Visit an imaginative ‘Bible Museum’ in Jersey City this weekend
Families who visit the Cinelli Center at Our Lady of Sorrows Parish in Jersey City this weekend will have a rare opportunity to enter an ancient cave where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered and to cross the Red Sea as Moses parts its waters.
The First Bible Museum exhibit, created by the Missionary Servants of the Word, takes visitors through the story of salvation history as told in the Bible and beyond, from the moment of Creation to the election of Pope Leo XIV.
This imaginative, heartfelt, handcrafted exhibit is the work of Sisters Marilú Ayala Corona and Valeria Gonzalez, Missionary Sister Servants of the Word. They were assisted by a lay missionary, Marinella, also from the Servants of the Word movement. Planning for the exhibit began over a year ago. The three women worked hard throughout the early summer to turn their dreams into reality with the help of visiting religious and volunteers from Our Lady of Sorrows.
Funds for the First Bible Museum were provided by a Parish Scripture Initiative Scholarship from the Archdiocese of Newark’s Office for Lifelong Faith Formation. Established in 2023 through an American Bible Society grant, the scholarships help parishes in the Archdiocese create innovative scripture-based projects.
As they approached the exhibit’s July 25th opening, the sisters had to work long days, often until midnight, to ensure their museum was ready on time. The work was pretty tiring,” Sister Valeria said, “but we knew that it was something God really wanted.” Parishioners were also enthusiastic about the project and would frequently show up with food for them.
An immersive labor of love
In the end, the exhibit was worth all the hard work. More than 160 people have already visited the First Bible Museum, which must close on Sunday, August 10.
A labor of love, the rooms of the First Bible Museum create immersive environments that instill a sense of childlike wonder while providing valuable information about sacred scripture. Adults will be fascinated to experience the course of salvation history in a one-hour tour, while kids will thrill at the tactile nature of the various settings and objects.
The centerpiece of the exhibit is a recreation of Solomon’s Temple and the Ark of the Covenant. Though made of sheetrock, paint, and Styrofoam, the large room manages to instill a sense of awe and holiness. It helps you understand how Solomon’s Temple functioned as an actual space where living people once walked, talked, and worshipped.
From that golden setting, visitors are led into the simple house where a girl named Mary said yes to an angel and the Word became flesh. Jesus dies on a cross but is resurrected to bring us all new life. His followers spread the Good News and are made to suffer for it. Then one of the persecutors, Saul, is suddenly converted by a miracle… The First Bible Museum is wonderful at showing how much God loves us and also loves to surprise us.
Leaving the exhibit, one question remains unanswered, however: The Missionary Servants of the Word called their exhibit the First Bible Museum. Does that mean there will be a second? Sister Valeria laughs at the question, “Well… I guess maybe we will have to have a second one next year!”
Meanwhile, there is still time to visit the First Bible Museum this weekend.
First Bible Museum Hours and Location
Thursday, August 7 – 11 am – 9 pm
Friday, August 8 – 11 am – 9 pm
Saturday, August 9 – 10 am – 5 pm and after 7 pm Mass
Sunday, August 10 – 10 am – 9 pm
The entrance to the Cinelli Center is through the parking lot, directly across the street from Our Lady of Sorrows Church at 73 Claremont Avenue in Jersey City. For scheduled tours, call (631) 449-6458.
View more images from the First Bible Museum here.
Featured image: A collage of images from the First Bible Museum at Our Lady of Sorrows Parish in Jersey City. (Photos by John Touhey / Archdiocese of Newark)
