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The Meal of Reconciliation

The Meal of Reconciliation

Date: 2023-12-14

TheMeal of Reconciliation is now an annual ritual at the Denis Hurley Centre inDurban on 16 December, South Africa's National Day of Reconciliation, wherehundreds of homeless people join members of the public for a shared meal.

TheDay of Reconciliation is a public holiday held annually on 16 December - theterm originated by the late Paddy Kearney founder of the DHC. The holiday cameinto effect in 1995 with the intention of fostering reconciliation and nationalunity for the country.

"Likeso many other annual events, it did not take place over Covid lockdown, so itis with great joy that this tradition is being instituted again," says RaymondPerrier, Director of the Denis Hurley Centre. Members of the general publicjoin approximately 300 homeless people and refugees to sit down and share ameal, breaking down barriers of class, colour and nationality.

Attendinga previous meal, David Young, a visiting US Methodist minister who had comedown from the US Embassy in Pretoria, described the event as "truly one of themost moving love feasts, or 'Eucharists' I have ever experienced".

BeingDurban, as has become tradition, the food served will be breyani, and being theDHC there will be an interfaith dimension as donors will be from the Christian,Muslim, Hindu and Jewish communities.

Perriersaid the late Archbishop Denis Hurley and Paddy Kearny both committed theirlives to bring about reconciliation: between Christians of differenttraditions, between people of different faiths, between different races andcultures, and between the 'haves' and the 'have-nots'.

"Membersof the public are warmly invited to attend," says Perrier. Those who will beattending are asked to bring large bottles of cool drinks and or desserts toshare with the eight people at their table.

Formore information contact Raymond PerrierDirector - Denis Hurley Centre

Landline: 031 301 2240 or emailraymond@denishurleycentre.org