Hundreds of people responded to the invitation. Over 100 volunteers fed them in the spirit of community and charity.

The Archbishop, who joined the diners for the meal, spoke of his great joy at being able to offer and share a meal with them in the shadow of St Mary's Cathedral - which is Sydney's mother church — to share a common humanity.

"For me, it's such a special joy to share a meal with you and offer food and hospitality to you in this sacred heart of Sydney" he told those gathered.

Following the Pope's example

Fr Peter Smith had the idea for Street Feast after Pope Francis first observed the World Day of the Poor on 19 November 2017.

His theme for that day was "Let us love, not with words but with deeds".

What started as a meal has become "a great celebration for our city" Smith said.

It grows every year.

Smith's humble sausage sizzle and bread roll has turned into a feast.

Groups like St Merkorious Charity have been providing "a true feast, and groups like Payce Foundation who give us an enormous amount of funding" he said.

Stalls from charities like Vinnies abound. It's "just growing and growing" Smith said.

A great vibe

Mark Bampton, one of the guests at the meal, says he accepted the Sydney Archdiocese's invitations for food and fraternity.

"It's a great vibe here today" he said. "It's good to see so many people here. The volunteers have come up and have been with us. It makes you feel seen and loved".

St Merkorious Charity, which makes 4,000 meals a week for the elderly, homeless and disabled, oversaw the food provision at Street Feast. They says they made "about 500 kebabs, 500 falafel and lots of food and beautiful salads".

"It's an amazing event. And this is what we're here for. To put smiles on people's faces and show that we're here to support them in their hardship" Bampton said.

Other invited guests such as the Federal Member for Sydney were overjoyed at witnessing the spirit of generosity on display.

"It's really at the heart of Jesus' message. It's about love for everyone. I'm so impressed with the generosity of the people who come, their generosity to one another. The generosity of the organisations and the volunteers who come out to serve lunch, to be here to show fellowship. It's wonderful to see and be a part of."

When he finished eating, Bampton thanked the hundreds who made today possible for people "doing it tough" and especially "the church for all the goodwill".

We must all give up some of our time to stop and talk to the city's vulnerable, to get to know them and realise the struggles that they go through" Smith said.

"Jesus constantly went out to the margins. And I think that's what we need to do as a Church as well."

Source

• Catholic Weekly

However, when St Vincent de Paul volunteer Vince Jones told John McGlashan College senior food technology pupils they would be cooking for the homeless and families in need, they were all in.

"They didn't know until today what the idea of it was and they were all stoked once they knew that they're helping the community and that's what it's all about."

Mr Jones said he had made meals for the charity three or four times a year for the past eight years and there were a lot of people who needed the food. Read more

Micah's Way, which has been operating since 2005, filed a lawsuit against Santa Ana, claiming that the city had violated the non-profit's right to religious exercise when it ordered it to stop distributing food and drink at its resource centre.

Micah's Way's certificate of occupancy had been denied by Santa Ana. The city had also warned that it could fine and prosecute the organisation for allegedly violating the municipal code.

The Justice Department filed a statement of interest supporting Micah's Way, stating that the Christian organisation's distribution of food to homeless people "is an integral part of its religious exercise."

The city maintained that the food distribution did not qualify as a religious activity, stating that it was merely an incidental use of minor significance. Santa Ana city also argued that preventing the organisation from distributing food and beverages did not violate federal law.

The city also said that Micah's Way had improperly used its administrative building to hand out food, resulting in multiple complaints from residents in the surrounding neighbourhood.

In response, the Justice Department said Santa Ana's denial of the occupancy licence for Micah's Way's resource centre placed a "substantial burden" on the organisation's religious expression in violation of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalised Persons Act.

The act bars governments from imposing land-use rules interfering with religious exercise.

The department also said that Micah's Way believed it had a "religious duty" to feed homeless individuals who come to its doors.

Application denied a second time

"Many faith-based organisations across the country are on the front lines serving the needs of people experiencing homelessness," said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division.

"The Justice Department is committed to enforcing federal civil rights laws to ensure that all religious groups can freely exercise their religious beliefs."

Santa Ana warned Micah's Way in 2021 that providing food and beverages out of its resource centre violated the municipal code.

After the city issued an administrative citation and told it to obtain a certificate of occupancy, the organisation applied for it but was denied based on zoning restrictions.

Micah's Way applied for the certificate a second time. However, it was again denied on the grounds that its food distribution practices were not permitted in the "professional district" that the resource centre occupied.

Santa Ana officials said the city "fully supports the expression of religious beliefs as well as helping those in need, as shown by the operation of our 200-bed homeless navigation centre, hosting the County of Orange's homeless shelter, and funding homeless outreach teams."

Micah's Way believes that Santa Ana has placed a substantial burden on its religious exercise and hopes to win the case with the support of the Justice Department.

The motion to dismiss the case is set to be heard on 5th June.

Sources

AP News

LA Times