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Father Leo E. Patalinghug, a Roman Catholic priest, reminded attendees at a cooking demonstration held at McGill Training Center on March 27 of the importance of reconnecting with family around the dinner table not only on holidays, but everyday.

In his cookbook, Grace before Meals, Patalinghug writes that eating sacrificially on the Fridays of Lent leading up to Good Friday encourages a family tradition of serving sacrificially.

During the demonstration, Patalinghug cooked and talked to the group of more than 200 about bringing their families around the table to show love toward one another during mealtime.

"It was a message for everyone, not just one denomination," said Leticia Rey, a Potomac Place resident who attends Catholic Mass on post.

As Patalinghug cut up fresh vegetables for penne ala vodka, he spoke to the crowd about the biblical story of the boy whose fish and bread Jesus used to feed 5,000 people.

"In order to take a meal and turn it into something that will bring your school of fish, or families together, you just have to do things a little different." Patalinghug said.

"If there is any one thing that will bring us all together it is olive oil, onion and garlic," he said jokingly. More seriously, the priest made the point that there are a lot of spiritually hungry families.

Families laugh together at egg hunts, pray together at religious services and also eat together on holidays like Easter Sunday, said Peggy T. Filippone, food service industry professional.

Easter brings with it a traditional dinner entrée of ham, dating to days when meat was slaughtered in the fall, and the winter leftovers cured for spring.

The roasted lamb goes back before Easter to the Passover of the Jewish people. The meat was eaten with unleavened bread and bitter herbs so that the angel of God would pass over their homes and bring no harm, Filippone said.

Patalinghug likened the food he has to feed his sheep to earthly food. "It is hard to swallow. Sometimes my congregation spits it up," he said of some messages he delivers during Mass.

As the priest, who has been ordained since 1999, explained the origin of Grace before Meals, it became clear that the movement is fairly new, but the Patalinghug home was saying grace before meals as he and three siblings grew up in his parents' home.

The father and mother of the sizzling priest both watched the demonstration from the audience. Looking on at her son, Fe Patalinghug took a moment to reminisce.

"You have to teach them early," she said.

"When the children were coming up, we didn't start [dinner] until everyone was seated," said Fe Patalinghug. "We gave thanks for the meal. And then we discussed whatever they wanted to discuss. You have to take the time."

Although the priest gave a bible lesson, what he wanted most for people to take from his cooking demonstration is the lesson that mercy is the seed of peace.

"We could only have peace if we forgive one another," he said. "The dinner table holds food for the body, but also the deeper purpose at the table is to set the stage for comfort and forgiveness."