WATERLOO - A piece of their religion's foundation awaits folks from St. Edward Catholic Church.

Nearly 30 parishioners will fill a bus Nov. 10 for a day trip to the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul, Minn. It's the third and final stop for an exhibit featuring art, documents and historically significant objects from the 2,000-year influence of the Vatican, the residence of the pope and administrative center of the Roman Catholic Church in Rome.

"I think it'll be a real spirit-filled day for them," said Hazel Martin, director of religious education at St. Edward's. "The likelihood of a lot of us getting to Europe is probably not in anybody's near future."

Pam Shawver of Waterloo is especially excited for the trip, despite having traveled to Rome in 1985 and again with her husband, Gary, just a few weeks ago.

"The Vatican museum is so big and when you go there, generally you just have a few hours, so you're kind of running through," said Shawver, 54. "The collection is just priceless not only in money but in its antiquity and the stories behind each gift."

Many of the St. Paul exhibit's 200 items, part of the Vatican Splendors from Saint Peter's Basilica, the Vatican Museums and the Swiss Guard, have never left the Vatican. Highlights include Michelangelo's compass and tools used in the building of the Sistine Chapel; bone fragments of St. Peter; and the pastoral staff of Pope John Paul II.

"The fact that we're providing an opportunity for them to see some of the church's history and what's part of our sacred tradition through the ages is a real faith formation opportunity," Martin said. "I think that that helps people to deepen their faith and maybe to put it into a perspective of a more concrete reality."

Shawver added the inspiring exhibit represents the Catholic faith as the oldest institution on earth.

"For us 200 years is old," she said. "Some of these gifts are like thousands of years old. That's something we don't see here in the states like they do in Europe. Anyone who appreciates museum objects would find (the exhibit) very interesting, I'm sure."

Father Jerry Kopacek plans to attend and said past local educational offerings - visiting Saint Raphael's Cathedral in Dubuque or the Basilica of St. Francis Xavier in Dyersville - have generated a lot of interest among parishioners.

Many on the St. Paul trip are retirees who have celebrated the Eucharist under both the First and Second Vatican councils. Vatican 1, starting in 1869 and formally closing in 1960, emphasized the Vatican, pope and papal authority, Martin said. The Second Vatican Council has been more pastoral.

"Before Vatican 2, there was more of a sense of wonder and awe, and that (older) generation would be able to better relate to that," Martin said.

Other parishes from around the diocese have organized similar trips to St. Paul, Kopacek said.

The exhibit commemorates the 500th anniversary of the building of Saint Peter's Basilica, the founding of the Vatican Museums, Michelangelo's painting of the Sistine Chapel ceiling, and the establishment of the Papal Swiss Guard. It runs through Jan. 11, 2009.

Contact Tina Hinz at (319) 291-1484 or tina.hinz@wcfcourier.com.