Welcoming Community Through Food and Ecological Justice

In Luke’s Gospel, the story of the road to Emmaus reminds us of the sacred power of welcome. The disciples walk beside the resurrected Jesus, yet do not recognize him—until they sit down together at the table. When Jesus breaks the bread, “their eyes were opened, and they recognized him” (Luke 24:30–31). In that moment of shared hospitality, their grief turns to joy, and they understand that Christ is truly present among them.

As we celebrate 375 years since the founding of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Le Puy, France, we return to the image of the kitchen—not only as a place of nourishment, but as a place of radical welcome. It was there our founding sisters shared their hearts and discerned how to move with the charism. The kitchen, the table, and the act of preparing and sharing food are central to our Christian story and our CSJ tradition.

For more than 20 years, this spirit of welcome has shaped our food justice programming. Through the CSJ Community Garden and, more recently, the St. Kate’s/CSJ Food Access Hub, we’ve welcomed neighbors, students, and young adults into deeper community and connection. Food has been our shared language—a way to build trust, respond to real needs, and plant seeds of justice.

In the past year, we’ve expanded these efforts with new gatherings that center on not only food, but the gifts and stories each person brings. Canning tomatoes, learning fermentation, and preparing traditional dishes have become simple yet sacred acts of welcome—places where strangers become neighbors and neighbors become friends.

One of the highlights has been our kimchi-making series, led by S. Teresa Kim, CSJ. “If someone asks me about Korean food,” she says, “I immediately think of kimchi and a bowl of steamy sticky rice. The kimchi’s spicy, garlicky, tangy, strong taste can be addictive.”

S. Teresa continues, “As a Korean-born Sister of St. Joseph and a kimchi lover, I’m so glad our community is offering these workshops. We’re creating and sharing something nourishing—something that reflects our cultural roots and our commitment to health and hospitality. Making food together becomes a way to welcome one another more deeply— in body and spirit.”

As we continue this ministry, we do so with open hands and open hearts. Future gatherings will continue to reflect this essential truth: when we come together around a table—when we welcome one another with story, skill, and nourishment—we practice the world we hope to build. We live out the CSJ vision of unity, justice, and love. And together, we recognize what is most essential and most divine: each other.