Lenten fish fries bring families together

Brother Knights Rich Brandenburg and Brian Sullivan prepare the main entree at a recent Knights of Columbus-sponsored Lenten Fish Fry at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Grapevine. (Courtesy photo by Scott Wagner)

GRAPEVINE — Friday evening fish fries during Lent have become a staple for many Catholic parishes.

It all started prior to Vatican II, when U.S. bishops had a variety of restrictions concerning fasting (eating one full meal and two smaller meals that don’t equal another full meal) and abstinence (refraining from eating meat on all Fridays and other designated days).

A large number of immigrants from Poland, Germany, and other Central European countries migrated to the Midwest of the United States in the 19th century.

Because of their proximity to the Great Lakes and a number of other freshwater lakes, eating fish became an alternative to meatless Fridays.

With that, the Lenten fish fry was born.

Over time, these Midwesterners began to disperse and settle in other parts of the county, notably in the South and Southwest.

And with them, they brought along the tradition of Lenten fish fries.

After Vatican II in 1965, some of these restrictions were loosened. But abstinence was still mandated for Ash Wednesday, all Fridays of Lent, and Good Friday.

Some Lenten fish fries are held at Knights of Columbus clubs, but mostly at parish halls either alone or with other service organizations.

Depending on the venue, there might be several dozen people to as many as 200 or 300 guests.

During a recent Lenten fish fry at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Grapevine, attendees dined on a feast of baked lemon pepper or Cajun-spiced fish, macaroni and cheese, sweet corn, and onion hushpuppies, cole slaw, French fries, green beans, rolls, and a variety of desserts and beverages. 

According to Grand Knight Herman Barringhaus of Knights of Columbus Council 7099, the idea of Lenten fish fries came about in 1985 at the suggestion of then-Pastor Father Baltasar Szarka, O.Cist., (known as “Fr. B.”) who asked the Knights to hold a fish fry as a means of fostering a sense of community within the parish.

“It’s hard to believe that we’ve been hosting Lenten fish fries for 40 years,” Barringhaus said.  “We’ve come a long way from the first menu and the first fish fries to what we have today.”

According to current St. Francis of Assisi Pastor Father Sojan George, these fish fries serve many purposes.

“Our Lenten fish fry by the Knights of Columbus is more than just a meal, it is a cherished tradition that brings our community together in faith, fellowship, and service,” Fr. George said. “It provides an opportunity for us to connect, support one another, and extend hospitality to friends and neighbors.

“In this simple act of sharing a meal, we are reminded of the sacrifice of Lent and the call to serve with love and generosity"

The success of these fish fries is dependent upon teams of Brother Knights to purchase the food, set up the venue, cook and serve guests, and do the after-event cleanup. Even some wives of Brother Knights lend a hand.

Grand Knight Barringhaus explained that many groups benefit from the proceeds derived from the fish fries.

“About 75 percent of the proceeds goes directly to the St. Francis Outreach Center, serving the poor and others in need in and around the Grapevine community,” he said. “The remainder goes into our general fund and is used to help finance needed improvements to St. Francis Parish facilities and is directed to various [pro-]life ministries that we support.”

On a side note, Catholics are responsible, at least in part, for McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish sandwich — an unusually popular menu item at a burger joint.

When franchise owner Lou Groen opened the first McDonald’s in the Cincinnati area in 1959, a majority of the people in the area were Catholic.

Although his new restaurant was an immediate success, he noticed that on Fridays his sales decreased by about 75%

Why? Because of the Catholic Church’s restriction about eating meat on Fridays.

Groen introduced the Filet-O-Fish sandwich in 1962.

Fast forward to the present day, over 300 million Filet-O-Fish sandwiches are sold each year and nearly a quarter of all of McDonald’s sales of Filet-O-Fish sandwiches are during Lent — as a result of the Catholic practice of abstinence from meat on Fridays.

Check with your local parish or Knights of Columbus Council for the schedule of local Lenten fish fries.

Ron Kuzlik is a Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus and former U.S. Navy and Navy Reserve public affairs professional.