New world available to those on-line

But, hey, I'm up for an adventure. Within seconds, I can be exploring the far reaches of the universe. Like in the twilight zone, this armchair warrior is about the enter a new dimension. I pull the chair up to my computer and switch it on.

By the way, my computer is an "old" (only two years, but it seems like it's from the Bronze Age) 386-33MHz, with a 170mb hard drive. No CD-ROM. No sound card. Don't let the technical jargon throw you. In simple terms, all that means is that my experience in cyberspace will be like watching a silent slide show. Today, the standard computer is multimedia, meaning it's like watching the latest movie at your local cineplex.

Into space

Ah, the old machine is all fired up and ready to take me to uncharted territory. Always, there's a feeling of anticipation. I never know where in the world I'll end up.

I log in to my internet service provider and head straight for the World Wide Web (WWW). A cybernut friend of mine recently told me to check out an awesome site that offers a virtual tour of the Vatican Museum (http://www.christusrex.org). I plunk in the web address and off I go.

Rated by PC Magazine as having one of the top five virtual art museums, it is definitely among the finest web sites in the world. Christus Rex has over 1,400 full-color images of the art and architecture of Vatican City. Also, it has a section called the "Splendors of Christendom: A Worldwide Tour of Churches, Cathedrals and Monasteries." Here, you can take a walking tour of Assisi, view a gallery of Ukrainian icons (12th-16th C.), or visit historic churches in Europe and the Americas. Plus, Christus Rex carries the full texts of important papal documents, as well as the complete Catechism of the Catholic Church, and much, much more.

Linking up

Eventually, I meander to Christus Rex's extensive index of links and spot one of particular interest: "Catholic Resources on the Net." On its home page, my attention is drawn to the section "Publications, Radio, and TV" under Catholic organizations. This leads me to a choice of scores of religious media sites.

As I scroll down the list, my next destination becomes clear. I notice an item called "Letters from Siberia." From a screen-full of options, this one nets me because, two summers ago, I took a ten- day cruise of the interior waterways of Russia. So, I am curious about what the Catholic newsletter of the Russian Far East will report.

Into Russia

I read about Bishop Joseph Werth, SJ, whose diocese covers 4.2 million square miles, extends through nine of the world's twenty- four time zones, and has an estimated 1.5 million Catholics. He has a team of missionaries from 18 different countries. His parishes, east and west, are 3,000 miles apart.

Next, I followed the thread of letters from Sister Lucy Ann Wasinger, CSA, a missionary from Kansas who is stationed at a parish in Chelyabinsk, Siberia. She talks about how an arson fire razed their church during Easter Week and describes the new structure rising from the ashes.

Sister Lucy reflects on the fellowship meal shared by all the construction workers under the church's new roof: "In the light of 'when two or three are gathered in My Name, there am I in their midst.' This WAS an Emmaus experience, from which not only the building is being built, but also the Church in our Risen Lord's marvelous design. I told them (the workers) that this Church will be a lighthouse, a beacon of faith, not only for all of Chelyabinsk, but for the entire Ural area of Siberia."

Off to Vatican

From this site, I decide to check out the official Vatican web page to see if anything new has been added. It's still under construction. However, the Vatican Information Service (VIS) does post its daily press releases. It headlines the Pope's audience schedule and presents the texts of his major public talks.

Coincidentally, the VIS was reporting a concert of Ukrainian sacred music in conjunction with an exhibit of historic documents between the Church of Kyiv and the Apostolic See in the Sistine Room of the Vatican Library.

If someone were to ask me, "Did you do anything special last night?" I'd say, "Well, I viewed the Vatican's art treasures. I visited the town of my favorite saint, Francis of Assisi. Stopped in for a tour of Nazareth. Saw some beautiful churches in Europe and the Americas. Learned about the missionary zeal in Siberia. And read the who's who of who's privileged to meet the Pope."

So, what'd you do last night?

(Editor's note: Ms. Oliver, business manager of The Evangelist, is responsible for its web site.)

(07-18-96) [[In-content Ad]]