Miracles at the Table: Reflecting on a Resounding Success with Father Leo!

We are still buzzing from the incredible energy of our recent speaking event, the Miracles at the Table Dinner, which was a truly spectacular success! We were absolutely thrilled to host 400 enthusiastic attendees who gathered to explore the profound connection between faith, food, and family. The engagement was inspiring, and we extend our deepest gratitude to Father Leo Patalinghug, the charismatic Priest-Chef, who captivated the audience with his humor and wisdom.

For those who couldn't attend or want to re-experience the evening, the full recording is now available: https://youtu.be/GDa1F8HXjXk

The Dinner Table: More Than Just Where We Eat

The evening’s discussion, built around Father Leo’s concept of the "Theology of Food," centered on the foundational role the dinner table plays in our lives. As Father Leo put it, the dinner table is "more than just where we eat. It's where God feeds our hearts, our relationships and our faith" [01:17].

He challenged us to consider the art of "Plating Grace"—the opposite of the devil’s "art of plating," which makes bad things look good [08:50]. Our mission is to transform ourselves into "culinarian spiritual sommeliers" [09:21], discerning what nourishes us and what doesn't, ultimately making grace attractive and visible for our families to consume. This central idea came alive during his lively cooking demonstration of Rigatoni Alla Norcina, where every ingredient served as a metaphor for life and faith.

Key Takeaways: Why the Family Meal is Non-Negotiable

One of the most impactful takeaways from the evening was the scientific and spiritual case for making the family meal a priority. Father Leo shared powerful data, citing a study that identifies a regular family meal as the number one factor in improving a teenager's testing scores and reducing risks such as teen drug addiction, pregnancy, and suicide [33:28].

This isn't about perfection; it’s about priority. To achieve this, Father Leo gave three actionable steps:

1. Master the Schedule: We must "master our schedule or our schedules master us" [46:50]. Instead of letting extracurriculars dictate the calendar, decide when your family will eat together first. Even two to three planned meals a month can make a huge difference.

2. Make Good Food: Good food is essential because, as he comically noted, a full mouth is a quiet mouth, allowing parents to talk to their kids [05:52].

3. Get Everyone Involved: Involve the whole family in every step, from shopping to cleanup. This teaches the essential "gift of serving and therefore the gift of loving" [40:31].

The evening concluded with the powerful image of heaven as people happily "reaching across the aisle and feeding one another" with their long utensils [52:04]. It’s a reminder that the work of serving starts now, right at our own dining room tables.

We hope you enjoy watching the full event and feel inspired to create your own miracles at the table!

Images from the event: