Friday fish fry brings fellowship, funds to church

Every Friday during Lent, Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church is holding a fish fry.

Catholics abstain from eating meat on Fridays during the holy season leading up to Easter but they are permitted to eat fish during the Lenten fast. Over the years, the practice has led to a traditional fish fry on Fridays where parishioners come together for a social gathering.

Fried fish isn’t all that is being served at Our Lady of Grace. The church, with the help of about 30 volunteers, also offers fish tacos, sautéed cod, shrimp, onion rings and French fries.

“We have something for everybody,” said Father Marcos Velasquez.

The fish fry has been going on since Feb. 27 and the church has seen an average turnout of 200 people each Friday. “It has been a great success,” Velasquez said.

“It’s good. I like it,” said Bryan Concho during a recent fish fry. “I get the all-you-can-eat… the bottomless fish!”

This is the second year Our Lady of Grace has hosted the event, which is open to all members of the community. All proceeds from the fish fry are going toward the construction of a new church.

If You Go

What: Fish Fry
Where: Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, 45295 W. Honeycutt Ave
When: 5-8 p.m. Friday, March 27 and April 3
Cost: All-you-can-eat fish and chips $10, single plate $8, other items priced accordingly

Photo by Scott Bartle