By Pierre Ducharme, OFM
Easter offers reasons for hope. The essential reasons for hope are expressed in the triduum liturgy, a memorial to Christ’s Paschal passage. For friars serving in large urban parishes, liturgical celebrations, and our own souls, are enriched by the presence of larger than usual crowds. The presence of an irregular crowd always gives hope.
While grateful to see certain folks, at Easter, I often wonder if there be a way make their presence more regular. Is there a way to get certain crowds back again on the second Sunday of Easter, for example? Perhaps they would return for reasons other than for Mass? For want of an alive, well-perceived, and socially impactful, church, I always hope that they come back.
A question concerning the church’s contribution, or impact, to Canadian society was once posed to the Most Reverend Thomas Dowd. Dowd was auxiliary bishop of Montreal at the time. In response, the bishop rightfully spoke about Catholic healthcare, education and social services – all providing support and employment to many. The context was a series of questions that all Christian communities, including parishes, must answer: Does anyone, other than you, need you? Would your local community, particularly your local poor, feel deprived if you suddenly disappeared? How are you perceived by the world around you?
At St. Joseph the Worker Parish, Richmond BC, we have recently taken steps to assure that the church’s contribution to society is well-perceived, impactful, and appreciated. Helped by a start-up Grant from another charity, a weekly “Community Meal” has been organized. Every Saturday evening since September, parish volunteers serve a sit-down Supper to 75 or more individuals from the neighborhood. Every week, crowds are gathering for reasons other than for Mass. They are gathering to eat. The Parish, meanwhile, is contributing, albeit in a small way, to “food security” in Canada.
The rolling out of the community meal has become a source of pride for St. Joseph the Worker parishioners and friars alike. We feel good about being able to attract first the volunteers and then the mouths to feed. Most importantly, however, the community meal is a life-line for the regular crowds who depend on it.
Easter offers reasons for hope. In Richmond our hope is nourished by a crowd who did not gather, certainly not at church, last Easter. This is the crowd who is coming, gathering every Saturday evening, to eat.