SURFERS Paradise parish has taken up Pope Francis’ challenge to “go outside of itself” with plans to open an outreach café.
After the Pope’s call to reach out to those outside the Church, parish priest Fr Tim Harris said a café was a unique way of “conversing with the world”.
“In this day and age, we have to think outside the square about how we can attract people to the Church,” he said.
“It certainly fits into the constant refrain of the Church to find new ways for new times.
“Maybe a coffee shop that is friendly and welcoming is just what the Church needs.
“It’s amazing what a happy, warm environment can do.”
The initial idea came from several parishioners who recognised a need to enhance the community spirit of the parish.
Two of the parishioners, coffee producers and brothers Patrick and Pascal Rabbath, have agreed to manage the café once it opens.
This year, the Rabbath brothers opened their own business importing Brazilian coffee, grinding it, and selling it under the name, XO Coffee.
The brothers asked Fr Harris to bless the coffee before it was sold.
“This is not the usual run-of-the-mill coffee,” Pascal said.
“Believe it or not it has already changed people’s lives when they experienced the taste and health benefits of this coffee from Brazil.”
Fr Harris said he had already received Archbishop Mark Coleridge’s “approval” to open the café.
“This project is seen as a real attempt by the parish to reach out to the wider community, especially to connect parents from the local school (St Vincent’s) with the parish,” Fr Harris said.
“It’s really a community-building exercise.”
The café will replace the parish’s current kitchenette, which is being remodelled to comply with council requirements.
The parish expects the café to open once adjustments have been made.
Fr Harris hoped many parishioners would consider the café as a regular meeting place for business or social matters.
“We hope to be able to get the mindset into our people, ‘I’ll meet you at The Sacred Heart Café’,” he said.
Fr Harris said the money generated by the café would be used to fund “the mission within Surfers Paradise parish”.
He said money might even be used to pay off any loans for the new Stella Maris Church, being built at Broadbeach.
