St. Benedict the African-E.
340 West 66th St., Chicago

The motto of this East Englewood parish is from a Gospel song: “There’s a sweet, sweet spirit in this place.”

With a baptismal pool 24 feet across, holding 10,000 gallons of water, immersion baptism is a focus here. Seven years as a faith community, planning, letting go of the old to create something new, could be called its baptism under fire.

Worshippers at St. Bernard, St. Brendan, St. Carthage, St. Martin and Our Lady of Solace ultimately blended to dedicate this new church site in 1990. (It was founded canonically as a parish in 1995.) Architects Belli & Belli have succeeded in creating an African aura inside its walls, topped with a ceiling reminiscent of a thatched roof. A hand-carved wood altar and other ecclesial items are by Polish sculptor Jerzy Kenar.

People here are active, close-knit and faith-filled. Its Web site says “We are a community that is good at praying, celebrating, welcoming …” Visit their “Taste of Soul” celebration in February and be convinced.