A True Holiday Feast
December 2nd, 2009by Frankie
If there one thing that St. Anthony’s serves up 365 days a year, it is the connection between food and community. In the St. Anthony Dining Room, people rely on the social connection almost as much as they do a hot, healthy, filling meal. Almost.
Today we celebrate a little known tradition at St. Anthony’s: The staff holiday meal. This year, as the last few years, the meal is being hosted and prepared by Tom Saber, our neighbor at Al Sabeel Masjid Noor al-Islam mosque.
Tom says it is not a thank you for loaning him our kitchen during Ramadan, when our Muslim brothers and sisters fast in order to be reminded of all of of our hungry neighbors, but a gift of thanks for the work that is done here 365 days a year serving the hungry in the neighborhood we share: The Tenderloin. All we can do is say thank you, and bless you Tom and our wonderful community.
December 9th, 2009 at 5:29 pm
It is wonderful to see how the Muslim and Christian community comes together to help and support each other. God bless them all.
August 4th, 2010 at 4:35 pm
You gotta love this country. I pray that St Anthony and Al Sabeel always have such a strong bond. Ramadan is starting next week. When fast and do my five prayers, I will make sure to pray for my sisters and brothers at St. Anthony’s!
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”
(Matthew 5.43-45 ESV)
There is a famous saying of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him),
“Do you love your creator? Love your fellow-beings first!”
Also Lebanese American poet, Kahlil Gibran, once said,
“In the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures. For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed.”