It's the beans at the fish fry

A mural downtown shows the town's pride.

What would a Friday night fish fry be without baked beans? And you haven't had any better baked beans than Father Randal Kasel's baked beans at Church of St. Michael in Pine Island.

For secret's sake, let's just say his concoction of vegetarian beans, molasses, onions, bacon (yes, bacon during lent) had many tongues wagging on how good they were. In it's third year, the Men's Club of the Church have put on a very successful all-you-can-eat fish fry, making enough money for a fryer, commercial dishwasher and eyes on a resurfaced parking lot out back for the future.

Father Randal Kasel started up the
Men's Club and fish fry three years ago.

It's the first all-men meal I've gone to in the two years attending church dinners, and the food, service and smiles are no different. OK, they had a couple wives make some desserts, otherwise the rest of the work they performed themselves. It takes about 50 men in two shifts the night of the fry, which is served every Friday night during lent except Good Friday. Over 250 people have filled the church community room each night, with it's big open windows lighting up the cold spring sky while the warm, aromatic food inside keeps all happy and full.

"There wasn't a men's club when I got here and I knew we had enough faithful, hardworking gentlemen to form one, so we did," explained Father Kasel, who not only visited extensively with guests, but helped serve and clean up - not a familiar sight in many church dinners. Apparently all they needed was a leader and with the priest's guidance, they put together a top-ranked church fish fry.

Kevin Kann, Willie Rauen and Dave Boser served up
the delicious food.

Along with the fantastic baked beans were fried cod, seasoned red potatoes, coleslaw, bread, dessert and choice of drink. And the potatoes were an added surprise with their tastiness. It would seem that at least in this church, the men were holding out on their cooking skills until church!

It takes about 750 pieces of fish for each Friday serving, along with 100 pounds of potatoes cut and cooked in olive oil and seasoning. The coleslaw is also made from scratch, starting that very day with food preparation. Not much food is left over, especially since they added a second food station for those just wanting seconds. It makes the first line go faster and keeps the second trip away from the original traffic.

Deacon Newell McGee, John Archer, Brian Murray,
Vince Fangman and Tom Heise were part of the
kitchen help on the night.

Gary Rehling has been a longtime St. Michael parishioner, who has enjoyed the addition of the men's club. He worked where he was needed on the night. THe Men's Club meets once a month unless a special project comes up, and have gotten to know only their minister better, but people they have known but maybe not socialized with much in the past. 

Vince Fangman is one of the leaders of the fish fry, and also praises Father Kasel's leadership. "We definitely are much more organized as a group and get more out of our meetings. I have really enjoyed it and learned a lot."

Church of St. Michael and Church of St. Paul in Zumbrota are a shared partnership with Father Kasel. I first met Father at St. Paul's salad luncheon last summer and was impressed by his positive, loving attitude. It's not often a minister makes sure he talks to as many people in attendance at church dinners, making them feel at home. It's easy to believe his parishioners have learned much from his faithful and friendly disposition.

Located in the south central part of Pine Island, the church is close to its original building - which was also built in the center in 1878. But it almost was build near the present cemetery, but after much discussion the charter members decided it would benefit more to be built in the town proper. On July 4, 1878 the cornerstone was laid, and in 1969 a groundbreaking ceremony opened the current church on Fifth Street. The old church was demolished in November 1970. And in 2004 they celebrated their 125th anniversary.

The church congregation has remained constant in numbers with 270 households. It's beautiful limestone exterior and the foundation placement on a hill, makes it a special edifice in the town of 3,600 people.

"We have really enjoyed our chance to contribute to the church with this fundraiser, as well an opportunity to meet people we don't know as well," said Vince. "All those involved had done a great job."



Upcoming dinners:

*April 4, St. Paul's Lutheran Church Salad Luncheon, Plato, 11-1

*April 6, Meatball Dinner, Peterson Highland Prairie Lutheran Church, 11-1

*April 9 - Hector United Methodist Church,  Soup/Salad Lunch, 11-1

Signs of the times

As I await for another church social to attend next week, I come across two that I have been to in the past that will no longer be held.


Signs of the times, I guess.


Hegre Lutheran Church, located between Kenyon and West Concord on Hwy. 56 in southern Minnesota, will no longer be having it's Salad Luncheon, held in June. After talking with a friend of mine, whose husband is the interim pastor there, it has been decided by higher-ups that the church will combine with another local church and forever cancel that fundraiser.


The other one is the Swissfest, held at Zwingli United Church of Christ in Berne, found between Pine Island and West Concord, for 59 years. They have decided it was too big for it's 125 members to handle - and too expensive. They will instead hold weekly events at the church.


The two-day festival featured dancing, yodeling, Swiss food and Swiss craft demonstrations. It attracted thousands of guests in its heyday, but now, with the dwindling number of Swiss farmers in the area it has caused financial stress on the little church.


Apparently the little church still needs financial support to stay open as it is struggling to survive. Now they will be building a wood-fire pizza oven and changing over the stage and garage to serve the food. This will allow them to feature weekly Tuesday pizza and entertainment, starting in August and hopefully, regularly next year.


Can you image a small church like this handling 22 tour buses at their annual fundraiser? That's what Zwingli did - and for almost six decades. That is quite an accomplishment.


Remember, the purpose of this blog is to bring to the forefront the wonderful tastes, offering and  heritages of churches around the state of Minnesota. Isn't it sad that slowly, one by one, church socials like these are falling by the wayside. Despite the fact that Zwingli apparently made $5,000 on it's wonderful Swissfest last year, putting money upfront for entertainment - rain or shine - cuts into anyone's budget. Too much risk, too little help and money.


Next week I will be attending Red Oak Grove Lutheran Church's Strawberry Festival, held Tuesday, June 12 from 4-6, one of many such 'red fruit' socials on the horizon. Attend your favorite one and add another to your list! Keep them going - it's all our heritages we celebrate at these church functions!


Also up is Moland Lutheran Church's Strawberry Festival, Sunday 24, located southwest of Kenyon from 11 to 5. Yum Yum!!!


United Church of Christ Strawberry Festival, Cottage Grove, Sunday, June 17 10-4


And, another that I learned about - Memorial Lutheran Church of Afton, 129th annual Strawberry Festival, Saturday, June 18, from 4 to 7 at the church. It is located on Hwy. 18  west of downtown Afton at 15730 South Afton Blvd, for those GPS punchers.


The festival started out as a potluck in 1883 and grew to be a community affair and reunion for many who attend, and ha always featured strawberries because they were among the primary crops in the area.


Trinity Lutheran Church Rhubarb Festival, Tuesday, June 14, 205 South Broadway, Crookston, featuring turkey salad, rhubarb salad, rhubarb desserts.


CHUM - Churches United in Ministry of Duluth - Rhubarb Fest Sat. June 23 at 102 W. Second Street Duluth.


St. Isidore's Catholic Church in Sturgeon Lake is holding a Polish dinner from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sunday, June 10.


St. Martin's Lutheran Church, Winona, 22nd annual Strawberry Festival, June 10 in Sinclair Park, at 328 East Broadway. There will be chicken or rib dinners.