ELMIRA, NY – Catholic Charities Diocese of Rochester is joining Catholic Charities agencies across the United States to host People of Hope: Faith Filled Stories of Neighbors Helping Neighbors, a traveling museum that amplifies the transformative impact of Christian service. The People of Hope Museum will be free and open to the public at two locations in the Diocese of Rochester in May 2026.
The mobile museum will be open:
• May 4, 2026 at St. Mary Our Mother Church, 816 West Broad Street, Horseheads, NY from 12:30pm – 4:30pm for the public.
• May 7, 2026 at St. Marianne Cope Parish at Guardian Angels Church, 2061 E. Henrietta Road, Rochester, NY 10am – 6pm for the public.
Bishop John Bonnici will open the museum and welcome guests both days at 10am.
The mobile museum celebrates the hope that Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Rochester brings to over 100,000 people in our communities every year. It offers a unique opportunity to learn about needs in our community, and to experience compelling stories about neighbors in need and the Catholic Charities staff who bring love and hope to them.
One of the featured stories comes from our Catholic Charities Chemung/Schuyler agency, highlighting local impact within the broader national movement. LaFrance Supervisor, Lisa Appleby, shares a local Elmira story as part of the museum experience.
Housed inside a customized 53-foot tractor trailer, the People of Hope Museum is an immersive experience featuring more than 40 professionally produced video stories of Catholic Charities staff and volunteers from across the country sharing meaningful encounters with individuals and families facing hardship.
In addition to the video storytelling gallery, visitors can:
• Participate in an interactive poverty simulation, stepping into another person’s life to better understand the daily realities of living on the margins
• Visit a recording studio to share their own stories of hope, service, and faith
• Explore an audio library featuring short excerpts from seminal works on poverty, social isolation, bridge building, and community action
• Engage with national and state data illustrating the scope of need and the vital role of social service organizations
This local work reflects the shared mission of Catholic Charities agencies nationwide to honor the dignity of every person and respond to the Gospel call to serve those most in need.
The People of Hope Museum launched its national tour in March and will travel the United States for two and a half years. The initiative is made possible through a 2024 grant of nearly $5 million from Lilly Endowment Inc., awarded through its National Storytelling Initiative on Christian Faith and Life.
To learn more about the People of Hope Museum, visit www.peopleofhope.us. To explore volunteer opportunities or learn more about Catholic Charities of Chemung & Schuyler programs, visit www.CatholicCharitiesCS.org.
About Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Rochester: For more than a century, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Rochester has supported individuals and families throughout the region by providing compassionate, dignity centered services during times of crisis and transition.
Chemung/Schuyler: Catholic Charities provides support to individuals and families in our community to help them live a more self-reliant life. The agency specializes in emergency services and housing support. Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Rochester operates six agencies serving twelve Western New York counties, from the Southern Tier to Rochester, including Catholic Charities of Chemung/Schuyler. For more information on services, please visit CatholicCharitiesCS.org.
About People of Hope Museum: Faith Filled Stories of Neighbors Helping Neighbors celebrates the power of Christian service and its transformative impact on both giver and receiver. The mobile museum offers a one of a kind opportunity for communities to experience, reflect on, and share stories of compassion, faith, and service in action.tiesCS.org or ccdor.org.