Expand the community of goodwill at St Peter's Pub

A ring of a bell, a song from the piano, and a seat by the fire. You’ll find this at St. Peter’s Pub in South Bend, Indiana. This pub rivals Cheers, where everyone truly knows your name, and you’re always glad you came. St. Peter’s Pub welcomes anyone of goodwill and overflows with love, generosity, community, and hospitality. These are qualities that make our communities a better place.

The proprietors of this pub are Margy and Robert Kloska, beloved members of the South Bend, Holy Cross, and Notre Dame communities, among others. The pub sits on hallowed ground in the Kloska backyard. It is a place of neighborhood miracles, weekly rosaries, and philosophical explorations over a beer or coffee. A place with a century’s history of providing comfort to those in need, from Depression-era hobos to traversing seminarians to choir groups needing a place to sing. It is a place to visit where you will surely feel love, and that love will spread light into the rest of the world.

The Kloska’s are a family that gives much while expecting little in return. That is where we, their classmates, friends, and neighbors, come in. Bobby envisions a larger pub space to welcome more people and make a greater impact on his community. An ND architecture student has even drawn plans for such a space. Unfortunately, life’s twists have required Bobby and Margy to put those plans on hold.

On behalf of the many Margy and Bobby have touched over the years, I have created a GoFundMe to help build the St. Peter’s Pub that Bobby imagines. The goal I have set is $50,000. This will not completely fund Bobby’s plans; it will fund the major construction, allowing Bobby to finish the rest with his own two hands and the hands of friends and neighbors over time.

Our world has many needs - urgent issues that demand our action – and there are many ways you can make a difference in the world. We feel strongly about participating in some small way to continue the mission of building community, which happens seemingly effortlessly at the Pub. However, we know it is not effortless. It is the charism of hospitality, the generosity of time, and the spirit of giving that the Kloska’s embody. They are the current stewards of this place on St Peter’s Street that has a history of comfort and love to those of goodwill. Let us help them continue this tradition and realize Bobby’s dream in the shadow of Our Lady’s University.

Chris Paul (ND ‘90) and Deanne Isabelle Paul (SMC ‘90)

@st._peters_pub, #expandstpeters