As I shared with the small group, I remembered an experience on unity and oneness in community that I had while on a tour in India. There was a Sikh temple in Delhi we visited that had an accompanying community kitchen. We took off our shoes, covered our heads and entered what seemed to be a very large and long community kitchen. Donations were dropped off daily outside the kitchen and seemed to just appear. The meal was prepared by many with people coming for a short time to help or full-time to prepare, serve, enjoy and clean up. We helped make flat bread during our time in the kitchen.
I would have loved to be able to stay for a community meal experience. Our guide shared that everyone eats together, sitting on the floor, side by side… A community meal prepared and shared by community ‘without distinction’. The experience resonated for me with our opening prayer in song, ‘Take this bread, bless it, break it, and give this to all we meet today’. Then some folks clean the trays for the next sitting.
There are several seatings, every day, hundreds and up to a thousand people receive a free simple meal together, regardless of background, religion, or social status. Giving and receiving, breaking bread and blessing one another, without distinction… Amen.
-Sandy Bell-Cameron, CSJ Associate
The Sisters of St. Joseph currently lead a similar ministry serving those most in need in our community, detailed below.