St Louis Associates in Monaghan celebrated a meal for Creation Time using the LOAF principles – Locally-produced, Organically-grown, Animal-Friendly and Fairly-traded.
The meal was celebrated in the context of the ecumenical service, which was part of the Creation Time 2011 resources on the Churches Together in Britain and Ireland website – http://www.ctbi.org.uk/pdf_view.php?id=65
Many thanks to Brid Dowling and Mary Lenehan for sending us this report:
The Monaghan Associates first meeting of the season was held in Our Lady’s, Monaghan, on Tuesday 20th September 2011. The gathering was in the form of an ecumenical prayer service titled OUR DAILY BREAD followed by a LOAF meal based on the principles: Locally produced, Organically grown, Animal Friendly and Fairly traded. The occasion was Creation Time, which was celebrated within Christian Churches from 1st September to 4th October 2011.
The service was in the form of prayer, thought provoking readings and discussion, which focused our minds on modern day food production methods and shopping practices which encourage the destruction of ecosystems, the addition of harmful chemicals and preservatives, unnecessary food miles and pollution of waterways. It seems we have lost our connectedness with the soil and seasons in our quest for perfection, uniformity and convenience.
The discussion lightened somewhat when one of the group, whose father was a local baker called PJ, reminisced about how PJ used to deliver bread to rural areas of Counties Cavan, Monaghan and Louth. During the 1970s, when times were bad, people would not have money to pay for the bread and would in lieu give items such as chickens, eggs, or whatever they harvested.
PJ would never complain or judge but would always readily accept what was given in payment. The cost to him travelling between some remote parts to deliver a loaf would far outweigh the price paid for the item. A social service was more important than an economic gain. He would always say “We have what will do us”….
On one occasion a farmer, dressed in his three-piece suit, with collarless shirt, handed PJ a ‘wad’ of notes and asked he buy him a fridge. He had been informed that this was a wonderful new ‘gadget’. PJ duly drove home, removed all the shelving from the back of his van, brought the farmer his fridge and delivered it to him. PJ then had to return home, clean the van and re-fit the shelving for the following day’s bread delivery. The trust and respect people had for one another was heart-rending and helping a friend was never a chore, no matter how time-consuming.
In the bakery on Christmas Eve evening the fire was allowed die in order for brick repair work to be carried out on the ovens. The heat of the cooling ovens would not be wasted as the neighbours used to place their turkeys in the ovens to cook overnight. Again, this was considered a social duty.
In the current recession perhaps we might learn something from this sharing.
At this stage of the evening we were filled with gratitude for the life-giving nourishment of food – “our daily bread” – and this heightened awareness certainly added flavour to the feast that ensued. The meal, which was a chicken dish, followed by a berry dessert, was a feast for the senses and savoured by the Associate members and Sisters who were present on the night.
Our heartfelt thanks to Sr. Catherine and Sr. Enda who so lovingly sourced, prepared and cooked the food. The beautiful table setting enhanced the conviviality of this memorable occasion and we all left with happy hearts.
Many thanks to Brid Dowling and Mary Lenehan for sending us this report:
The Monaghan Associates first meeting of the season was held in Our Lady’s, Monaghan, on Tuesday 20th September 2011. The gathering was in the form of an ecumenical prayer service titled OUR DAILY BREAD followed by a LOAF meal based on the principles: Locally produced, Organically grown, Animal Friendly and Fairly traded. The occasion was Creation Time, which was celebrated within Christian Churches from 1st September to 4th October 2011.
The service was in the form of prayer, thought provoking readings and discussion, which focused our minds on modern day food production methods and shopping practices which encourage the destruction of ecosystems, the addition of harmful chemicals and preservatives, unnecessary food miles and pollution of waterways. It seems we have lost our connectedness with the soil and seasons in our quest for perfection, uniformity and convenience.
The discussion lightened somewhat when one of the group, whose father was a local baker called PJ, reminisced about how PJ used to deliver bread to rural areas of Counties Cavan, Monaghan and Louth. During the 1970s, when times were bad, people would not have money to pay for the bread and would in lieu give items such as chickens, eggs, or whatever they harvested.
PJ would never complain or judge but would always readily accept what was given in payment. The cost to him travelling between some remote parts to deliver a loaf would far outweigh the price paid for the item. A social service was more important than an economic gain. He would always say “We have what will do us”….
On one occasion a farmer, dressed in his three-piece suit, with collarless shirt, handed PJ a ‘wad’ of notes and asked he buy him a fridge. He had been informed that this was a wonderful new ‘gadget’. PJ duly drove home, removed all the shelving from the back of his van, brought the farmer his fridge and delivered it to him. PJ then had to return home, clean the van and re-fit the shelving for the following day’s bread delivery. The trust and respect people had for one another was heart-rending and helping a friend was never a chore, no matter how time-consuming.
In the bakery on Christmas Eve evening the fire was allowed die in order for brick repair work to be carried out on the ovens. The heat of the cooling ovens would not be wasted as the neighbours used to place their turkeys in the ovens to cook overnight. Again, this was considered a social duty.
In the current recession perhaps we might learn something from this sharing.
At this stage of the evening we were filled with gratitude for the life-giving nourishment of food – “our daily bread” – and this heightened awareness certainly added flavour to the feast that ensued. The meal, which was a chicken dish, followed by a berry dessert, was a feast for the senses and savoured by the Associate members and Sisters who were present on the night.
Our heartfelt thanks to Sr. Catherine and Sr. Enda who so lovingly sourced, prepared and cooked the food. The beautiful table setting enhanced the conviviality of this memorable occasion and we all left with happy hearts.