There are places where a table is much more than a table. It is a place of encounter, of listening, of hope, and of fraternity. The Dining Temple of Urrao, Antioquia (Colombia) is one of those..

Since 2017, the Carmelite Missionaries have been present in the municipality of Urrao, a mission that seeks to be a close and compassionate presence of the Church to those who need welcome, companionship, and solidarity. We arrived in this blessed place thanks to the explicit invitation of the SACIAR Foundation (Food Bank of Medellín, Eastern Antioquia, and Urabá), whose aim is to build bridges between those who are able to share and those who live in situations of need. Its objective is not to accumulate, but to share and promote the integral development of children, youth, and elderly people in vulnerable situations.

Through the SACIAR Foundation and its support network of businesspeople and both large and small producers, food arrives free of charge to contribute to adequate nutrition for those who need it most.

An experience born from another experience

The Dining Temple of Urrao emerged after the insertion experience that the Carmelite Missionaries had been carrying out in the Dining Temple of the Vallejuelos settlement, in a marginalized sector of Medellin. Over time, we have discovered that the fight against hunger and malnutrition also means drawing close to people, recognizing their dignity, and walking together with them for the glory of God.

Today in Urrao, the mission has taken on its own identity. Around this table, more than 80 older adults and 20 Indigenous children sit as brothers and sisters—each with their own story, needs, dreams, and much to offer others. Their gratitude, their simple work in cleaning and organizing, and their respect give this place its own charm as a shared mission.

Muchas manos, un solo corazón.

A group of 24 women volunteers over the age of 60 generously give their time and abilities. These are hands that prepare food, organize donations, set the table, and help make each day of shared bread possible. With the accompaniment of the CM Sisters, we seek to create spaces for formation, prayer, and reflection so they may live their service rooted in values such as responsibility, collaboration, respect, compassion, and love.

Their daily work is a beautiful testimony that we always have something to offer others, following the perennial invitation of Jesus: “You yourselves give them something to eat” and “Whatever you did for one of my brothers, even the least of them, you did for me.” Every action transforms lives.

In the Dining Temple, sharing food is not an isolated act. Before eating, there is a simple space for encounter, prayer, and life, promoting shared responsibility in cleaning, washing utensils, and teamwork. It fosters awareness that feeding does not only mean filling a plate; it is also listening, accompanying, looking into someone’s eyes, and helping them feel their dignity..

On Thursdays and Sundays, we, as a Dining Temple, gather as a community of faith to celebrate the Eucharist. Around this table, we give thanks to God for the bread received, shared, and served with love, and we pray together for the reality we live.

Bazaars, solidarity bingo events, and other activities are also held to strengthen fraternity and, with these resources, respond to concrete needs of families and individuals connected to this mission.

This experience of service opens us to new possibilities: inviting young people and volunteers to draw near and become part of this mission. We want to add new hands and new hearts that bring life to the Church, because it is not only about coming to help but about sharing with those whom God has placed on our path.

The community of Urrao, the parish priests, and the Archdiocese value our presence in the Dining Temple as a space where the Church becomes close and welcoming, especially for older adults and Indigenous people who often live in situations of abandonment or have few resources to meet their basic needs.

That is why the Dining Temple is not only a place where food is served. It is a house of encounter, a shared table, a community that welcomes, a lived experience of faith expressed through service. Every plate served tells a story of solidarity; every volunteer offers a part of themselves; every person who arrives at the table reminds us that we all need one another—and that is where the true miracle lies: A table where we all fit, a mission built together, a place where serving is also learning to love.

Hna. Dioselina Hernández,cm