Hamming it up in Goodhue

As hungry souls were lining up in the church basement, Council of Catholic Women (CCW) women were scrambling to find working outlets, as they temporarily lost power as the annual Ham Dinner was drawing in patrons in Goodhue's Holy Trinity Catholic Church.

Goodhue is a small, but vibrant community in Goodhue County, situated off Hwy. 58 in some of the best farm land in the state. It's obvious residents are proud of their rural heritage and enjoy their peaceful surroundings.

It was another reminder of the power of Mother Nature, as plows cleared driveways and roads drifted over outside after last Thursday's one-two punch of snow and wind. Although they never considered canceling the event, too many electrical cooking pots almost did them in!But in the end, another successful dinner was served to over 180 people, which included succulent scalloped potatoes with that ham, an assortment of salads and desserts - all handmade - and lots of smiles and helpful hands. Most remember the event has stayed pretty much the same over the 40-plus years, with maybe a slight change in the date due to wrestling tournaments at the local high school or working around President's Day.


"We might have mixed it up over the years and had chili and craft fairs, but we've decided the ham dinner brings in more people," said Judy Lodemeier, one of three chairpeople, with Terry Buck and Diane Opsahl. It was Judy locating alternate outlets to plug in crock pots of scalloped potatoes and warming ham, with a couple landing upstairs in a community room next to the altar.

Don's Grocery just off Hwy. 56 provides the ham and scalloped potatoes and most likely ingredients for most of the donated salads and desserts. It takes quite a few volunteers to cut up the 110 pounds of hams, 12 assorted desserts, 10 fruit salads and 12 salads. About 80 families make up the small church, located pretty much smack dab in the middle of town. Like any other structure in town on this Sunday, February 23, it's hard to manuever around the stockpiles of snow - some higher than 17 feet. It's not unusual to see mailboxes buried into snowbanks with only their front-opening doors visible. And just try meeting a car coming from the opposite direction in an alley - not a good idea. But it didn't hamper the opportunity for a warm meal and catchup time with friends and family in a church basement.

"They predicted the weather would be better by today,"Terry sighed with relief. Postponing would be tough to reschedule and what to do with all the food? Five years ago we got a lot of snow too, and we thought, 'Oh boy,' will anyone come? It probably was one of our more successful ones."

Amongst the hardy able-bodied customers, about 20 people ordered takeouts as well. Any extras are either divied up or people can buy at free-will prices as well. It's all well and interesting to sit snug in the basement eating, where glancing upward you can study the confirmation classes over the years make their individual mark on their church journey on ceiling tiles. (See picture below)

Terry has tried to modernized the CCW at Holy Trinity, hoping to get new faces to join in the volunteer events at the church. Sometimes it works, sometimes not, but all three chairmen keep trying. About 12 volunteer on the day, but 34 women donate food.

Terry Buck, Judy Lodermeier and Diane Opsahl
dish up leadership skills for the annual dinner.

In the fall, CCW hosts a "Wine, Women and Worship" to kick off the fall activities, something I thought very inventive - and fun. "We have a good time at our meetings and try to make it so people feel appreciated and not always put upon," said Terry. "We want to blend in new (people) with current members." Terry's been involved with CCW for over 33 years locally.

Judy usually heads the cooking part of the event, Terry does the calling and organizing and Diane backs her up. Between the three they keep volunteers on their toes, hoping all have a good time helping not only their church, but those who benefit from their donations from proceeds from the dinner. Some past organizations helped are the Women's Shelter in Red Wing, Hope Coalition, mission trip for local kids, quilting supplies for church women who sew for missions around the country, Appalachian Project, and many others. They also have a bake sale in December and keep their hands busy with other worthwhile projects locally.

Goodhue's Catholic church has a great history and someone who did extensive work to preserve it. Started relatively late for rural Minnesota churches, Goodhue probably had it's first service in someone's home, but it was mentioned in the history it was possible it could have been in a chicken coop. In 1903 they drew up their official orders. Their first 'meeting' was in 1906 in the first building, with the current church constructed in 1956.

Ceiling tiles completed by confirmation classes.

Today, they share Father Paul Kubista with St. Columbkill of Belle Creek and St. Mary's in Bellechester. In as much as things change, they also stay the same - one priest serving many rural communities as yesterday. This was a change made just last summer.

The website relays the history, "We can only imagine how difficult it must have been to serve such a large area in this period of no cars, trains or telephones. The pastor had no way of letting his parishioners know when he was coming; he tried to get to each parish once a month. St. Columkill's 129th anniversary book states, " How the word got passed around when Father arrived, we do not know, but one can on imagine that every household had someone keeping a close watch on the trail the priest would most likely to pass on foot or horseback."

As the winds continued to howl outside, warm bodies welcomed a home-cooked meal, sitting with their neighbor try and outdo them on storm stories. Understanding such weather instances is really quite simple, if you listen to reason: "God has quite a palette when you go out and look at the snow, it's drifts and how we all react to it," said Terry. "It is quite beautiful."

Judy doing cooking duty.

DIane's Glorified Rice

1 cup raw rice cooked and rinsed

1- 2 lb. can pinapple, drained

2 cans madarin oranges, drained

1 jar maraschino cherries drained and cut in half

Dressing:

3/4 cup pinapple juice

1/4 cup lemon juice

1 cup powdered sugar

2 tablespoons flour

2 eggs

Mix together and cook until thick, add 1 tablespoon butter

Mix the first four ingredients together, add dressing and refrigerate overnight.

Add 1 cup whipping cream whipped.

2 cups mini marshmallows

You may add grapes and bananas if you wish.