St. Benedict The African East at 340 W. 66th Street, Chicago, IL 60621 US - There's A Sweet, Sweet Spirit At St. Benedict The African East.
There's A Sweet, Sweet Spirit At St. Benedict The African East.
St. Benedict the African East's three-sided cornerstone, set cantilevered from the building, proclaims three messages to the community of Englewood on Chicago's south side. Facing out to the street, the stone proclaims who we are (St. Benedict the African) and the year in which this parish was founded(1989). On this side we also added the name of the archbishop to connect ourselves to our sisters and brothers in faith in the larger church.
The side of the stone that faces the entrance of the church names the five church communities that were merged here and the dates they were founded. It is important for us to remember our history and to proclaim on the stone "We've Come This Far by Faith." Facing outward as you walk up to the building the stone proclaims an invitation "There's a Sweet, Sweet Spirit in This Place."
The long entranceway physically turns around those who enter to give a sense of leaving one world and entering a very sacred place. The turn ends at the top of perhaps the most striking feature of the church, the baptismal pool. The circular pool is built of Wiscosin boulders and flagstone, is 24 feet in diameter, and 3 and 1/2 feet deep at the bottom of its six wide steps. It contains almost 10,000 gallons of water. At the top of the pool water flows into a carved out boulder so those entering may sign themselves. A wide, gentle ramp goes around the walls of the pool toward the nave.
Who We Are
We are a catholic community located in the inner city.