Oct. 1, 2014—the opening day of our ministry’s Trinity House Café + Market—was a Wednesday.
Four days earlier, on Saturday, Sept. 27, Soren had led a team at the Catholic Diocese of Arlington to host Risk Jesus, a 1,400-person, all-day evangelization event in Woodbridge, Virginia. It was a complex, first-ever initiative that hinged on food trucks in the parking lot (with few tents…), and the weather cooperated.
It seemed that risk was in the air as we opened the doors on the corner of Church & Market that feast day of St. Therese of Lisieux, Patroness of Missions. “God never stops asking us to risk more,” we heard entrepreneur Geoff Gentile share at a recent conference, “it’s the underpinnings of the Gospels.”
With the vantage point of a decade, we are grateful to reflect on the risks and steps of faith taken by:
- Hundreds of thousands of customers who have stepped across the threshold, not quite sure what to expect, but choosing to patronize the café. Our daily, weekly, regular and one-time guests are the protagonists of an epic story that now arcs across a decade.
- Scores of staff who could have chosen more lucrative jobs, but instead chose to work at a start-up café with a crucifix in the front hallway, an icon of the Holy Trinity in the main dining room, and a mission to provide a “little taste of heaven.”
- Many generous volunteers who have stepped forward over the years to tend to the beautiful yard, the “apostolate of books,” odd jobs, and many other facets of the café.
- Hundreds of donors who, with their gifts small and large, have made the café ministry—and the growth of the ministry’s outreach to families across our nation—possible.
- So many kind souls who have told us over the years that they pray regularly for the café staff, volunteers, and all who come through its doors.
- Dozens of artists, musicians, artisans, vendors and authors who have chosen the café as a place to exhibit and share their God-given gifts.
- Multitudes of pastors, church leaders, and lay leaders of many churches and faith communities who have told us, “Keep up the good work and I’m praying for you.”
- Our landlord, who took a risk in leasing to us in 2014, and whose encouragement and support has been integral.
- St. Therese of Lisieux, whose feast day today reminds us of her “Little Way” and her unstoppable faith, which she called “confident to the point of audacity in the goodness of our Father.”
We realize that many readers of our Heaven in Your Home Letters across the country have not had the chance to visit Trinity House Café + Market in Leesburg, VA, but we hope you can draw inspiration from how one small community put an oasis on the map.
It is unthinkable that we—as a couple with five children 11 and under when we opened the café—could have “accomplished” this on our own. Yes, we did take a risk. But in doing so, we followed the Way-Maker, Jesus, whose life was defined by ever-greater risk and surrender to his Father. Then, as we “risked Jesus” day by day, a community of loving risk-takers stepped forward to help.
And God’s abundant blessings flowed.
> At over 8,900 views, this 3-minute EWTN News Nightly segment, “A Coffee Shop Made to Evangelize and Bring Families Together,” is reaching so many. Be sure to hear Ever’s inspiring closing words in the video about spreading the Gospel and drawing closer to Our Lord. “Let the Holy Spirit do it,” she says in closing.
> In her reflection on the highs and lows of daily hospitality at the cafe, Ever’s essay in the Humanum journal, “O, Jerusalem, If I Forget You!” is an inspiring read.
> Talk about a trip down memory lane! Children’s book author Caitlin Bootsmawrote “Evangelization Cafe” about Trinity House Cafe almost two months before we opened!
> Ever will share her insights on hospitality and service at the annual Walking with Purpose Tea at St. Timothy Catholic Church in Chantilly, VA, on Sat., Oct. 12, from 2-4 p.m. To RSVP, contact Marsha Jacobeen at bjacobeen@aol.com.
> Here’s a simple way you can bless another couple or family: Forward this e-letter and invite them to sign up here. When they do, they’ll get a free copy of the Heaven in Your Home Flowchart.
> Ever enjoyed speaking on the theme “Our Hearts’ Desire: Deepening Communion with God and Family,” part of the Wine & Wisdom series sponsored by the Women’s Council of St. Francis de Sales, Purcellville, VA, on Sept. 19th, at the Bluemont Vineyard.
> Last week, Soren had a great time sharing the Trinity House Community ministry in San Diego at the Catholic Family Life Association conference.
> Begin planning now to launch your own parish’s Trinity House Community Group later this fall or in January! Learn more here and schedule a 15-minute call/zoom with our team here. For just $499 ($399 for a limited time), your parish can access all the tools needed to host 5 transformative “Heaven in Your Home Gatherings” for families, including videos, discussion questions, marketing templates, catechetical resources, ongoing support, and more. Dioceses can also take advantage of three subscriptions for just $899. Ready to subscribe and launch a Group at your parish? Here’s where you can take the first step.
“It’s [Trinity House Cafe + Market] a very important part of our community, and we’re very proud of it.”
– Hon. Kelly Burk, Mayor of Leesburg, VA (from the EWTN special feature)
