Special Tour of the Monastery of the Holy Cross in Bridgeport

This is the final church tour of the season as we transition into outdoor walking activities! Join us for an exclusive private tour of the Monastery of the Holy Cross in Bridgeport, led by a knowledgeable guide. Immerse yourself in the captivating stories and insights that bring this beautiful landmark on the south side to life. Join us for a unique journey through faith and community!

The Monastery of the Holy Cross, formerly known as the Immaculate Conception Parish Church, is a prominent example of high German Gothic Revival architecture with historical connections to Chicago’s Bridgeport neighborhood from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Established in 1908 as a German "national parish," Immaculate Conception served a diverse immigrant community until 1990. The church has remained largely intact, with minimal alterations to the original sanctuary, and a monastic choir has been added to the nave. Since 1991, it has operated as a Roman Catholic Benedictine monastery belonging to the Subiaco Cassinese Congregation, making it the only urban monastery in the country. The monastery feels like an oasis, whether you are religious or not. Every day, the monks sing the entire liturgy during Mass in both Latin and English, using Gregorian chant.

We will have a private docent-led tour through the church. Before the tour, we are allowed to walk around and take pictures. Since we are getting a private guided tour, there is a $10 fee per person. I will collect $10 from everyone and give it to the Monastery of the Holy Cross in appreciation of the tour. Please bring CASH for the donation! If necessary, I can accept Zelle, Venmo & PayPal so I can give one big group donation after the tour. All need to check in with me at the start of the tour & pay me directly~

The tour promises to be an enlightening event on a Saturday morning. It is an event that brings multiple meetup groups together! Although it's not exclusively a photo tour, there will be ample chances to snap pictures! Also, at the end of the tour, we are invited to watch the monks do a short [10 minute] chanted prayer service centered on the Psalms

After the tour, some of us will get lunch at one of the many nearby places:
Zaytune Mediterranean Grill 3129 S Morgan St. https://order.zaytunegrill.com/
Bridgeport Coffeehouse 3101 S Morgan St, http://www.bridgeportcoffee.net/
3 Little Pigs 964 W 31st Street https://www.eat3lp.com/
El Taco Azteca 3355 S Morgan St https://www.ordereltacoaztecabrifport.com/

All are welcome to join! BRING CASH IF JOINING FOR LUNCH, AS SOME VENUES DON'T ACCEPT SEPARATE CHECKS!

The Monastery of the Holy Cross is an important early work by architect Hermann J. Gaul, a distinguished ecclesiastical architect from the early 20th century. Built between 1908 and 1909 for the German-speaking national parish of the Immaculate Conception, the church features a complex high-vaulted ceiling. It exemplifies the German Gothic Revival style, incorporating high Gothic design elements such as a high gabled triple-arch entrance, expressive gargoyles, and 14 intricately decorated Gothic-arched Stations of the Cross. The church is also recognized for its remarkable acoustic qualities. It was inspired by Germany’s Cologne Cathedral, the most significant religious structure in the hometown of the church’s architect, Hermann J. Gaul

In 1990, the parish was closed, and the following year, the Benedictine monastic community was invited to transform the building into a unique urban monastery. Although some of the original furnishings were lost after the closure, the monks have enriched the space by adding religious treasures, including altarpiece icons created in the traditional Byzantine egg tempera method by the internationally acclaimed iconographer Vladislav Andrejev.

**A Community of Contemplative Benedictine Monks in the City** The Monastery of the Holy Cross is a Roman Catholic Benedictine monastery belonging to the Subiaco Cassinese Congregation. Continuing a centuries-old tradition, the monks live according to the Rule of St. Benedict, seeking God through lives of prayer, silence, work, and hospitality.

As the only urban monastery in the country, the Monastery of the Holy Cross is home to ten Benedictines—nine monks (four of whom are also priests) and one novice. The monastery took over a parish that closed in 1989 when the Archdiocese of Chicago shut down dozens of churches and schools to reduce costs. Unlike most monasteries, which are located in rural areas where monks can farm or raise animals, the monks in Chicago had to find alternative means of supporting themselves.

Retreat visitors who appreciated their overnight experiences encouraged the monks to provide better, more permanent accommodations. In addition to selling simple wooden coffins made by fellow monks in rural Indiana, the Chicago monks now operate two bed-and-breakfast apartments and a retreat house. https://chicagomonk.org/

If you are taking public transportation, please check Google Maps for directions or use CTA trip planner. https://www.transitchicago.com/planatrip/

If you are driving, there is parking on 31st Street, Morgan, or 32nd Street with plenty of free side street parking. Just watch for permit-only areas.

PLEASE KEEP RSVP UP TO DATE AND DO NOT BE A NO SHOW!