LIFE AFTER COVID BROUGHT many changes, but there was something Jeff Acton wasn’t going to easily accept — the loss of community at his local parish. So, when he found Trevor Rothaus had a similar idea, the two decided to do something to bring back that lively sense of parish community.
Enter Blessed Knight Café, a pop-up coffee cart that brings the coffee shop experience — settling in and chatting for a while — to St. Norbert Catholic Church in Orange.
BLESSED KNIGHT CAFÉ HAS BECOME A NONPROFIT MINISTRY BUILDING CATHOLIC FAITH THROUGH COFFEE AND ART. PICTURED: JEFF ACTON AND TREVOR ROTHAUS SERVE COFFEE TO PARISHIONERS FOLLOWING SUNDAY MASS. PHOTOS BY SCOTT SMELTER/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
“It’s giving them a place to be social and have a community outside of just praying and going to Mass or being a
part of a ministry,” Acton, 38, said. “They are staying after Mass because they want to genuinely talk to people and they are more comfortable doing that over a cup of coffee or tea.”
Blessed Knight Café has been bringing high-quality coffee and tea to St. Norbert on select Sundays for more than a year. The pop-up has also served at the Mercado del Niño Jesus Christmas market at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in La Habra and Servite High School events. It now serves St. Joseph Catholic Church in Placentia on the last Sunday of the month.
A YOUNG GIRL ENJOYS HER HOT CHOCOLATE FROM THE POP-UP BLESSED KNIGHT CAFÉ FOLLOWING MASS AT ST. NORBERT CATHOLIC CHURCH IN ORANGE
Blessed Knight Café serves organic coffee with beans that are ethically sourced from Mexico and locally roasted. The hot beverages are given out for a donation. No one is ever turned away.
“I’ve seen more connections being made,” Rothaus said. “So, instead of people just grabbing a coffee and going, people put in their order, wait around and in that process of waiting, meet other people at the parish. Different connections have been made by people who have never talked before.”
The idea started in fall 2023 when Acton and Rothaus discovered their mutual love of coffee. While Acton was thinking of ways to rebuild community in the parish, Rothaus had recently returned from a trip to Montreal where he was inspired by a priest who served coffee and provided community to the homeless. Separately, they both wanted to start a coffee ministry.
“When we found each other, we were like, ‘This is amazing. We both have the same or similar idea,’” Rothaus said.
Through a refining of the vision, they presented their concept to St. Nobert’s pastor, Fr. John Moneypenny, and some of the staff. Since then, Blessed Knight Café has become a nonprofit, with a mission of building Catholic faith through coffee and art.
“I am happy that they got their start at St. Norbert,” said Fr. John. “When we began to reopen after COVID, volunteers were scarce. But along came these men from the parish who had this great idea, and I welcomed it. Blessed Knight Café has aided me as a pastor to build community.”
Tim Green of St. Norbert’s Knights of Columbus applauded Acton and Rothaus.
“When people have a passion or even just a good idea, I think it should be supported and encouraged,” he added. “This is what happened with my friends Jeff and Trevor. They have a passion for service and community.”
Acton sees a real need for Catholic art. An artist himself who focuses on drawing, Acton didn’t see many others creating Catholic art. The visual storytelling medium is a “huge part of faith, but we don’t give it credit,” he noted.
Acton’s love of art started as a child when he would draw superheroes. Although he admitted he wasn’t very good at first, he took classes in high school to get better. He persisted through college, earning his bachelor’s degree in art. The long-term goal is to turn the pop-up into a brick-and-mortar store — a dedicated Catholic space.
“Giving a space in general where people can feel welcome and at home in their faith — not just in a church but also be openly practicing their faith outside the church — is something I think that is really needed,” Acton said.
Being outwardly Catholic in all spaces wasn’t always a move Acton wanted to take. When he went to college to study art, Acton said he discovered how some celebrated Mass daily and participated in Adoration. He realized he too could pray before Jesus whenever he wanted in a way that felt more intimate and truly meaningful. He also met many exemplary priests and religious sisters who modeled for him living a life that was openly Catholic — an idea that changed his life for the better.
“You didn’t have to hide it,” Acton said. “You didn’t have to pretend like you were completely in the world one minute, but when you went to church, you could be Catholic.
“It’s OK to be Catholic no matter what you are doing, as long as you are doing it in a holy and respectful way.”