Finally the sun - St. Henry's style

A leisurely drive in south central Minnesota on one of the first 'nice' days of 2013 was a treat as St. Henry's Catholic Church held its annual Salad Luncheon amongst the tweeting birds, calm countryside and warming sunshine.

Last year as I attended a salad luncheon in LeCenter a woman asked me if I had been to St. Henry's luncheon and when she found out I hadn't she highly recommended it. Well, that was almost a year ago and the country church already held theirs, so a full 11 months would have to go by to taste their delectable treasures.

An almost record number of people filled the small community room across from the church proper - because of the food and the fact the sun came out to warm up a disappointing spring season. Joan Traxler, chairman of the event, was happy with the turnout, "It went wonderful, such a great crowd. We were very, very pleased - about 150 attended." In case that doesn't sound like a huge number, this rural church on a Wednesday in April usually draws 35 families to Sunday church. "I think the weather did us a huge favor - no snow and sun!"

The little church on the hill celebrated a 150 years of worship in 2009. It's layout includes the church and cemetery on one side of the paved road and the playground, ball field and community room on the other side. Joan chaired this year's event but each new luncheon rotates the vice chair to the top notch next year, so Laurie Schotz will be continuing a tradition held for over 40 years.

As volunteer numbers dwindle, the men have helped pick up the slack, plus dedicated younger members are now stepping forward. Good thing, because great food, atmosphere and friendly smiles should be part of everyone's schedule as often as they can get it!

Back row: Laurie Schotz, Sandy Gernsheid, Cindy Widmer, Gay Surano,
Joan Traxler; front row: Sharon Riebel, Lucy Helfter, Dolores Wieland,
Megan Holychy

"I think we were one of the first parishes in this neck of the woods that started up a luncheon," Joan recalled. "Then others joined in." About 15 volunteers share the work, including Sharon Riebel, who when she spoke to me, caused us both to speculate where we had met before. She was performing her hostess duties and making sure everyone had what they needed when she asked me - we realized three years ago I bought a golden retriever from her Island Golden Farms nearby. My dog Millie would have loved to come, more to meet everyone than the food, but it constantly impresses me how small the world is when you get out and experience it!

Theresa Widmer and Sharon Traxler welcome Elaine
Willette to the luncheon.

The church's altar society has a bake sale and raffle in the fall and the men just hosted their annual Irish Stew in March. Joan shares feelings all church volunteers (and any in general) about planning a yearly event, "the anticipation is the most stressful, when you get going it runs smoothly." That simplifies what takes years of experience in the top spot to coordinate, but nary a church event has disappointed me yet in performance.

St. Henry is a entity located just off Hwy. 112 between LeSueur and LeCenter. One would suppose it was a bigger town in bygone years, but for now the church property functions as top dog. In protocol established years ago, tables flanked by the wall are broken up by a long row of tables combined for the 'regulars'. The community room is a quaint little facility with memories nailed on the wall. A particular one caught my eye and after investigation, found out this posting was the list of families and what they would bring to the annual picnic many years ago.

Yesteryear's festival signup sheet 

It was humorous to see the family listed by the male head, but the women brought the food and performed the manual labor! Items such as 12 quarts of potatoes, one gallon of carrots, 1/2 bushel of tomatoes, two pounds of butter, a pound of coffee, jelly, pickles, six pies were amongst the sign up items to bring for preparation - then a list of duties that needed to be filled. And besides that, most families chipped in $5- $15 each to pull off this shindig.

At the 11 a.m. start almost 45 people were lined up ready to fill their plates full of an assortment of pastas, salads, casseroles, deviled eggs, desserts, lemonade or coffee. It never ceases to amaze me how when I go through the line how difficult it is to pick what to eat (I usually take a little everything) and when I tour the luncheon area for pictures and interviews, the food has quickly changed to more time-tested recipes! Not fair! I want to go through twice -which would mean I would have to double the size of my stomach. I'm thinking that five minutes after everyone sits down a whistle blows and everyone  rotates their plate to the right to try your neighbor's choice of food. If there's any left!

Pickled carrots were a treat as were the chocolate candy kisses sprinkled amongst a vegetable tray. The daisies and mums that decorated the tables teased us into thinking spring was coming soon. Even a box elder bug managed to join the crowd, but I quickly plucked him off a woman in front of me and deposited him into the wide blue yonder. All the food disappeared as it has every year - that's because of Joan's leadership and great volunteer corp.

St. Henry's founding goes back to when Minnesota was a territory. In 1852 a little group of eight families came from Switzerland to the 'big woods' of south-central Minnesota. These people became the first Romancha settlement in America, actually speaking Roman. That group eventually held a meeting years later to build their church and during the remainder of the winter the ring of axes felling and hewing native oak could be hurt. A 18'x28' log chapel was built in 1859. Eventually a bigger church was built two more times. The church flourished with 85 families in its heyday. Thanks to Joan for getting me this information, described in the booklet as proud a parishioner could be. And lo and behold, the church festival attendances drew 700 people in the 1930s & 1940s.  At one time a banner stretched across CR 112 to announce the festival for all to attend.

Yesterday's restrooms

Who knows how long little country church's like St. Henry's will last, with dwindling numbers and rising exoduses to the larger cities. Right now the church shares Father Chris Shofner with St. Mary's in LeCenter, but someone like me who loves traveling through the countryside for that church gem in the valley or on the hill, let's hope dedicated congregations find a way to stay open.

St. Henry's Catholic Church - definitely a jewel amongst jewels!

St. Henry recipes - thanks Joan!

Jayne Gehrke's Calico Party Beans
Fry 1/2 lb. bacon, chopped
1-3 lbs. of ground beef
1 cup diced onions
1 cup celery (optional)
Drain: Add
2 TBSP mustard
1/2 - 1 cup brown sugar
1 TBSP vinegar
1/ cup ketchup
1 can tomato soup or tomato paste
1 can easy of your choice of beans, drain them (baked beans, northern beans, butter beans, kidney beans, chili beans, lima beans, green beans, or wax beans

Combine all in roaster and bake 350 degrees for about an hour. Or in crockpot (longer time).

Lucy Helfter's Chinese Casserole
1 1/2 pound ground beef
1 cup of chopped celery
1/2 cup onion
1/2 green pepper

Brown all the above and put into casserole. Sprinkle in 1/2 cup rice. Add one large can oriental vegetables - drained, one can cream of mushroom soup, 2 cups liquid beef broth, 2 TBSP soy sauce.

Mix altogether and our over meat and rice mixture. Bake two hours at 250 degrees. Just before done sprinkle with chow mein noodles.

Joan Traxler's Wild Rice Beef Salad
3-4 pounds beef roast - crock pot or oven roasted. Save broth. Shred or cube beef and set aside and add to the following:
1 1/2 cups uncooked wild rice. Cook 45-60 minutes and cool.

Add the following:
1 cup celery sliced thin
1 cup green peppers, diced
1 medium onion
2 TBSP sweet pickle relish
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup salad dressing
salt and pepper to taste
Add 2-3 cups green grapes and some broth. Toss and blend together.

Upcoming Events:

Saturday, May 4 
     *Brownsdale United Methodist Church, BBQ Riblet Luncheon, 9-1 with bake sale and rummage sale
     *St. John's Lutheran Salad Luncheon & Bake Sale, New Germany, 11-1