In an occassional series, coinciding with the summer season in (the home of Orson Welles) Kenosha, Wisconsin, I will post a pictoral description of different churches in the "Peoria of Lake Michigan", Kenosha. Er, is that a compliment? Well, yes, from an Architectural and Cultural sense, Kenosha is very beautiful (so is Peoria). While the mainstream press is still pounding away at the rust belt with 30 year old information, Kenosha has virtually no unemployement, a beautiful lakefront development, good schools, and a growing population.
Yesterday, I went to mass at St. James the Apostle, founded in 1882. Wonderful marketing here,
"If you are searching for a modern liberal parish with dancers, clowns and balloons, look elsewhere"
"You are entering the house of the Lord. Please no beach attire, flip flops, or bathing suits"
draws a full house on Saturday Vigil and Sunday Mass, by not bending to those demanding a light touch from the Church.
The Church interior reatains its communion rail, statuary, high altar, and many of its sermons from the days before Vatican II. The stained glass looks very much like a stylish Ralph Lauren display, with unique but traditional fonts and geometric representations. I noted the Christian Shamrock in many windows honoring Irish people and causes. The congregation tends to kneel and stand at different times, which the priest accomodates with true liberal Catholicism.
If you are anywhere in the Chicago area, this is worth the trip. Outside of the Latin Mass, this is one of the most traditional Churhes in the Midwest.
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