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March 16, 2024By Tanya Connor | The Catholic Free Press
There’s more to a fish fry than meets the eye – or the palate!
People involved with meatless parish meals on Lenten Fridays see reasons for – and benefits of – these get-togethers.
Winnie Torres, administrative assistant at St. Joseph Parish in Fitchburg, which has held fish dinners on Fridays during Lent for at least 20 years, said the parish is offering people the option of not eating meat on those days, thereby following Church regulations.
“From the first days of the Church, the baptized have abstained from eating meat on Good Friday, the Fridays of Lent and, indeed, on every Friday, in recognition of the fact that Christ sacrificed his own flesh for our salvation on Good Friday,” explained Msgr. James P. Moroney, a liturgical consultant and pastor of St. Cecilia Parish in Leominster. “In addition, meat has often been the most exorbitant form of food. Thus, the forgoing of meat was a natural penitential practice.”
While abstinence from meat on the Fridays of Lent and Good Friday continues for Catholics, the United States bishops have advised that another form of penance may be observed on the other Fridays of the year outside of Lent, since meat may not be the most exorbitant now, he said.
St. Joseph’s parishioner David Babineau offered additional reasons for Lenten fish fries.
“Doing something like this during Lent is very much in line with Church teachings about Lent,” he explained. “We talk about giving, charity, making a sacrifice. … It’s something wonderful to do for our parish community.
“People who may come in from outside the parish – it shows them volunteers working together for a common goal. ... I think the first goal is fellowship.”
Secondly, the fish fry “allows us to raise some funds for our parish.” He said they will likely raise about $10,000 this Lent, serving about 350-420 meals weekly at the parish’s Madonna of the Rosary campus.
“We’re all working to give glory to God,” he said. “That’s why we practice our faith.” The fish fry is “an opportunity to bring people together from inside and outside the parish, to show our faith instead of just talking about it.”
Everyone shares their talents, he said. He used his background in manufacturing to record the parish’s fish fry recipes and traditions electronically and on paper.
“It’s a lot of stewardship, because everybody commits to it,” said Mrs. Torres, who belongs to Holy Family of Nazareth Parish in Leominster but also participates in activities at St. Joseph’s. “We volunteer our time every Friday.”
She said she’s a waitress at St. Joseph’s fish fries and checks to see that things are fine for diners.
“I love to go by each and every table and ask their names,” she said. “Some of them are parishioners. … We get people that aren’t even Catholic. … It’s a lot of fun; we make it fun.”
“One of the basic ways to make friends is to” share a meal, Mr. Babineau said. “It’s a reflection of the Eucharist.”
Father Carlos Ruiz, pastor of St. Anna Parish in Leominster, said their fish fries, held for 33 years and now serving 400-plus people weekly, raise about $22,000 per year for the church and its school.
“More than the money is the social” aspect of fish fries, he added, noting that people from other churches and towns come too. “It’s a lot of work, but we have fun. People look forward to it.”
Is it an opportunity for evangelization?
“I would say so, because I’m there,” responded Father Ruiz, who wears his Roman collar along with his Italian apron. “Almost every week, someone has a question,” such as whether he can baptize their child, or a statement: “Father, I’ve got to come back to Mass.”
Father Miguel A. Pagan, pastor of St. Denis Parish in Douglas, said their fish dinners are “an evangelization opportunity ... throwing [out] the nets, and also an opportunity to build community.”
After dinner, the Stations of the Cross are prayed. Few diners go, “but the invitation is there” – in the parish bulletin and Lenten brochure and announcements at Mass. Most diners are St. Denis parishioners, but a sign outside the church informs passersby about the fish fry, he said.
Kim Guertin, chairwoman of St. Denis’ stewardship committee, said the committee started the fish dinners last Lent as another way to raise money for the parish “and to bring everybody together to get to know each other more.”
Accompanying dinner details on the parish website (saintdenischurch.com) is St. Denis’ logo of a steeple and the mission statement with Christ’s command: “Go Make Disciples.”
Asked about connections between the dinners and this message, Mrs. Guertin said that, as with all events, they are trying to bring others into the Church.
She said they serve about 35 meals per week and hope to raise $2,100 this Lent. There is no fish fry today; this week there is a St. Patrick’s dinner tomorrow instead.
Mary Contino, of St. Patrick Parish in Whitinsville, said that about 20 years ago a friend in Connecticut told her about fish fries there. She brought the idea to her own parish, which has been holding them ever since then – to raise money for youth service trips but “also to draw people together.”
Teenagers in the parish’s Youth In Action (YIA) program, now participating in Catholic Heart Workcamp mission trips, serve on a mission trip wherever they are assigned, said Aileen Lemoine, St. Patrick’s director of student ministries. This June they head to Nashville, Tennessee, after raising money for the trip through fish fries and other activities, with help from parents and other adults.
“We have great kids,” she said. “They get along with each other. They work hard.”
Last year they raised about $6,500 through fish fries, Mrs. Lemoine said.
Some weeks are busier than others, and “we do a strong take-out business.”
“It’s really fun; I like talking to the people” and hearing their stories, said Rory Goyette, 15, helping with last Friday’s fish fry. Although she’s from Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Hopedale, she has participated in St. Patrick’s middle school service program, held locally.
She also likes working with friends at the fish fry, which those going on the trip are asked to help at for three nights, she said.
“It’s nice to see the kids actually doing something,” instead of parents doing all the work, commented Donald Menard, a St. Patrick’s parishioner. He said he comes to see people – and to eat.
– Visit worcesterdiocese.org/lenten-fish-fries-2024 for fish fry dates and other information.
