St. Irenaeus in Oakmont offering more than some fish fries during the pandemic

Fish fry organizers at St. Irenaeus Catholic Church in Oakmont credit their volunteers for being able to offer a pre-covid menu and streamlined operations during the pandemic Lenten season.

“We’re able to do this due to the time and dedication of the volunteers,” said event co-chair Caryn Cebulak. “People taking off their regular work to come on Fridays to help with the fish fry. We just train them as they come in. They are all parishioners. Kids do it for service hours.”

About 25 parishioners at the Maryland Avenue church, including several teens, work together taking orders in the parking lot or over the phone, packaging meals and ensuring patrons stay socially distant.

There is no indoor dining. All volunteers wear masks and food packagers wear gloves.

St. Irenaeus is one of four churches in Holy Family Parish offering fish fries this year.

The others are St. Joseph Catholic Church in Verona, and St. John the Baptist and Our Lady of Joy in Plum. All are takeout only.

While some fish fry places are only offering fish dinners with fries due to covid restrictions and possible reduction in volunteers, Cebulak said her group is able to offer a full menu including three fish entrees, tuna croissants, mac and cheese, baked potato and haluski.

Sunfresh Food Service of Pittsburgh provides salads, coleslaw and other produce.

That is helping with repeat business as about a hundred or more flock each week to the church parking lot in search of a hot meal.

“We offer more,” Cebulak said about the menu. “There’s a little bit of decrease (in participation due to pandemic restrictions). It’s still too early because every week we’ve done better. It’s not as much as when we offered dine-in and carryout, but it’s getting better every week.”

The Rev. George Dalton said Cebulak and fellow co-chair Barb Moore have done an excellent job in leading the operation, especially under the circumstances.

“It’s different,” Dalton said. “Under normal circumstances people would dine in. Usually we’d have about 200 people seated in there.

“The menu’s a little bit different, but there’s a steady stream of people supporting the church and allowing us to feed them. It’s been very (rewarding). We all work together.”

There is a tent in the parking lot for volunteers to help take orders. Patrons can also go inside or call 412-828-9846. People who enter the church must wear a mask.