Christian archaeologist in Jordan invites believers to site of Jesus’ baptism
Catholic san Francisco Northern California’s Weekly Catholic Newspaper
By Rick DelVecchio BETHANY BEYOND THE JORDAN, Jordan – The dignitaries drove through the underbrush in a caravan of 13 golf carts. In the third vehicle was Pope Benedict XVI. He was taking the path of countless pilgrims before him in coming in physical contact with St. John’s wilderness and the site near the Jordan River where Jesus is said to have been baptized. Welcoming the Holy Father was Rustom Mkhjian, a Catholic Jordanian of Armenian descent who serves as the site’s assistant director and is supervisor of archaeological works for the Jordanian royal commission that oversees it.
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Mkhjian, greeting Christian journalists on a Jordan Tourism Board-sponsored press tour in September, recounted his bold invitation to the pope last May 10. He said how he believes that John’s wilderness – the legendary meeting place of the Old and New Testaments, the crossroads of the prophets from Joshua to Jesus, the site of monastic grottoes said to include the envangelist’s cave – is the wellspring of the faith and deserves to be the pre-eminent pilgrimage site in Christianity. “One of the things I said to the pope was, ‘Christianity started here,” Mkhjian said. “Peter, according to the Bible, was one of the four apostles who accompanied Jesus when he was baptized, so Christianity spread all over.” The pope “thanked us honestly,” the curator of the wilderness said, recalling how he chatted with the Holy Father about some of the early and medieval pilgrims who documented that believers converged on the site over at least eight centuries. These pilgrims wanted to touch the spot where they were convinced that John had his ministry in the reeds east of the Jordan, opposite a ford where travelers crossed from Jericho. There, near a spring that flowed below the high ground called Elijah’s Hill, tradition holds that Jesus was baptized. JESUS’ BAPTISM, page 6
(CNS PHOTO/GREG TARCZYNSKI)
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The cross of a Greek Orthodox church is seen as the sun sets at Bethany Beyond the Jordan in May when Pope Benedict XVI visited the site near the east bank of the Jordan River, where it is believed Jesus was baptized.
Catholics look at ways to welcome their own back to the fold LaNave and Rigney recommend that parish programs for returning Catholics ARLINGTON, Va. (CNS) – Two provide a chance to ask questions or women who have returned to their discuss issues. Many inactive or returnCatholic faith after years away have ing Catholics have not been exposed written a book, “When They Come to Catholicism since their childhood A “Catholics come home” screen shot from the Diocese of Sacramento. Home,” as a guide for parishes on how and, as a result, have only a fourth- or to minister to returning Catholics. fifth-grade level of understanding about The women, Anna LaNave and Melanie Rigney, the faith. Programs such as Landings serve as a At St. Charles Borromeo, LaNave is facilitator for parishioners of St. Charles Borromeo Church in place where they can come and have their questions a program called Landings that is designed to welArlington, say parishes need to reach out to inactive answered in an environment where they won’t feel come back those returning to the faith. The book she members by tailoring parish programs to meet their embarrassed. co-authored sets guidelines for how Catholics can set needs. “It’s the first opportunity to ask questions,” LaNave up and run programs such as Landings at their own “The church really needs to come up with a stratsaid. “Once they finish the program, if they feel like parishes. It also provides tips on how to make a parish egy for how to bring these Catholics back,” LaNave they need catechesis, they can go to (Rite of Christian more welcoming to returning Catholics, how to market said. “Otherwise, we’re going to have a very strong Initiation for Adults) and be a sponsor or attend a program on the Internet and how to run meetings in a marginally Catholic group now, but in the next generaCursillo or Bible study.” way that eases “inactives” back into the church instead tion, it won’t be marginal. It will be none.” of intimidating them or scaring them away. WELCOME BACK, page 5
By Katie Bahr
INSIDE THIS WEEK’S EDITION On the Street . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Women religious honored . . 3 News in brief. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Letters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Columnists . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Vocations: Hearing God’s call ~ Pages 7-9 ~ January 8, 2010
‘Guest Commentary’ Immigrants / Health Care ~ Page 10 ~
Networks gain Hispanic presence ~ Page 14 ~
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Datebook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Classified ads . . . . . . . . . . . 15
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