original baptismal font, and a distinctive rosary made by a parishioner in the 1950s from beads crafted with minerals representing every state.

Also included will be a mannequin dressed in vestments typically worn by priests prior to the mid-20th century, a display of the United States, California and papal flags, and a chart with photographs of all the popes.

The second of five segments of the exhibit is an art and pictorial display highlighting significant Catholic events in California history, including miniature replicas of 35 missions made by fourth graders from St. John Notre Dame School.

Artifacts in this display include two of 29 California mission tiles, collected in the mid-1800s by Mother Mary Baptist Russell, featuring mission oil paintings by students attending Mercy-administrated schools. Mother Russell arrived in San Francisco from Ireland in 1854, leading a delegation of seven Mercy Sisters.

“These tiles are not only wonderful historical pieces, but reflect a creative process in which students not only tell a story but preserve that story,” said Mercy Sister Katherine Doyle, historian and archivist for the Auburn regional community.

Visitors to the exhibit will also view newspaper clippings and photographs highlighting the history of the Sacramento Diocese from 1850. Included will be articles about Bishop Patrick Manogue, the early history of the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, and the rigorous life of pioneering religious communities.

The final segment of St. John the Baptist Parish’s display features news articles and artifacts telling the story of the parish’s faith traditions, its people, their ministries and major celebrations throughout 150 years.

Parishioner Elaine Massey, a member of the parish’s history museum display committee, said the Journey of Faith exhibit hopes “to educate people about the Catholic faith,” to provide “a look at all the Mercy Sisters have done for the community” and the work of St. John the Baptist Parish ministries in the community of Folsom.

Massey, who was baptized in the historic St. John the Baptist Church in 1935, describes the parish as “a very caring community that feels like family.”

“There is a tradition and mentality of doing things for others,” said Massey, who ticked off several parish-based outreach ministries, including pastoral care, healing Masses and bereavement ministries which serve the community at large.

The final portion of the exhibit is “an historical snapshot” highlighting the Sisters of Mercy’s ministry since their arrival in Sacramento in 1857.

Nine panels include accounts of the earliest works of the sisters, including opening elementary schools for 115 children, caring for orphans, and initiating programs which now provide health care, housing and education throughout the diocese.

Artifacts include a student register, circa 1876, books from a Mercy lending library used by Sacramento residents a century ago, a profession cross worn by the early Mercy Sisters, a hospital bill dated 1919, and a mannequin dressed in an 1831 habit worn by Mercy Sisters at that time.

“The entire exhibit is a wonderful opportunity for parents to bring their children to see a visual representation of church history,” Sister Doyle said.

St. John the Baptist Parish plans to follow up the exhibit with tours of the historic church and museum in May and June.

For more information about the exhibit, call Elaine Massey at (916) 351-0305.

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