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Our Lady, Queen of Peace Lenten supper offers food for thought

Katie Scott | Catholic Herald

James Schreiner, a member of a L’Arche community in Arlington, reads a Scripture passage during the Lenten Stone Soup Supper at Our Lady, Queen of Peace Church in Arlington Feb. 27.

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Laurie Pippenger (right) shows off an apron she made during a Lenten mini-retreat at Our Lady, Queen of Peace Church. Pippenger and Eva-Elizabeth Chisholm (left) are both members of L’Arche, an interdenominational Christian community that includes individuals with intellectual disabilities.

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Susan Savage, a Queen of Peace parishioner, scoops up a serving of soup at the Lenten supper.

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Queen of Peace parishioners enjoy soup and hearty bread during a Lenten meal and presentation Feb. 27.

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Queen of Peace parishioners (from left) Kay Sempel, Ginny Franco and Shirley Hopkins put their craft skills to work during a Lenten mini-retreat led by members of L’Arche. Each art activity reinforced the three themes of the retreat: community, service and advocacy.

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A variety of soups were served alongside bread at last week’s Stone Soup Supper in Arlington.

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Last Friday night at
Our Lady, Queen of Peace Church in Arlington
,
parishioners reflected on diversity and community as they
sipped steamy vegetable soup and enjoyed Lenten-themed crafts
– chatting and laughing while dabbing glue and snipping
ribbon.

The Stone Soup Suppers, offered each week during Lent,
feature Mass, a simple meal and a presentation. This year’s
theme is “Embracing Diversity,” and Feb. 27 members of L’Arche
led a mini-retreat for the parish.

Founded in 1964 by Catholic Jean Vanier, L’Arche are
interdenominational Christian communities that include
individuals with intellectual disabilities and encourage
members to deepen their spiritual life. There are two L’Arche
homes in Arlington, and about seven residents attend Mass
weekly at Queen of Peace.

The retreat focused on three areas: community, service and
advocacy. For each area, a member of L’Arche read a Scripture
passage and shared a story about a L’Arche resident. The
nearly 65 attendees then were asked to meditate upon
questions such as, “Who are the strangers in your life?” and
“How have you helped give someone else strength to believe in
themselves?”

To complete each section, participants made a small piece of
art, such as a cut-out sheep to represent the lost sheep in
Jesus’ parable. In the well-known story Jesus asks, “Wouldn’t
you leave the 99 in the wilderness and go after the lost one
until you found it?”

Spiritan Father Timothy J. Hickey, pastor, said the soup
suppers help keep parishioners engaged in Lent throughout the
entire 40 days. They also provide an opportunity for
individuals to conduct a spiritual check-in, to ask
themselves, “How is my relationship with God and others?” he
said.

Parishioner Gerri Noble-Martocci said the evening allowed her
to fulfill her Lenten responsibility in unique ways. “For me,
tonight is a fast from watching TV; it’s giving alms not by
actually giving, but humbly receiving the gifts of the
L’Arche members; and praying through the Scripture readings,”
she said.

Noble-Martocci said the presentation was especially
meaningful because she has a nephew with special needs,
adding that the night reflected the everyday culture of the
parish.

“Our Lady, Queen of Peace makes room for everyone, whether
they are in wheelchairs, intellectually disabled or have
other differences,” she said.

Sitting next to Noble-Martocci was her son, Joe Martocci, who
is responsible for parish maintenance. He said that many
people might think there are better ways to spend a Friday
night, but he felt the Stone Soup Supper was a beautiful way
to close the week.

“Everyone knows each other here, and there’s such a sense of
community,” he said. “It’s what this parish is all about.”

Find out more

To learn more about L’Arche, click here.

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