Father Angel says it is the only church open 24 hours a day in the Western world. On some evenings, the church shows soccer games on the television screens that are normally used to broadcast Mass at the Vatican, Papal appearances and other religious shows. Food is served in the back pews. Visitors can consult with medical volunteers. At San Anton, confession can be made via iPad for the poor of hearing.
Fr. Angel Rodriguez, the head of Messengers of Peace, is considered an unconventional priest and known for his work for the poor. He blesses pets, cars, and while he cannot marry people of the same sex, he blesses them. He took over the Iglesia de San Anton two years ago and turned it into a community center where believers and non-believers are welcome. Described as an innovator and a non-profit entrepreneur, he is the man behind Robin Hood.
Robin Hood is a mini-chain of four restaurants that are open to the
public for breakfast and lunch, but closed for dinner. Its novel
business model is not to steal from the rich, but rather to use revenues
made by serving breakfast and lunch to paying customers to fund the
cost of free dinner for the destitute. They feed up to 100 people chosen
by the Social Services every night.Read more of this article by Mary Margret Que about this fantastic place.
Click here to visit the church's website. (In Spanish.)
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