Woman visits 90 Chicago churches

CHICAGO, Sept. 7 (UPI) -- A suburban Chicago woman said she has attended services at about 90 different churches in the city during the past 20 years.

Marie Coyne, 73, who has been joined on her Sunday outings by friend Christine Scriba, 73, for the past five years, said she has attended churches with all-black congregations and facilities conducting mass in Latin, Spanish and Polish, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Monday.

Coyne, a Eucharistic minister at St. John of the Cross Church in Western Springs, Ill., said she likes to study up on city churches before planning a Sunday trip with Scriba.

"I always try and go in the front door and get the whole picture. Some have gorgeous ceilings and windows and old confessionals and carvings," Coyne told the Sun-Times. "I enjoy the diversity, and the congregational diversity."

Scriba, a lecturer at St. John of the Cross, said she and Coyne have a "good time" visiting the different places of worship.

"You think of all the people that have worshiped there before you," Scriba said. "It's enriching for me, and enriching my faith."