x
Breaking News
More () »

Lenten Food Sales

It isn’t Lent in northeastern and central Pennsylvania without the fish frys, pierogie and pizza sales. Catholics can’t eat meat on Ash Wednesday or...
lenten food

It isn't Lent in northeastern and central Pennsylvania without the fish frys, pierogie and pizza sales.

Catholics can't eat meat on Ash Wednesday or Fridays during Lent and plenty of places serve up meatless food to cater to that.

The food rush was on as soon as the 12:10 Ash Wednesday mass was over at St. Ignatius Loyola Church in Kingston.

Parishioners with ashes on their forehead were ready to get fish and the fixings and a team of volunteers were happy to serve it up.

"It's a great deal of work and I have a lot of wonderful, wonderful people who are very dedicated and really want this tradition of making the pierogie and Lenten foods to continue," said organizer Mike Stretanski.

This Lenten food tradition actually came from parishioners who used to attend St. Hedwig's church. When the parishes merged, the pierogie makers came here and then expanded it into a fish dinner.

"I rather call my pierogie people, there's 50 people involved, I call it a ministry."

And those tasting all their work call it, "out of this world, delicious."

"I could eat fish every minute," said Rita Soroka.

Two of the three Soroka sisters had a lot to say about the meal. One wanted to focus on the food.

"That's why I'm quiet. I want to eat it fast," said Jean Soroka.

Fire departments get in on the Lenten food action, too. At the Exeter Fire Department they spent the day getting ready to cook up some potato pancakes and other meat-free foods.

"We get a lot of customers and everyone loves the potato pancakes," said volunteer Jennifer Grochal.

There isn't as big of a team getting much of the food ready there and Jennifer Grochal was doing most of it earlier in the day. Help started to show up later, everyone glad to do their part for the volunteer firefighters.

"A lot of them work, they've got jobs. I really have nothing to do. I come over here and I cook."

All the Lenten food at the Exeter Fire Department is available until 7p.m. Wednesday and 4p.m. to 7 p.m. every Friday through Lent.

The fish and pierogi dinner at St. Ignatius in Kingston wrapped up at 6 p.m. Wednesday.

 

Before You Leave, Check This Out