Millionth Meal

Today’s post is a video link to a story I find moving and wonderful, although the need for it is not. It is the story of a restaurant called St. Francis Table in the Parkdale neighbourhood on the West side of Toronto. It is simply a loving response by some Christian brothers (Capuchin-Franciscan Friars) to the people who live in this economically depressed neighbourhood.

The website for St. Francis Table reports that

"half of our patrons are post-psychiatric patients who are unable to work due to their illness. Many of our patrons spend most of their meager income on accommodation. About one quarter of our patrons are senior citizens who come for nourishment and companionship. We also provide meals to single parents, refugees, the unemployed, transients, ex-convicts and people living in our city’s streets, parks and alleys.

"In keeping with our Franciscan heritage, no one is turned away without the offer of a meal...A meal at St. Francis Table is more than simply another handout, but an opportunity for community, advocacy and friendship."

In my life, I have known and experienced only a few times and places where I felt we as Christians were really making a difference in the lives of people. I wish there were more, and I wish I could say my life was making such a difference. Sadly that is not the case.

At a time when news is almost always bad, lets give credit to Mark Kelley and the CBC for airing Canada’s Champions of Change.

Please watch the Millionth Meal here and enjoy. This is a true "sending/serving" ministry. The first few seconds are commercials, so give yourself time to get past those.

Posted by Carman