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WILKES-BARRE — As she left St. Andre Bessette’s fellowship hall last week, 77-year-old Rose Lynch, of Sugar Notch, said the church’s annual fish fry had been a fine way to start the 40-days of Lent.

“Everything was good,” she said.

“Delicious,” said John Ginley, 89, of Nanticoke, echoing her sentiments about a dinner of haddock, potatoes, applesauce and a roll.

Fellow diner Alice Holmes, 93, of Sugar Notch, did have a suggestion for making the meals more colorful: “I’d rather have carrots or green beans,” she said.

But, overall, everyone seemed happy.

Organizer Anna Hudock and her group of at least 20 volunteers had served 240 meals — “We sold out,” she proudly noted — and the proceeds would benefit causes ranging from grocery certificates for needy families to Easter flowers for shut-ins.

Volunteer cook Ken Burke said he’d been steadily frying fish for four hours, from 2 to 6 p.m., and had a tired but content feeling.

“It’s a very satisfied feeling you get when you take care of your fellow parishioners and friends, and see the church reap the harvest,” agreed volunteer David Alusick, who served as a waiter.

If you’re looking for another meatless meal this Lent, various churches and other groups have planned similar fundraisers.

Among them, you’ll find fish frys this Friday at the Knights of Columbus Assumpta Council in Luzerne, Good Shepherd Polish National Catholic Church in Plymouth and Sylvania Lodge in Shickshinny.

St. Elizabeth’s Church in Bear Creek is going the soup route, supplemented with salads and dessert, on Monday. St. Leo’s/Holy Rosary Church in Ashley will have a variety of Lenten foods, ranging from halusky and pieroghy to Manhattan clam chowder and cream of mushroom soup on Friday, and St. John the Baptist Church in Larksville is taking orders for pierogies that can be picked up on Mondays.

While St. Mary’s Byzantine Catholic Church in Wilkes-Barre will serve meatless foods from pirohi, clam chowder and halushki to pizza and broccoli with shells on March 10, the Plains United Methodist Church will serve baked fish, baked potato, cole slaw and ice cream on March 24.

The Berean Lighthouse Church will have a soup and bake sale March 10-11, and the Altar & Rosary Society of St. Anthony and St. George Maronite community is getting ready to serve such dishes as mujadara (lentils and rice), clam chowder and fatoush (salad) on March 31 at the church on Park Avenue in Wilkes-Barre.

For more information, look for the Times Leader’s Good Eats column that will appear on page 2 today and on subsequent Wednesdays.

Parishioner Ken Burke, of Pittston Township, spent four hours frying haddock at the Church of St. Andre Bessette fish fry on Ash Wednesday.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/web1_TTL030817fishfry_1.jpg.optimal.jpgParishioner Ken Burke, of Pittston Township, spent four hours frying haddock at the Church of St. Andre Bessette fish fry on Ash Wednesday. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

Volunteers served 240 meals similar to this one on Ash Wednesday. It included a large piece of fried haddock, baked potato, roll and applesauce.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/web1_TTL030817fishfry_2.jpg.optimal.jpgVolunteers served 240 meals similar to this one on Ash Wednesday. It included a large piece of fried haddock, baked potato, roll and applesauce. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

Church office manager David Alusick, left, serves fish dinners to William and Rose Marie Bryan, of Wilkes-Barre, at the Parish of St. Andre Bessette in Wilkes-Barre. Various other meatless dinners will be served throughout the region during the 40 days of Lent.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/web1_TTL030817fishfry_3.jpg.optimal.jpgChurch office manager David Alusick, left, serves fish dinners to William and Rose Marie Bryan, of Wilkes-Barre, at the Parish of St. Andre Bessette in Wilkes-Barre. Various other meatless dinners will be served throughout the region during the 40 days of Lent. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

Jean Levandowski, of Wilkes-Barre, arranges dessert selections at the Church of St. Andre Bessette annual fish fry.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/web1_TTL030817fishfry_4.jpg.optimal.jpgJean Levandowski, of Wilkes-Barre, arranges dessert selections at the Church of St. Andre Bessette annual fish fry. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

Parishioner Ken Burke, of Pittston Township, spent four hours frying haddock at the Church of St. Andre Bessette fish fry on Ash Wednesday.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/web1_CMYKTTL030817fishfry_1.jpg.optimal.jpgParishioner Ken Burke, of Pittston Township, spent four hours frying haddock at the Church of St. Andre Bessette fish fry on Ash Wednesday. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

Volunteers served 240 meals similar to this one on Ash Wednesday. It included a large piece of fried haddock, baked potato, roll and applesauce.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/web1_CMYKTTL030817fishfry_2.jpg.optimal.jpgVolunteers served 240 meals similar to this one on Ash Wednesday. It included a large piece of fried haddock, baked potato, roll and applesauce. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

Church office manager David Alusick, left, serves fish dinners to William and Rose Marie Bryan, of Wilkes-Barre, at the Parish of St. Andre Bessette in Wilkes-Barre. Various other meatless dinners will be served throughout the region during the 40 days of Lent.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/web1_CMYKTTL030817fishfry_3.jpg.optimal.jpgChurch office manager David Alusick, left, serves fish dinners to William and Rose Marie Bryan, of Wilkes-Barre, at the Parish of St. Andre Bessette in Wilkes-Barre. Various other meatless dinners will be served throughout the region during the 40 days of Lent. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

Jean Levandowski, of Wilkes-Barre, arranges dessert selections at the Church of St. Andre Bessette annual fish fry.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/web1_CMYKTTL030817fishfry_4.jpg.optimal.jpgJean Levandowski, of Wilkes-Barre, arranges dessert selections at the Church of St. Andre Bessette annual fish fry. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

By Mary Therese Biebel

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Reach Mary Therese Biebel at 570-991-6109 or on Twitter @BiebelMT