Dozens of supporters of Corpus Christi Catholic Church turned out Thursday for a special look at an exhibit that celebrates the East Side church s past and future.

The exhibit, housed in Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum on Porter Avenue, coincides with the successful completion of the parish s $1 million preservation fund campaign.

"In a time of crisis, over the past four years, we were able to raise $1 million, which is extraordinary for a church on the East Side where you don t really have too many people," said the Rev. Anzelm Chalupka, pastor of Corpus Christi.

"Today s event is thankfulness from us to the people who donated money towards this campaign."

At its height, the overwhelmingly Polish-American parish had more than 10,000 members and is now down to about 500 very dedicated parishioners — about 2 percent from the neighborhood and the rest who travel long distances to attend Mass, Chalupka said.

Several photographs and artifacts marking the breadth of the Buffalo parish s history were on display during Thursday s preview reception for donors and supporters of Corpus Christi.

"We have the trowel, the hammer and the nail that were used in the laying of the cornerstone in 1907," said Robert Fronckowiak, who organized the exhibit.

"We have the ringer from the bell that . . . was originally installed in 1898. We ve translated the inscription on the bell that was written in 1898 that was translated from Polish to English."

The free Karpeles Museum exhibit opens to the public Tuesday and continues through Nov. 29.

"I m hoping that they re going to learn some things about the church, but most importantly, I m hoping they re going to feel the emotion and the impact that this church has had on the Western New York community," Fronckowiak said.

In 2007, Corpus Christi was designated as a state landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. That helped pave the way for major state grants being awarded to the church, which is owned by the Pauline Fathers.