Holy Family Church will show how massive its own extended family has grown over 175 years in “A Holy Family Scrapbook,” an anniversary exhibit at the Cayuga Museum of History and Art.

The exhibit amasses hundreds of photographs and artifacts that document Holy Family's history in Auburn both as a church and a school. Though the latter function of Holy Family ceased in 1957, each institution nonetheless occupies its own room in the Cayuga Museum show.

The church's history is signified through photographs of weddings, baptisms and first communions that took place in its walls. Much of this portion of the exhibit was provided by members of the parish, and other key items were stored at Cayuga Community College. Curator Lauren Chyle sorted every collected marker of Holy Family's history for display.

“At the Cayuga Museum, we say that 'our history is your history,'” Chyle said.

Paintings by Mike Evangelista depict the first Holy Family Church, a former Methodist church. For six years prior, the smaller Catholic community of Auburn would meet at worshippers' houses. A traveling priest made the rounds in the central New York area until Holy Family purchased its first space in 1834.

Other paintings by Evangelista capture the church in its current building, but with a brick exterior, and then Holy Family as it appears today. From its basement come the center panel of an old altar piece, a baptismal faunt, stained glass and a pew that were physically part of the church in its past.

“These show the changes of the church and mark decades and generations of priests who made their imprints on it and the way it lookedš,” Chyle said.

From 1843 to 1973, thousands of students passed through the walls of Holy Family High School. Their history is documented through letterman jackets and jerseys sporting the school's purple and gold colors, photos of graduating classes and even banners that recently hung from the gym ceiling.

The personal experiences of Holy Family students and parish members are recorded in written testimonials featured in the exhibit. Visitors will be free to add their own Holy Family memories to this massive testament to its influence in the community.

As part of the church's outreach committee, Carol Kenney has helped arrange the arrival of Holy Family's artifacts at the Cayuga Museum for display.

“I think it'll be a fun exhibit for people,” Kenney said. “They'll be reminiscing when they see everything that's going to be on display.”

Staff writer David Wilcox can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 245 or david.wilcox@lee.net

If you go

What: Opening,

“A Holy Family

Scrapbook: Celebrating 175 Years”

When: 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, March 27

Where: Cayuga Museum of History and Art, 203 Genesee St., Auburn

Cost: Free

For more details:

Call 253-8051