Mark Coursey of Presque Isle Fish and Farm grills snapper and grouper
Mark Coursey, of Presque Isle Fish and Farm, explains how to cook fish on a flat grill. He grills mayo-less coleslaw on the side.
- Numerous churches and organizations in Erie are hosting Lenten dinners, offering fish, pierogis, pasta, and other meatless options.
- These dinners are open to the public, regardless of religious affiliation, and often include dessert.
One thing can be said for spending Fridays during Lent in Erie: You can fast and feast at the same time.
While some denominations of Christianity require parishioners to skip meat on Fridays, that doesn’t mean they can’t find a wonderful dinner featuring fish, pierogis, or pasta and support their own community to boot. Of course, everyone is welcome to the Lenten dinners that churches and organizations organize, whether they are supposed to be fasting or not. And, best yet, in many cases, dessert is free.
Lent begins on March 5 and ends on April 17. It lasts six weeks before Easter.
Keep this list close and, with a little planning, you can save yourself the hassle of cooking on Fridays until well after Easter.
All Saints Catholic Church
Fridays in Lent, March 7 through April 11, 4:30-7 p.m.; 11264 Route 97 N, Waterford. Dine-in or takeout, available by calling 814-796-3023 after 4:30 on dinner dates, meal includes baked or fried white fish, French fries or baked potato, coleslaw, applesauce, roll and butter, homemade desserts, coffee, water and fruit juice. $15 for adults, $5 for children 2-11, free for younger. allsaintsrcc.org/index.php
Assumption Greek Orthodox Church
Fridays through April 11; 5-7 p.m., 4376 West Lake Road; Baked or fried cod, $16; Lenten dinner, $12; baked goods and traditional Greek food. 814-838-8808; eriegreekorthodox.org
Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church
March 7, 21 and April 4; 4:30-7 p.m.; 1626 W. 26th St. Features dine-in or takeout baked cod with choice of fries, mac & cheese or ravioli plus green beans, coleslaw, sherbet and beverage; cheese ravioli and mac & cheese dinners also available. $16 for fish, $12 for cheese ravioli, $10 for mac & cheese; half-price for half portions. 814-454-0171, www.bsparisherie.org
Epiphany of the Lord Catholic Parish
March 7, 14, 21, 28 and April 4 and 11; 4:30-6:30 p.m.; St. Mary of Grace, 1085 Water St, Meadville. Includes dine-in or takeout meal of haddock, scalloped potatoes, green beans, coleslaw/applesauce, bread and beverage. $13 for adults, $6 for ages 5-12, free dine-in for younger, $9 for mac & cheese or grilled cheese dinners. 814-336-1112, www.epiphanymeadville.org
Holy Cross Catholic Church
March 7, 14, 21, 28 and April 4, 11, 7100 West Ridge Road, Fairview. Choice of hand battered fish, shrimp or a combination fish & shrimp dinner with potato salad, homemade coleslaw, tartar and cocktail sauce, fresh baked rolls from West Lake Bakery, beverages and homemade desserts. $15 adults $7 children mac & cheese dinner $5. Dine in or takeout. 50/50 raffle available. 814-474-2605
Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church
All Fridays in Lent, 4:30 p.m. until sold out; Our Lady of the Lake Social Center, 128 Sunset Drive, Edinboro. Knights of Columbus of Edinboro/Cambridge Springs drive-thru-only dinners offering baked or fried fish, baked potato, mac & cheese, green beans, coleslaw, dinner roll and cookie. $15. 814-734-3113
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church
March 14, 28 and April 11, 4-7 p.m., 1531 E. Grandview Blvd. Dine-in or takeout three-piece fish dinner or two-piece pierogi dinner or combination dinner with two fish and one pierogi, all including two sides, rolls, coffee and ice cream. Baked goods for sale. $15 for adults, $7 for children 6-12; younger than 6 is free. 814-825-7313, https://olmc-erie.org.
St. Luke Catholic Church
March 7, 14, 21, 28, 5 to 7 p.m.; 421 E. 38th St. Knights of Columbus dine-in or takeout fish dinner includes baked fish, pierogi and mac & cheese with French fries, green beans, coleslaw or applesauce, roll and butter, dessert and coffee, tea or milk; captains platter has fried shrimp added to fish dinner; shrimp basket has fried shrimp with French fries, coleslaw, dessert and coffee, tea or milk. $15 for adults, $7 for ages 12 and under for fish dinner; $17 for captain’s platter; $10 for shrimp basket. www.stlukeerie.org
St. Nicholas Orthodox Church
Take-out pasta dinner, Wednesday, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. 1123 East Ave. Includes Alfredo sauce or red sauce on penne pasta; salad with homemade dressing; and bread & butter $8. Eclair cake dessert available at $2 per piece. Also (Wednesdays) March 19, April 2 and April 16, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., takeout halushki cabbage and noodles $10 a quart. Place your order by calling the church. Order via Facebook Messenger or by calling the church at 814-453-4902. For more information, visit facebook.com/StNicholasErie
St. Paul’s Lutheran Church
Lenten Soup Supper & Table Talk, all Wednesdays in Lent, 6-7 p.m. 3108 Sterrettania Road. This year’s study is centered on Rick Warren’s book, “The Purpose Driven Life,” and also includes a children’s Lenten study for those in preschool through grade 3. Come as a family to the Soup Supper & then the children will enjoy their own study with our Children’s Ministry Director.
St. Stanislaus Catholic Church
March 7, 21 and April 4 and 18 (takeout only); 4-7 p.m. or until sold out; 513 E. 13th St. April 18 is takeout only. Features fish, pierogi, fries, potato salad, coleslaw and mac & cheese. $15 for adults, $6 for ages 6-12, free for ages 5 and younger. 814-452-6606, www.ststanserie.org
St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church
March 7, 14, 21, and 28, and April 4 and 11, 4:30-7 p.m.; St. Teresa Parish Center, Third Avenue, Union City. Dine-in or takeout dinner of baked or fried haddock; baked potato, French fries or mac & cheese; coleslaw or applesauce; dinner roll; dessert and beverage. $14 for adults; $6 for 12 and younger children’s meal of mac & cheese, French fries and applesauce; add $2 for fish sticks. Call for takeout. 814-438-2000, www.st-teresa-unioncity.org/Fish-Dinners.html
St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church
March 5, 14, 28 and April 11; 4:30-6:30 p.m.; St. Elizabeth Parish Center, 33 W. Pleasant St., Corry. Dine-in, takeout or delivery of beer-battered or crumb-topped baked Alaskan cod; baked potato, fries or mac & cheese; coleslaw or applesauce; bread; dessert; and beverage. Kids meal is fish sticks or beer-battered fish, choice of sides, dessert and beverage. $15 for adults, $7 for ages 6-12. Call for delivery. 814-664-9187, www.stthomastheapostle.church/lenten-fish-dinners
Wattsburg Hose Co.
All Fridays in Lent, 5-7 p.m. or until sold out; social hall, 9617 North St., Wattsburg. Dine-in or takeout dinner of haddock, potatoes, mac & cheese, veggie, coleslaw, dessert and drink. $14 for ages 12 and older, $7 for ages 4-11, free for younger. 814-739-9411, https://bit.ly/wattsburghosefish show less
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