How Food Builds Community at San Diego’s St. Matthew’s Church

At St. Matthew’s Church in National City, California, monthly bilingual services and shared meals are strengthening bonds between Filipino and Latino parishioners. This initiative, led by Reverend Dr. Willy Crespo under the guidance of Bishop Susan Brown Snook, uses food as a bridge to foster unity in one of the nation’s most culturally diverse regions.

A Ministry of Shared Meals

On the first Sunday of each month at 10 a.m., St. Matthew’s holds a bilingual service that alternates between its English and Spanish congregations. Following the service, a potluck lunch brings together members from both services. Volunteer organizers set up buffet-style tables featuring dishes that reflect the cultural heritage of the parishioners.

Regular offerings include Filipino staples like pancit (stir-fried noodles with chicken or shrimp) and lumpia (vegetable spring rolls), alongside Mexican favorites such as pozole, tamales, enchiladas, and gelatina de mosaico. These meals are more than fellowship—they are intentional acts of community building.

Leadership Rooted in Service

The initiative is shepherded by Reverend Dr. Willy Crespo, who was assigned to lead St. Matthew’s in November 2025 by Bishop Susan Brown Snook. Prior to this role, Crespo retired after 20 years as Chief Chaplain from the Bureau of Prisons, having previously served in New York City jails for a decade.

Bishop Susan Brown Snook, the fifth bishop of the Diocese of San Diego in The Episcopal Church, has led the diocese since her consecration in 2019. Her ministry emphasizes church planting, leadership development, and service to vulnerable populations, including migrants along the U.S.-Mexico border. Before entering ordained ministry, she worked as a certified public accountant and held leadership roles in Christian education.

Why Food Matters in Ministry

Parish administrator Ana Garcia, who has served in her role for three years, describes the monthly meals as a reminder that “we are one community.” Reverend Crespo echoes this sentiment, noting that “over food and with food, people can talk and people can share and…feel at home.” He views food as foundational to spiritual connection, stating it is “where we got our sacraments from.”

The approach reflects a deliberate strategy to highlight shared values. As Garcia explains, finding common ground through hospitality and food allows the multicultural congregation to focus on unity rather than difference.

Context of the Community

St. Matthew’s serves National City, the second-largest city in San Diego County. Six out of ten residents in the area identify as Latino or Hispanic, while twenty percent are Filipino American—one of the highest concentrations of Filipino Americans in the United States. This demographic reality informs the church’s commitment to culturally inclusive worship and fellowship.

Looking Ahead

The monthly bilingual service and potluck model at St. Matthew’s illustrates how faith communities can leverage cultural traditions to foster inclusion. By centering shared meals rooted in Filipino and Mexican culinary heritage, the church creates space for dialogue, mutual respect, and a tangible sense of belonging.

As San Diego continues to reflect the broader demographic shifts of California and the nation, initiatives like this offer a replicable framework for building bridges across cultures—one plate at a time.