PALM BEACH GARDENS | The People of Hope Museum, which celebrates the power of Christian service and its transformative impact on both giver and receiver, will be at the Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola, 9999 N. Military Trail, on Friday, Nov. 6, and Saturday, Nov. 7. A Mass with Bishop Manuel de Jesús Rodríguez celebrating the work of Catholic Charities, which is the focus of the traveling museum, is set for 10 a.m. Nov. 6, with a reception following in the cathedral hall.
According to the People of Hope website, the museum is on a tour with more than 150 stops across the nation in 2026, 2027 and the first half of 2028, highlighting “Faith-filled stories of neighbors helping neighbors.” Museum visitors will experience:
· Video stories from people serving in their communities, sharing encounters with the one vulnerable client who impacted them the most;
· An interactive poverty simulation of stepping into another person’s life, making difficult choices and experiencing the realities of living on the margins;
· An audio library featuring curated two- to four-minute audio segments from seminal works on poverty, social isolation, bridgebuilding and community action, including by best-selling authors Arthur Brooks, Matthew Desmond, Robert Putnam, Oprah Winfrey and others;
· National and state data illustrating the scope of need and the vital role of social-service organizations across the country; and
· A recording studio that allows attendees to share their own stories of hope and service.
As some content addresses sensitive themes of poverty and stories of past trauma, the museum experience is intended for those 14 and older. Admission is free, but donations will be accepted.
Ellen Wayne, CEO of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Palm Beach, spoke of the museum and the concept of hope in a world that sometimes seems devoid of it.
“So much of what we hear today can leave us feeling divided, discouraged or powerless. The People of Hope Museum tells a different kind of story. Hope isn’t an abstract idea. It becomes real the moment one person sees a neighbor’s suffering and chooses not to look away,” she said.
Wayne said she hopes visitors leave recognizing their own power to create positive change. “Hope asks something courageous of each of us: to believe that our presence matters, that compassion can interrupt despair and that no act of love is ever wasted, not even a handful of spare change.”
Stories of hope are intertwined with the work of Catholic Charities, such as the account of Giselle Vargas’ settlement in the United States. She tells of her arrival in South Florida from Cuba, unfamiliar with American ways and unsure of how the college degrees held by she and her husband could earn them stable employment. They were assisted by Catholic Charities.
“Over the years, we have never forgotten that first step toward our milestone,” Vargas said. “We have shared these services with others who were as supported as we were. We are so blessed and proud to be part of the people who have been helped by Catholic Charities.”
Emelie Konopka, Catholic Charities’ development director, said the People of Hope Museum “offers an immersive, interactive experience that shares powerful stories of hope, brings the realities of poverty into focus and invites visitors to walk in the shoes of those experiencing it. Through Catholic Charities, we turn awareness into action by providing compassionate care and essential services that bring hope to our neighbors throughout the five counties we serve.”
The museum will be open outside the cathedral Nov. 6 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Nov. 7 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For information on Catholic Charities, visit www.ccdpb.org or call 561-345-2000. For more about the traveling museum, go to https://peopleofhope.us/.
