Trinity House Café
CV NEWS FEED // Trinity House Café, a restaurant dedicated to spreading a family ministry based on the teachings of Pope John Paul II, celebrated its 10th anniversary last month and has launched a capital campaign to continue growing the cafe’s ministry.
“Trinity House Café + Market has become a cornerstone of the local community, offering not only delicious food but also a space for prayer, fellowship, and ministry,” founders Soren and Ever Johnson told CatholicVote in a recent email interview.
The couple also wrote that the cafe is a way of engaging the public in their larger ministry, the Trinity House Community. The ground floor of the cafe serves as a center for the Trinity House Community, which aims to help families experience “heaven in their home” through encouraging families to pursue communion with God both sacramentally and in the ordinary aspects of their day-to-day lives.
The cafe is in a leased home listed in Virginia’s National Historic Register, and the landlord has offered the couple a limited time to purchase the building.
“With the overwhelming support of our local community, we have embarked on a capital campaign, inviting all who cherish the family, the domestic church, and bringing the riches of the faith into the public square to partner with Trinity House in securing this flagship location and headquarters for the growing ministry,” the Johnsons wrote.
The couple also provided testimonials from various customers.
Patrons Tom and Kathie Hudes said that the cafe is a blessing to the community.
“It’s a place of peace and tranquility for relaxation or to meet friends and enjoy a meal and/or sample a delicious beverage,” they said.
Another couple, Matt and Mollie Shaffer, have been regular patrons since they moved to the area six years ago. For Matt, the cafe is “a peaceful haven to get work done.” The Shaffers also said they “love” the baristas, books, and the play space. It’s “a mid-errand treat” for Mollie and the kids.
Trinity House Community’s goal “is to help families make home a taste of heaven for the renewal of faith and culture,” the Johnsons wrote.
The community is based on their motto, the Trinity House Way, which is inspired by a quote from the Catechism: “The Christian family is a communion of persons, a sign and image of the communion of the Father and the Son in the Holy Spirit” (CCC 2205). The Johnsons spoke on the Trinity House Way at the 2022 World Meeting of Families.
Trinity House Community lives out their ministry in three ways, the Johnsons explained: It engages the public through their Trinity House Café, equips parents through resources like workshops and books, and encourages families through parish-based Trinity House Community Groups.
These groups are now available in 30 parishes in 12 different states.
