AN IMAGE OF THE HOLY Face of Jesus, similar to the Veil of Veronica housed in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, will be touring in the Diocese of Orange on April 12 and 14. The image, created in 1905, was laid upon the true image of the Veil of Veronica, touched to the True Cross of Christ and the point of the spear (both of which are also housed at St. Peter’s) that was thrust into the side of Christ.
This tour is sponsored by the Diocese’s Office of Ecumenism and Inter-religion and organized by Cynthia and Gary Micaletti, owners of JMJ Catholic Store in Placentia. The replica is safeguarded by Vicki Schreiner of Oklahoma City, whose family has had it for more than a century. It received a papal certificate of authenticity from Pope St. Pius X in 1905.
On April 12, St. Michael’s Abbey in Silverado Canyon will be hosting the Holy Image for veneration from 9 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. It then goes to JMJ’s Catholic Store, 310 E. Orangethorpe Ave. Suite A, Placentia, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. To end the day, it will be at Our Lady of Guadalupe La Habra for veneration from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
On April 14, it will be on display in Garden Grove at the Christ Cathedral campus in the St. Callistus Chapel and Crypts from approximately 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. At 8:30 a.m. Vikki Schreiner will give a presentation on the Image after the 8 a.m. Mass in the St. Callistus Chapel.
The Vatican’s Veil of Veronica, kept at St. Peter’s Basilica, is said to date to AD 33, when a woman named Veronica (now known as St. Veronica) encountered Jesus when He carried His cross while on route to His Crucifixion. Jesus wiped His bleeding face on the veil and return it to Veronica, who saw a miraculous image of His face on the veil.
The Vatican’s veil is traditionally only shown to the public for veneration on the Fifth Sunday of Lent (April 6 in 2025).