At Croatian cafe, youths pay for drinks with Our Fathers, Hail Marys

Published: 2008-02-15

WARSAW, Poland (CNS) -- A Catholic parish in Croatia has opened a "prayer cafe" for young people, where food and drink can be purchased with Hail Marys and Our Fathers. "In the Acts of the Apostles, it says the disciples used to come together for a meal after the Eucharist, so we're following a biblical ideal," said Salesian Father Damir Stojic. "A lot of kids used to head for neighboring cafes after Mass here. We came up with this scheme for persuading them to hang out at the church instead." The Jedno (Sail) cafe opened recently in a parish hall adjoining Zagreb's Holy Spirit Church and attracts many of the students and young people attending the regular Sunday youth Mass. Father Stojic told Catholic News Service by telephone Feb. 15 that student helpers had thought up the idea of "paying with prayers." He said there were plans to keep the cafe open indefinitely.

Copyright (c) 2008 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .