Tradition meets fellowship in St. Mary’s annual fish fry
SUMMIT TWP — Spring has always been a time for a fresh start and during St. Mary’s annual fish fry, it’s also an ideal time for a fresh meal served with a side of hospitality.
Volunteers from the Roman Catholic Church and surrounding parishes have been dishing out generous portions of homemade seafood and sides to hungry Western Pennsylvania residents for generations.
Eager guests lined up at the entrance to catch a whiff of the rich aroma well before members began serving meals as part of the church’s 69th annual fish fry on Friday, March 7.
“Their fish is really, really good and if you don’t want the smell to take over your own home, then it’s right up your alley,” said Agnes Kinder, who annually makes the short trek over from Winfield Township.
The fish fry runs from 3 to 6 p.m. on seven Friday afternoons throughout March and April, with the exception of Good Friday.
Around 1,100 meals are served on each of those days, according to church member Kevin Karenbauer, who began volunteering at the fish fry when he was just 16 years old.
“The customers and the workers who come in to dedicate not just Friday, but also during the week to prepare for all of this,” said Karenbauer, 66, on what makes the event such a successful fundraiser.
Joann Lindstrom, 73, takes plenty of pride in helping set up a volunteer schedule and being a part of an event that highlights fellowship in the southern Butler community.
“If you ask people to help, they’re here to volunteer,” she said. “It’s a great thing for the church as a fundraiser that makes a lot of money in a short period of time. It’s also just really fun. I enjoy it and look forward to it every year.”
Volunteers say it’s not uncommon to see people showing up from well beyond the county’s border.
“We have people that come from Kittanning and even farther. It’s crazy to me,” longtime St. Mary’s member and volunteer Wendy Collins said. “There are so many fish fries around the area, and I think it’s just really special that we’ve been here this long and we’re still rolling.”
A $15 meal from St. Mary’s includes panfried or baked cod loin, Spanish rice, mac and cheese, green beans, coleslaw, french fries, bread and dessert. The last chance to pick up a meal from one of the county’s longest-running fish fries will be Friday, April 11.
