Feeding The Hungry

Many are familiar with our semi-annual "Dinner for the Hungry". These Acts of Charity involve many parishioners and provide food for many in need. We deliver around 5000 meals each year to 16 different locations.  150 parishioners and friends work preparing and delivering these meals throughout the Twin Cities area.  150 families bake a pan or two of brownies for dessert.  10 folks provide us with fresh produce, milk and bread.  40 to 60 people prepare those meals. 40 early risers assist in loading and distributing the meals.  We offer meals to sites that serve the working poor, elderly, homeless, women and children, men's shelters, victims of torture, hospice, aids patients and small religious communities.

Two other activities for which we perform this corporal work of mercy are the Loaves and Fishes dinner and distributing Panera Bread Doughnations. For the Loaves and Fishes dinner we prepare and serve on the 5th Tuesday of the month for approximately 175 people. Our site is Faith Lutheran in Saint Paul.  16 volunteers rotate the collection and distribution of bread from Panera on a weekly basis.  This donation provides 15,000 servings of bread and baked goods a year to area families and sites.

Feeding hungry people in the Twin Cities is very important and rewarding.  Even more important is our relationship with God. Our faith and our faith in the Eucharist is the most important part of our lives. God gives us peace and faith when we pray, when we serve or when we listen.  Our Lady of Lourdes Church is a beautiful place to pray.  Serving food for the hungry gives us an opportunity to help others in need as Jesus did.  Listening gives us a glimpse of the Presence of God.  This Presence can come when we pray, when we serve and when we listen.

Last week at the Loaves and Fishes dinner, as I sat and ate my meal, I got to listen to a couple we served. We talked about the food, health and life in general.  We had fun sharing our views and how they related to our lives. Christ was certainly with us as we ate and talked.  I sometimes forget that God speaks to us through others. We need to remember to listen to those around us and not miss the opportunity to see Christ, to grow and learn.  Christ is in us and all those around us.

We invite you to come and join us, whenever Christ calls you.

"To whom God was pleased to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:27)

Joseph O'Donnell

Published in Bulletin: July 18th, 2010