The Aggregation of SSS men and women laity (ALLS) has been present in the community of Lima for more than 20 years. The Eucharistic Dinner is one of the annual events in the life of the parish that encourages the faithful to approach our spiritual source, whose centre is the Eucharist. This year’s Eucharistic Dinner was held on 7 October 2023 from 7-10 pm in the parish hall, focused on the theme: The Eucharist comes to life around the table.

1. An environment of prayerful communion:

The meeting began with the welcoming words of Fr. Elibien Joseph sss, the local director of the association and parish priest, who spoke to the participants on the meaning of the Supper. It is a meeting with a triple purpose: spiritual, social and cultural, having its central emphasis on the eucharistic ideal of the table from the Eymardian perspective. Afterwards, this event was deepened through reading the pericope of the Gospel of John 6:32-35 in accord with the theme suggested; in a perspective of deep prayer and enlightenment, the presence of the Spirit was evoked together with the eucharistic Jesus remaining in our midst.

2. An atmosphere of fraternal communion

Jesus met the disciples in the Cenacle to institute the Eucharist. Here a space of communion is evident in all aspects. Therefore, the participants were told that the table becomes an environment of social and fraternal gathering, not only for eating, but also for being nourished by the presence of the other through closeness, listening and openness fostered through being challenged facing them. In this sense, the meeting included several moments of cultural presentation with typical Peruvian dances, Latin American music, among others. The aspect of fraternity was emphasized through a very lively dynamic suggested by some questions about Eymardian Eucharistic Spirituality. This highlighted an atmosphere of fraternal sharing, of learning about the mystery of the Eucharist and the Christian humanism that Jesus promoted through the Eucharistic ideal.

3. Christian humanism around the table

This last moment began with a question to the diners about the meaning of the table as forming the Christian humanism that Jesus recommended when instituting the Eucharist.

From there, the table reveals the logic of love about living the unity in diversity, fraternal harmony in contact with the other, being nourished by the presence of the other, challenged by the reality of the other.

The participants were able to experience the three pillars of Eymardian Eucharistic Spirituality. Beside the initial moments inspired by prayer and fraternity, they were enabled to appreciate the service that the laity and religious provide through promoting this Eucharistic event.

Father Elibien Joseph, sss
Local director of ALLS and parish priest