Catholic bookstore opens in Browne’s Addition

Abba’s Catholic Book Store, the first business venture for Steve and Lin Abrams, recently observed its sixth month of existence on the fringe of Browne’s Addition and its owners are happy with its progress.

“It’s working out OK, and I’m happy every day we open the doors,” Lin Abrams said recently.

The bookstore, open Tuesday through Saturday, is at 1618 W. Second Ave., nearly across the street from the neighborhood Rosauers Supermarket.

The store is small but bright with high ceilings and skylights and is almost chapel-like with its arched interior supporting walls.

And its staff grew up in the region, Lin in Boise and Steve in Clarkston, Wash. They both graduated from the University of Idaho

Books and more books are offered, of course, but also small religious figures and medals as well as rosaries, greeting cards and prayer cards. As to be expected, the store offers Bibles and missals.

Various DVDs and CDs are available. The DVDs include such popular films as “The Song of Bernadette” with Jennifer Jones and “Joan of Arc” with Ingrid Bergman. Another is titled “The Best of Fulton J. Sheen,” compiled from the monsignor’s popular TV shows.

The store includes one small section for children and another for teenagers.

During December unusual Christmas cards and CDs with Christmas music were available. A delicately-executed crèche was displayed on one counter.

“The focus is really on books,” Lin Abrams said. “We have some apologetics and books on the lives of the saints.”

An example of the apologetics is “Upon This Rock,” published by the Modern Apologetics Library, with the subtitle “St. Peter and Primacy of Rome in Scripture and the Early Church.”

“Come Be My Light” the bestseller by Mother Theresa, subtitled “Private Writings of the Saint of Calcutta” is also on a store shelf. Other interesting titles by popular Catholic authors abound. And sought-after out-of-print titles are on shelves.

Her husband Steve’s job as an HVAC instructor in classes sponsored by local contractors currently helps subsidize the store, Lin said. She anticipates that store will continue to do well, simply because she is confident that God will help.

And, she pointed out, the store’s location contributes. “We’re on the edge of downtown, there’s plenty of parking and we’re close to the interstate off-ramp (for the Maple Street Bridge),” she said.

And it’s convenient to their home parish, Our Lady of Lourdes Cathedral on Riverside Avenue.

The source of the store’s name? Abba is Hebrew for papa, informally father, Lin said, “a reference to a loving God.”