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Activities for Children
Children 0-5: Build with blocks; create art rubbings of saints, angels and nature; ring the bells; play dress up; and watch Bible stories under a tent.
Children 5-8: ring the bells; discover melody selections from Catholic hymnals; and create an electronic stained-glass window.
Children 8 & up: participate in a scavenger hunt, available at the Admissions Desk. |
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"You have a facility that offers a unique social and spiritual
atmosphere in a top-notch environment. ... your institution has the
potential to impact peoples lives and our world in a positive way.
We were extremely impressed and inspired by the presentation and effectiveness of your interactive displays." |
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History of
the Center
The late Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, called us to “be not afraid,” but to boldly meet the challenges of the future in fidelity with the Gospel. In 1988, during a meeting with the Holy Father, the then Bishop Maida proposed the building of a Catholic Center that would help people address the challenges of faith and help inspire people in their faith. The concept of the Center developed into a cultural center inspired by the sentiment of Pope John Paul II that it must not focus on him but on the message, of not only his papacy, but also those of his predecessors.
The Cultural Center incorporates three major entities. It has interactive galleries featuring technology that challenges visitors to explore their faith and interact with others in a dialogue about faith. It is a showcase of personal memorabilia, photos, and artwork that contribute to an intimate and unforgettable encounter with John Paul II. It is also a place of scholarly research, exploring concepts in Catholic thought laid out by Pope John Paul II, with a specific focus on inter-religious dialogue.
With the concept of the Center established, the question became where this idea would be realized. The Holy Father selected Washington, DC, calling it the crossroads of the Third Millennium. The realization of the dream began in 1997 with the start of construction on the Center. The site chosen was a wooded 12 acres adjacent to The Catholic University of America and near both the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
In November of 2000, the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center was dedicated in a series of events with American Cardinals Maida, Bevilacqua and Keeler and the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo. The dedication served as a sneak peek for those who helped to create the Center through either financial donations or their labor.
In March 2001, the Center opened in a grand ceremony with the presence of President George W. Bush; the Governor of Vatican City, Cardinal Szoka; American Cardinals Maida, Hickey, Keeler and McCarrick; Polish Cardinal Macharski; the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo and elected officials from the United States Congress.
Welcoming visitors to the Center is a statue donated by the Polish Conference of Catholic Bishops, as a sign of their support of the Center's mission. It was officially unveiled during Polonia Day celebrations held at the Center by Polish Cardinals Macharski and Gulbinowicz and American Cardinal Maida on June 9 of 2001. It currently rests on a bed of limestone that is sandblasted with the Center's logo. The logo is a symbol of the Center's mission, and it symbolizes all of the foundational ideas of the Center as a connection to the Bishop of Rome and as a place to challenge and explore one's faith.
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