austraLasia 1222 Catacombs - here we come? ROME: 3 August 2005 --  The General Council has approved an innovative plan for the Catacombs of St Callistus in Rome, a city that contains many of the significant sites of Christianity's early spread into the West.  The Catacombs of St Callistus are of incomparable value as a heritage of those times and allow an immediate and direct contact with the faith of those early Christian communities.        The plan?  To offer confreres worldwide a sabbatical year in Rome, but specifically tied to the Catacombs as point of reference and work.  If the idea succeeds it will also guarantee an international presence by way of guides for the site.     The proposal, which has been forwarded to all provinces, envisages that interested candidates will be members of the community of St Callistus for a minimum period of six months, and up to a year.  They would be asked to offer a service as guide in their own language both mornings and afternoons - anything up to five guided visits per day.  Wednesdays and all of February the Catacombs are closed.     Interested candidates would have an initial period for study of the Catacombs and the early Christian era, in order to be well prepared for their role.  The individual can also plan a personalised study programme in connection with other Christian archaeological sites in Rome.  Travelling expenses to and from the province of origin would be covered by the St Callistus community. The intention of the plan is that interested candidates would apply initially through their provincial.     From the EAO Region there are currently three guides, Fr  Mason of AUL, Fr Chung of CIN and Fr Mataconis who was a missionary in KOR.  However, the language areas normally covered at present at the Catacombs are English, Spanish, French and German.  Obviously other languages are welcome according to need and capacity.     Rome, of course, is not the only Salesian location with responsibility for early Christian sites.  There is also Jerusalem with nearby Beit Jemal.  This latter location is considered by many scholars and archaeologists to be the original burial spot of St Stephen, the first Christian martyr.  There are no current plans for Jerusalem along the lines being suggested for St Callistus, but the idea remains open for when other matters in the Holy Land and within Salesian arrangements can permit. __________________ AustraLasia is an email service for the Salesian Family of Asia Pacific.  It also functions as an agency for ANS based in Rome.  For RSS feeds, subscribe to www.bosconet.aust.com/rssala.xml.  If you subscribe, email this information and your name will come off the regular email list.  RSS eliminates problems such as multiple mailings, viruses, email bloat.  Think about it!