Oakmont church serves tradition, life lessons for youths with fish fry

Lenten fish fries provide more than just food and drink for supporters of local churches and fire departments.

They also give an opportunity for young people to learn about traditions and serve their community, and such is the case at Holy Family Parish’s St. Irenaeus Catholic Church in Oakmont.

Several teens from nearby schools take orders, prepare and serve meals, restock items and clean at the church hall along Maryland Avenue.

“I just wanted to help out the community and help out the amazing people that work here,” said Sophia Gagetta, 13, of Oakmont at the March 10 dinner. “More kids should do this because not only is this a great thing to do, it also could help out with service hours when you’re in high school. The other volunteers are very nice. A lot of people are very hardworking and kind.”

Service also counts toward confirmation for eighth-graders like Sophia and fellow Oakmonter Mary Quinlan, 13. Both attend nearby Riverview Junior-Senior High School.

Confirmation is a Sacrament in the Catholic Church in which an individual receives the gifts of the Holy Spirit through the imposition of hand and anointing with oils.

Parishioner Karen Molitierno, a retired flight attendant from Washington, D.C., made Kahlua cake and worked with Mary at the fish fry bake sale.

“It’s a great way for them to learn and give back and appreciate all they have,” Molitierno said.

Hundreds of people are served at St. Irenaeus on Fridays for lunch and dinner.

Fish fry co-coordinator Caryn Cebulak said having the young volunteers help out is a blessing to the other parishioners in the kitchen and at the tables.

“It’s tremendous,” she said. “They jump in wherever needed, no questions asked. They’re wonderful.”

The event attracts quite the crowd.

“We are filling up constantly. We have lines out the door before 4 p.m. We have a constant turnover of dine-ins,” Cebulak said. “It’s communal. It is a fundraiser. It’s tradition of Western Pennsylvania and even into Ohio, fish fries. People wait in line just to come in and have it.

“I think it gives people a sense of community, seeing volunteers doing this as opposed to a restaurant.”

Volunteers eat together at the end of the day and discuss ways to improve operations. There was no set fundraising goal for this season.

Riverview junior Bella Nolan, 17, of Oakmont assists at multiple stations. She also is a member of the church.

“I’ve been doing it for a few years,” she said. “I like doing it because it’s nice. I had always come to (the fish fry) when they had them when I was younger. It’s nostalgic to see everyone working.”

She mainly works with ensuring that the salad bar is sufficiently stocked.

“I just help wherever I’m needed. It’s nice to see everybody in here, and there are a bunch of take-outs. Every time we have it, it gets busier and busier,” Bella said. “You’re interacting with other people. You’re learning how to take responsibility. You’re helping people.”

St. Irenaeus serves baked and Budweiser-battered fried fish dinners with two sides. Sides include homemade haluski, coleslaw, macaroni and cheese, fries, baked potato, onion rings and pierogies.

It also offers different specialty items each week including crab patty sandwiches, cod fish tacos and potato soup. Drinks are free.

St. Irenaeus will not have a fish fry on Good Friday. Its last meals will be served March 31.

Other churches in Holy Family Parish, such as Our Lady of Joy in Plum and St. Joseph Church in Verona, will be open from 4 to 7 p.m. on Good Friday.