The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Lenten tradition adapts to pandemic
Eating fish on Fridays in Lent has a long tradition behind it, so many Catholic churches offer fish meals to parishioners and others. Because of the pandemic, the meals are mostly carryout this year, but there are exceptions when social distancing is possible. Lent began on Ash Wednesday — this year Feb. 17 — and ends on Good Friday, April 2, two days before Easter.
The Rev. Thomas Johns, pastor at St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Mentor, explained that because Christ died on a Friday, Fridays have been considered a day of abstinence since the first century.
“Christ sacrificed his life for us so we’ve made it a day for us to sacrifice eating meat,” he said.
The rule of eating fish on Fridays was relaxed by the Catholic church in 1966, but the tradition has remained for the Fridays in Lent, he explained.
“Many fishermen were Catholic, and they were among the poorer people,” he said. “So eating fish on Fridays also served to support the fishing industry.”
It’s a long-held belief fish is likely healthier to eat than meat, he added.
“People would eat meat that had gone bad and get sick. But with fish, you know by the smell when it’s bad.”
Fridays all year still are meant to be a day of penance, he said.
“But the church has left it up to individuals to decide how they will do it,” Johns said.
The 40 days of Lent is a symbolic number, he said.
“It’s related to the 40 days Christ spent fasting in the desert,” he said.
March 19, which is St. Joseph’s Day, will be an exception to the fish-on-Friday-in-Lent rule, he said.
“It’s St. Joseph’s Feast Day, and this has been declared the Year of St. Joseph,” he said. “Joseph, as the husband of Mary, worked in the background to care for her and Jesus, so Pope Francis has declared it a time to think of those who work in the shadows of the pandemic — the frontline workers.”
Here are some of the local fish fries and other meals that can be ordered for Fridays in Lent:
ST. JOHN VIANNEY CHURCH, 7575 BELLFLOWER ROAD, MENTOR » Fish fries pick up 4:30 to 6:45 p.m. curbside March 12 and March 26; corned beef and cabbage, potatoes, carrots, roll and dessert pick up curbside from noon to 7 p.m. March 7. Dinners: $14 each; orders due four days in advance at svjmentor.org. Payment in advance by check or cash at church. Menu March 12: baked fish, redskin potatoes, green beans, salad, chocolate pie. Menu March 26: fried fish, mac and cheese, mixed vegetables, coleslaw, cheesecake. Phone: 440-255-0600.
ST. GABRIEL CHURCH, 9925 JOHNNYCAKE RIDGE ROAD, CONCORD TOWNSHIP » Instead of church fish fries this year, St. Gabe’s is urging people to patronize area restaurants on Fridays for fish, selecting one each week from its website (bit.ly/stgabes-fish). This week’s restaurant is Ridgewood Kitchen & Spirits, 9853 Johnnycake Ridge Road, with dine in and carryout. Order online at Ridgewood84.com.
Those who dine in between 11 and 5 on Fridays pay $10 for a dinner of breaded haddock, fries and slaw. Also available are lobster rolls, lobster bisque, clam chowder, crab cakes and pizza. Other community partners for subsequent weeks include Manhattan Deli, Bistro 70, Red Hawk Grill, and Pub Frato. Mention St. Gabriel when ordering. Phone: 440-3547858.
ST. JUSTIN MARTYR CHURCH, 35781 STEVENS BLVD., EASTLAKE » March 5 and March 12; Order by 1 p.m. Wednesday for pickup between 6 and 7 p.m. Friday behind school. Order at stjustin.net/current-events. Adult meal $9; child’s meal $5. Phone: 440946-1177.
ST. MARY’S CHURCH, 401 NORTH ST., CHARDON » Choice of three pieces of baked or fried fish or six pieces of shrimp or combo (two pieces of fish and three pieces shrimp). Meals include fries, cabbage and noodles, salad and slaw. Fish dinner, $10; cup of clam chowder, $3; kids’ meals, two pieces of fish and fries or two pieces of pizza and fries, $4; handmade eight-cut pizza, $7 (cheese) and $10 (veggie). Drive-through curbside pickup only. 4:30 to 7 p.m. Fridays Feb. 19 through March 26. Online ordering by noon Friday. Contact: Email admin@ thereservehouse.com or text 440-665-0545.
CHURCH OF THE HOLY ANGELS, 18205 CHILLICOTHE ROAD, BAINBRIDGE TOWNSHIP » Beer-battered Lake Erie walleye, Corona beer-battered cod, shrimp, baked lemon pepper cod, potato and cheddar pierogi, fried shrimp. Fish and shrimp dinners include fries, vegetable, coleslaw, roll and butter. Pierogi dinners include grilled onions, vegetable, slaw, roll and butter, sour cream. Cost: $10 to $14. Additional items: Pizza slice, $1; mac and cheese, $3. Special menu item March 19 in honor of St. Patrick and St. Joseph dispensation for meat: Corned beef on rye sandwiches with fries and slaw while available. Drive-through only (enter on Taylor May Road church entrance). 5 to 7 p.m. Fridays Feb. 19 through March 26. Email aimee@holyangelschurch.com or call 440-708-0000. Find up-todate information at holyangelschurch.com.
ST. NOEL BANQUET CENTER, 35200 CHARDON ROAD, WILLOUGHBY HILLS » Baked or fried cod, slaw and two sides, $10. Drive-through only. Pickup 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Fridays through March 26. Preorders needed only for pizza and shrimp cocktail. Contact: stnoelbanquetcenter.com; 440-946-6635.
OUR LADY OF LOURDES NATIONAL SHRINE, 2181 CHARDON ROAD, EUCLID » Two pieces of cod or tilapia, fries or hash browns, slaw or applesauce, pasta fagioli (bean soup), bread and butter, coffee or hot tea. Take-out only. 4:30 to 6:45 p.m. Fridays March 5 and March 19. Info: srstrinity. com, 216-481-8232.
SS. ROBERT & WILLIAM CATHOLIC PARISH, 367 E. 260TH ST., EUCLID » Drive-up and carryout meals only. Choose your main fish among baked Atlantic cod, $12; beer-battered pollock, $12; breaded shrimp $14. All meals come with mac and cheese, slaw, fries, roll and special dessert. Clam chowder, $1. Pick up from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Fridays through April 2. Order online and set pick-up time at srweuclid.cc.
The Rev. Thomas Johns, pastor at St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Mentor, explained that because Christ died on a Friday, Fridays have been considered a day of abstinence since the first century.