Malvern parish serves 60,000th Lenten fish dinner

St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Malvern marked a milestone March 6 when the parish sold its 60,000th Lenten fish dinner, continuing a tradition that began in 1991.

The milestone dinner was purchased by Marvin Janssen, who attended with his wife, Sandy Janssen.

“It’s shocking and surprising,” Marvin Janssen said, followed by a joke. “I should have shaved.”

Janssen said he and his wife have been attending the parish fish fry for several years.

“We’ve probably been coming about five years,” Marvin Janssen said.

Sandy Janssen said Fr. Victor Cinson paid for her meal after the couple realized Marvin Janssen had received the milestone ticket.

“I was about to pay mine, and Father insisted that he pay it,” Sandy Janssen said.

“We’ll put some money in the donation jar when we get back from eating,” said Marvin Janssen.

The parish started its fish fries in 1991 as a fundraiser, but the dinners soon became more than that. Organizers say the weekly Lenten meals provide a way for parishioners and community members to gather, connect and share fellowship.

The dinners feature baked or fried cod, with side options including French fries or spaghetti with homemade sauce and a choice of homemade coleslaw or applesauce. Each meal also includes a dinner roll and sherbet for dessert. The parish’s longtime beer-batter recipe remains a favorite among regular attendees.

Over the past 35 years, the event has relied on dozens of volunteers who help prepare meals on Thursdays and serve diners each Friday during Lent.

Cinson said the dedication of volunteers has helped sustain the dinners for decades.

“The new hall here is evidence of their hard work,” Cinson said. “We were able to get it built, and it’s paid for. We have a nice facility and a nice group of volunteers. They’re just excellent. They work in unity so much, and that’s very impressive.”

Originally, the fish fries were held in the parish’s Quonset hut, known as St. Francis Xavier Hall. Meals were served restaurant-style, with guests reserving tables and volunteers providing kitchen-to-table service.

“We had the old hall, which was the Quonset,” Cinson said. “That was built in the late 1940s. It was a World War II Army barracks that they modified. Over the years, they extended it and adjusted it. I think it originally had about a 25- to 35-year life expectancy.”

During the 1990s, proceeds from the fish fries helped support parish activities and contributed to plans to expand the church. Under the leadership of Msgr. John Michael Campbell and the Parish Council, the church worked with a local architect on an addition that began construction in October 2001 and was completed a year later.

The first Mass in the expanded church was celebrated Oct. 31, 2002, the vigil of the Feast of All Saints. The church was formally dedicated Dec. 8, 2002, the second Sunday of Advent, by Bishop R. Daniel Conlon.

As the Quonset hall aged, parish leaders began planning a new community facility. Under the guidance of Cinson and the Parish Council, the decision was made to replace the structure with an updated building to serve both St. Francis Xavier and St. Gabriel parishes, as well as the surrounding community.

The resulting Good Shepherd Hall was dedicated June 30, 2019, by Cinson and Bishop Jeffrey Monforton.

After the hall opened, the Lenten fish fries resumed in the new facility, with meals now served cafeteria-style while maintaining the same longtime recipes.

Cinson said volunteers continue to play an important role in organizing and preparing the dinners.

“Mike Larson and Michelle Larson help organize things this year,” Cinson said. “Every so often, different people step up to help organize it. I’ve been here 21 years, and there’s been a good crew every year. You get volunteers of all ages, young and old.”

Jane Phillips, who has volunteered at the fish fries since they began in 1991, said she is glad to see the tradition continue to grow.

“I think it’s wonderful that we still have people coming,” Jane Phillips said. “It seems like we keep getting more and more every week, so that’s great. It’s a great project for our church.”

Phillips said reaching 60,000 meals is surprising considering how quickly the years have passed.

“It really doesn’t feel like that many,” Phillips said.

Phillips added that the parish’s Good Shepherd Hall has helped improve the experience for volunteers and diners.

“We appreciate the new hall,” Phillips said. “It’s a lot better than the old hall. We have a lot more room for everybody to come, sit and enjoy themselves.”