"YES, we have a fish fry." This was the constant refrain of those answering our English-language 'phone lines during the past week. I should have asked the staff to keep a count of phone calls so that we might know whether calls about getting Ashes on Wednesday outnumbered calls about getting fish on Friday. It would be a close race, I think, among the English-language calls, but not contest on the Spanish line. The Spanish-speaking world loves them ashes. They may not come to Mass -- ever --- they may have abandoned the faith of their Baptism and joined Reverend Jose's storefront chapel (Primera Iglesia Hispana del West Side de Columbus or something like that), but by cracky they are gonna get their ashes, and it's the responsibility of Holy Mother to apply them to a a non-practicing forehead. Which we did. There are no videos of this from Wednesday night as my camera phone has no wide-screen capability and we don't want to frighten the children anyway.The Fish Fry was almost as noisy and chaotic as the Spanish Mass Wednesday night but had more of a festive atmosphere...Everyone who came gave the fish high marks. In all 220lbs of perch was sacrificed to facilitate Lenten penitence. In addition to the fish classic (fried) we also offered baked fish and and third option, of which I am especially fond: Perch Francese. White wine + Lemon + homemade crumbing = fish heaven. To those who eat fish, no explanation is necessary. To those who do not eat fish, no explanation is possible.
3 comments:
This looks like a situation of "mucho trabajo, poco dinero" as we say down here in 90 degree Phoenix....... I might add that I am not sure the Holy Father or anyone else who decided we should sacrifice for Lent would think Pece Francese was exactly what was in mind......sort of reminds me of when Tony made his Cajun BBQ shrimp for Good Friday..... a slight bending for a bit of a culinary indulgence, no? (No doubt I'll sizzle a few years in purgatory, deservedly so, for daring to speak so to a priest, but after all, we who attended a Girl's School ...... my nickname there was Pagan and it was for good reason, I suppose.....) We are moving to Virginia in June, BTW, outskirts of DC. Tony is working at GMU starting 1 July and doing lots of government stuff re. the mortgage crisis if you hadn't already heard of it. Yelling at Congress in hearings, etc...... good stuff!
Pax,
M. Sanders
It might be helpful to distinguish between days of abstinence and days of fasting. Speaking of Purgatory, hope your move to the Imperial City goes well.
I was really just kidding around - hence my comment about sizzling in purgatory (as I am currently sizzling here in 91 degree weather) - for daring to joke with a priest.... My grandfather was an Anglican priest who was Catholic in all but name so we were certainly brought up with all the same observances. The Imperial City - I like it. Goes well with The Annointed......
Cheers......
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