Community Dinners

Three years ago our Parish Pastoral Council initiated a new ministry to build community and to reach out beyond the parish in a Christ-like way to our neighbourhood. Jane Kenny who was on the PPC at the time presented a model of Community Dinners which had been successful in her previous parish at Narraweena. The energy with which everyone on the PPC resonated with the idea seemed to be of the Spirit and so we launched our Community Dinners here in Kincumber.



They've been a resounding success. Each Tuesday night (apart from a winter break) up to 100 people converge on the school hall to share a free, open meal. It's a family friendly event, and attracts people from aged 1 to 95. The dinners recognise that there are many people who live alone who eat every meal on their own. Sharing meals together was a hallmark of Jesus' ministry, and of Christian fellowship ever since. Strangers have become friends through this meals, and for some people it is the place they feel most at home. The presence of parishioners and families makes it feel not like a soup kitchen but a big family meal. St Mother Teresa of Calcutta said that "The greatest poverty is loneliness", and this is what we are addressing, though for some people it's a much needed nutritious meal too.

Putting on a meal of this scale of course takes a lot of work. 4 teams take one Tuesday a month each to set up, cook and serve a magnificent two course meal with an every expanding range of desserts. Seconds and sometimes thirds are enjoyed! It's a nice meal, with tablecloths and cutlery, nothing disposable, and nothing wasted. All leftovers are taken home and the school chickens eat the scraps.

In what has now become a tradition, each year the PPC cook dinner for the 4 volunteer teams as a way of thanking them for their great and generous work. Last night Therese, Tony and Narelle from the Pastoral Council, Holy Cross School Principal Craig McNee, and some wonderful new volunteers Lara, Rosemary, Chris, Gerard and Roz cooked up a roast dinner. Thanks to all these great people, and also to Saratoga Quality Meats who gave us a discount on the hire of the spit.




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