The Rev. Daniel Greenleaf, pastor of the Prince of Peace Parish, has been meeting with local Catholics to find ways to promote Lewiston’s Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul beyond the area.

They plan to offer some merchandise — displaying some of the heritage of the church, culture and community — to help raise funds to bring more Catholic events to Lewiston.

The project is in its early stages, said Lisa Gilbert, chair of the Commission of the Basilica Heritage Center in Lewiston.

The items to be sold include Christmas cards, candles, crosses and books. They also will have rosary beads, Gilbert said.

Plans are ongoing to determine how the items will be sold. One possibility is to sell them on the Prince of Peace Parish website, Greenleaf said.

The basilica was built in the early 1900s and completed in 1936. It stands at 122 Ash St.

“There are often traveling exhibitions that could come to Maine through the basilica, and concerts of sacred music,” Greenleaf said.

One such exhibit telling the story of the Shroud of Turin is expected to come to the basilica at the end of next summer, along with a replica of the cloth, he said.

“The Shroud resides in the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Turin, Italy, as it has for over four centuries. It bears a faint, yellowed image of a naked, crucified man and is believed by millions of Christians to be the burial cloth of Jesus of Nazareth,” according to the Museum of the Bible.

Another event is one-act plays of saints by St. Luke Productions.

Events have been held at the church, including an organ concert in September. The church’s two organs — at the front and back of the church — and Maine chorale singers performed music for the Mass.

“It was well attended and a huge success,” Gilbert said.

Leaders have also hosted art classes at the church, including stained-glass making.

They plan to work with art students from Bates College in Lewiston and Colby College in Waterville, and perhaps other colleges, to hold open-air classes to study art, Greenleaf said.

Lewiston’s granite basilica is said to be the largest church and only basilica north of Boston. It was built in the neo-gothic medieval style modeled after French Gothic cathedrals, with twin towers, stained glass, and ornate stone and woodwork throughout, and serves as a significant landmark for the Franco-American community, Greenleaf said.

“We are so blessed to have this building, a gift from prior generations, to be used to minister to the entire state in a unique way, ” Greenleaf said.