St. Benedict The African East at 340 W. 66th Street, Chicago, IL 60621 US - We are One but Many.
We are One but Many.
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." Two large bells from one of the closed churches were refurbished and placed in a simple bell tower in the center of a circular driveway. There is a large outdoor canopy which not only protects worshipers from the elements as they enter but is meant to give us all a sense of a grand arrival. We should feel important and noble about who we are as we arrive for church.