An unlikely faith journey of 6,250 miles draws a young woman closer to Christ

Jude Anton Twal poses in front of the area of the “Sacred Places” exhibit at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis that features her, her Christian faith and her Catholic parish church, The Beheading of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Madaba, Jordan. (Photo courtesy of The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis)

By John Shaughnessy

At 27, Jude Anton Twal often marvels at the way God works in her life, but a recent experience surpassed even her expectations.

At the time, the architect and consultant was going about her life in Madaba, Jordan, the city where her Catholic faith is at the heart of everything she does, everything she is.

Then came the opportunity she never imagined—an opportunity to represent her faith and her relationship with Christ in a special exhibit on the world’s religions at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. (Related story: ‘Sacred Places’ exhibit focuses on world’s religions, including Christianity)

Before the “Sacred Places” exhibit opened to the public on Sept. 7, Twal traveled more than 6,250 miles from her home to get a firsthand look at the exhibit that features her and five other young adults from around the world who represent the faiths of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Rapa Nui.

“It was impeccable, to say the least, for I never expected to fly all the way to Indianapolis to be a part of such an immersive experience, joined by an outstandingly diverse group of people,” she says. “I never even thought that the exhibit would be of this grand magnitude until I entered the exhibit.”

Twal came to the attention of The Children’s Museum staff members as they scoured the world looking for faith-filled people who represent their religions. The museum worked with a non-profit organization called CyArk that digitally records and shares the heritage of the world’s cultures. A friend who works for CyArk invited Twal to join a meeting with staff members of the museum.

“During our team’s expedition to Madaba, we found that she was an active member of her parish who was willing to help our American visitors understand how she feels about her Church and her faith,” says Chris Carron, director of collections at The Children’s Museum.

Twal was thrilled to participate, mainly because it meant her city and her parish church would be representing Christianity.

“I immediately jumped on the opportunity as both Christianity and Madaba play a great deal in my life,” she says. “For one represents who I am, and the other tells the story of where I come from. When I was informed that Madaba was indeed chosen, I was incredibly proud and ecstatic.”

What made it even more special to her was seeing the respect that was given to the way she and other Christians in her homeland live their faith.

“I am not generalizing here, but for most of us if not all of us Middle Eastern Christians, our faith is not just how we identify religiously but how we identify in general,” Twal says. “It is how we represent ourselves to the world, how we view the world, how we interact with others. To say that our faith is only a small part of us is simply not true. At least in my case, it isn’t.”

Twal also appreciates the reverence shown toward her parish church, The Beheading of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church.

“The church and the parish are simply other names for home,” she says. “It has raised me, alongside my parents. To have the church featured in the exhibit was impeccable. The church is located at the highest point in the city, and it is the center point of the Latin Patriarchate school.

“So, when I wasn’t learning in my school next to the church, I was going to Mass every Wednesday during our religious class or every Sunday. And if I wasn’t playing after hours in the school’s courtyards, I would be climbing the church’s steeple with my friends to just hang out at the very top. So, the church was not just the center point of my school but the center point in my life.”

Still, she stresses, “It is important to know that my parish is not limited to one church, but to the denomination as a whole. I am only but one of Christ’s many children.”

A part of the exhibit that focuses on Twal’s life of faith shows her proclaiming the readings during a Mass.

“When I come to church, it’s the only place where I feel I can actually unburden myself,” she is quoted as saying in the exhibit. “I can talk to God silently, and he listens, even though I’m not talking out loud. I’m talking in my mind, but there’s actually someone in the receiving end that I can feel comfortable enough to share my problems with. That’s why it feels calming to me.”

In an interview with The Criterion later, Twal added, “Every time I go to [Mass], I just gaze upon the painting and symbols above the altar; especially when I am walking down the nave to receive holy Communion. I admit I get anxious having to walk among a sea of people, but the minute I lift my eyes and take in the scenery, it’s as if I lost all my troubles and worries at that time. And I would be in a serene state for the rest of the day.

“That feeling alone was and still is big enough to be a catalyst in my journey of faith.”

It’s a faith journey that now includes an unlikely and unexpected trip from Madaba to Indianapolis—a faith journey which she always makes with one constant companion.

“My relationship with Jesus is an extremely private one,” she says. “I do not normally share such an intimate part of my life with anyone, but if I were to describe it, it is that of a father and his daughter.

“It’s where I share my thoughts and feelings without feeling pressured or judged, where I can expect love and protection and ask for guidance whenever I need it. Sometimes, I do feel that he drew the short end of the stick. Because no matter how much I try, I could never be able to give him as much as he gives me.”
 

(The “Sacred Places” exhibit at The Children’s Museum continues through April 7, 2024. For ticket information, visit www.childrensmuseum.org/visit/buy-tickets.) †