On a recent visit to the site for the proposed Sanctuary of the Divine Mercy in Chicago, I was introduced to a new cafe called “The Ark” at 1209 Noble Street. This cafe is a cool sort of evidence of the New Evangelization at work, a Catholic-inspired cafe which is at once very hip, with free WiFi, good food and good coffee. In the picture you can see the coffee bar which is made of cedar boards like the Ark, and is “docked” between two square pillars, a reference to St. John Bosco’s vision of the Pope steering the ship of the Church between the pillars of the Eucharist and the Virgin Mary. This place is no stuffy Victorian parlor, nor it is a falsely cheery evangelical amusement park. It’s a sophisticated, hip place in the heart of one of Chicago’s neighborhoods with truly interesting fresh and delicious food. On the walls are very urbane black and white images of hands with rosaries, fresh interpretations of icons and the like, and a bookshelf with solid Catholic literature. This cafe is one of the anchors along Noble Street, the location of the future Sanctuary of the Divine Mercy, and they are already calling it the “Mercy Corridor.” They hope to see bookshops and other Catholic-themed stores open there. If you are ever in Chicago it is worth a visit!
May 16, 2008 at 10:27 pm
…and if you’re in Chicago, and you do decide to go to The Ark, also go to Mass at St. John Cantius, which is about 5 minutes away. It’s an absolutely gorgeous old Polish church, and offers high & low Tridentine as well as the Missa Normativa in Latin and English—EVERY Sunday.
May 16, 2008 at 11:21 pm
Seconding missalthumper’s recommendation, Saint John Cantius also has a fine website: http://www.cantius.org/.
The church is an easy walking distance from the Ark, though I see that as yet the Ark is not open on Sundays–they say that they will be soon.
God willing, I will be at the 9am English Sunday mass, a 14 mile trek by cab and train, but worth the reverence and beauty of the mass, celebrated ad orientem. I make the mass there at least every other Sunday.
Their website has a complete schedule and often a listing for dates of their beautiful music.
As I did not know about the Ark, I am most grateful for the information. Thanks and God bless you all.
May 19, 2008 at 1:25 pm
Nice to see something like this in Chicago! Finally.