Thursday, December 25, 2014

Sant’Egidio, from Rome to other cities 6oo a Christmas lunch ‘world’ – BBC

Sant'Egidio, from Rome to other cities 6oo a Christmas lunch 'world' – BBC



Milan , December 24, 2014 – 16:52

     
     
 

ROME – First dish, lasagna, for the second meatloaf with mashed potatoes and lentils, then sweet, sparkling wine for the toast and the arrival of Santa Claus for the gifts: imagine a Christmas table laid for 160 000 people: lunch is organized by the Community of Sant’Egidio in the world for the poor, the homeless, the lonely elderly, the sick. In Rome, the appointment is in the Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere and in other parishes in the suburbs, with hundreds of volunteers to work.

Everywhere in the world

The festival takes place in other continents, from the Ivory Coast to Indonesia, from Cuba to Russia. “It ‘a sign of hope for the future of our world: it can also globalize solidarity,” said a statement of the Community. He continues: “We are with the poor in over 600 cities worldwide. In churches that turn into large tables with the poor, in outlying areas, in European stations, in the poorest homes, but also in large slums in Africa and Latin America, in prisons, in institutions for the elderly or children, in those for disabled, hospitals, even in the streets. It ‘a way to turn the difficulty in friendship, friendship in hope, and celebrate the beginning of a different world. “

The origins

” The tradition of the Christmas lunch was born practically together with the Community December 25, 1982: around the table in the Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere in Rome gathered a small group of people: young, lonely elderly, homeless people. Christmas dinner of the Community of Sant’Egidio has started well, thinking that this big party could not go forgetting the poor who are our friends throughout the year. Hence the idea of ​​hosting the lunch of our particular family in one of the oldest Roman basilicas. ”

December 24, 2014 | 16:52

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