Via: the Catholic coffee house
What to expect from Milwaukee's young adult apostolate specializing in Catholic coffee and community.
The deets:
It’s Catholic
There’s delicious freshly roasted Coffee (we roast our own!)
It’s all about Community
Welcome to Via: the Catholic coffee house open every Saturday for Mass at 9a followed by delicious coffee and hang out activities (like home-brewing, crocheting, and seminars), manned by volunteers from the young adult community and running out of the UWM Newman Center.
This is (literally) the Way
You like coffee. We like coffee. Everyone likes coffee. We also like delicious baked goods, time with friends, and healthy community. So we decided to launch a Catholic coffee house and collective in May of 2021, the freshest season we’ve had since, well, the dark ages of 2020. Call it ambitious or optimistic, but we prefer the term inspired (catch the origins story below).
The Catholic young adult community was in need of the cultural hang out spot we all wish we had: a centralized location to unwind, study, read, catch up with friends, and — above all — just be present, all while bringing the faith (and good coffee) to this city.
So don’t close your eyes (you’ll miss it!), simply get involved and come check it out every Saturday: Mass at 9a, outdoor patio seating (during the summer months), thought-provoking seminars, books, poetry, “homecraft” events like learning how to crochet or brew your own mead, encounters with other young adults, delicious coffee, and more.
Via is the Way.
A (caffeinated) Genesis story
We need to brief you on the backstory here. Back when time was new, Fr. Luke Strand had more hair. But more importantly, he and Fr. John Burns humbly let the Spirit guide them and the Catholic young adult community to intentionally develop into the glorious faith witness it is today. They did this by sharing a three part vision: a house of discernment where men could intentionally explore vocations to the priesthood; a beautiful Eucharistic Adoration and Mass celebration known as Cor Jesu; and a Catholic coffee house called Via.
As we know, two of those three parts were realized over the years and have developed into the beautiful celebrations of the gift of faith we have and are able to live fully today. But one piece hadn’t yet come to fruition: the coffee house.
That is, until May 2021 when the Spirit again led a few young men — who knew nothing of the original vision — to suggest the idea of a summer coffee shop to Fr. Burns, who (to put it mildly) “freaked out inside” and set the ball in motion to see where the Spirit leads during what has evolved into Via coffee house.
Why the UWM Newman Center? It’s all about our origins — Cor Jesu itself began out of the Newman Center, and grew into the thriving faith community it is today, where sheer numbers required it be hosted at St. Robert’s parish in Shorewood. So too will Via be established out of the very same Newman Center, a nod to our roots and the Lord’s use of this place to sow the seeds that blossom into fruit-bearing gifts. The Newman Center also supports our plans to expand Eucharistic Adoration in the city, so there’s not much more to say.
So let’s do it.
Press 1 for more coffee
Here’s the current lay of the land, in one picture and fewer than 500 words:
This place is thriving and it’s wild.
We have zero budget and rely on the Holy Spirit and personal donations to cover operating costs. Have the disposable income and a generous heart? Send donations to @ViaMilwaukee on Venmo.
For the legally inclined, this will eventually be incorporated into a non-profit 501(c)3 entity. We’ll get there.
We always welcome volunteers for help with: (1) baristas, (2) bookkeeper, (3) bakers of delicious baked goods, (4) a cleanup crew and hosts, (5) hype people who bring their 50 closest friends to come hang out, and (6) an event coordinator to schedule awesome events, hang-outs, meet-ups, and other such activities. Email us at viacoffeehouse@pm.me or fill out this form to join the movement!
We’re open every Saturday rain or shine, hot or cold. Join for Mass at 9a followed by coffee, delicious baked goods, and community.
Sometimes the baked goods color coordinate
Want to support Via financially? Send Venmos along with spicy gifs or memes to @VIAMilwaukee. Other questions? Email viacoffeehouse@pm.me.
