Breaking Bread

As we reflected on our experience at Collegium Colloquy this June, it became clear that meals and conversations were a central part of the growth and learning among participants. Given that the participants came from different institutions and geographic regions, the shared experience of eating together was foundational for building the community. The practice also expressed the principle of the Catholic sacramental imagination in a direct and meaningful way that was integrated into the daily rhythm of Colloquy. All of us were struck by how the regular practice of eating took on new levels of meaning when framed in the context of the Catholic tradition. This seemed especially powerful in a professional setting in which such meanings are generally not outwardly ascribed to meals and social engagement. For a Catholic institution of higher learning such as Rockhurst University, such a framework is not only appropriate but a distinctive attribute among the universities of Kansas City.