Going with the flow

Church ladies just know how to "go with the flow".

Despite a little scare the day before, St. Paul Catholic Church in Zumbrota pulled off its 21st Salad Luncheon, filling the reception hall with over 200 hungry locals on such a beautiful day outside, only church food like this redeemed their souls to go inside.

And it was here, the battle for keeping such luncheons for charitable organizations in the state began - and was won. Fundraising enthusiasts remember three years ago when Cathy Thiel and Pat Irrthum of Wanamingo, loyal members of St. Paul Catholic Church, jumped into action when a state health department inspector told them they could no longer hold the traditional church meal.

St. Paul's Catholic Church in Zumbrota.

Back then both the women - and countless others around the state - felt strongly church dinners should continue. You never know when a new roof, a mission project or charity may need the funds raised by such meals. The dustup over the food came after Goodhue County dropped its enforcement of state health laws and an inspector got tough on them.

Never tick off a church lady: as loving, mild-mannered, dedicated and hardworking as they are, they stand together in defense of their faith - and food. Over 400 signatures spurred the change and the rest is history. Church, sportsmen, fraternal and patriotic groups all over the state continue their fundraising food sales because of a little church with big hearts in Goodhue County.

So when their was a small gas leak from the church's kitchen stove the day before the luncheon, there was no need to worry. Quick action and contacting the proper experts made short order of the mishap and the volunteers quickly returned to fixing their goodies. Deadline was Wednesday, August 14, and they were easily ready for the 11 a.m. start.

The signup in the corner of the basement hall shows just how many people it takes to pull off this church festivity. If you don't sign up to bring food, you can donate money, donate time or help out making the fixin's. Over three days, over 40 different women help out to make this event such a success. And it allows local and national groups, plus church activities, get a little financial help because of their commitment.

Chairman Linda Kazmierczak organized the CCW group and was herself one of the busiest volunteers in the place. Active in this luncheon for four years, she easily rose to the challenge, albeit one that many have done for decades!

Loyal kitchen workers: Louise Gerken, Kathy Thiel,
 Barb Boraas, back row: Monica Capra, Linda Kazmierczk

"Many of the volunteers will tell you they look forward to every August, when this is done," said Linda. "Like any other church worker, your biggest fear is that you run out of food," she added, although it might be a group's biggest compliment. Louise Gerken's biggest fear might be what happened a few years ago - the coffee maker went down. "People don't get their coffee they aren't very happy," she smirked.

Tomorrow's church ladies: Emma Tschann, Rachel
Tschann, Maddie Lawler, Ashli Christopherson,
Carrie Befort all pitched in at the luncheon.

In this case, the food was just enough because of great planning and the coffee as delicious as only church ladies can make. Father Randal Kasel slid in amongst his followers, never missing a second of great conversation with church members. He even handed me a special prayer token and a hearty handshake and welcome. In his second year, he shares his faithful leadership with St. Michael's Catholic Church in Pine Island. And they have such a great website and while perusing their weekly bulletin, found the cutest and best idea in helping youth expand their faith: for the second year they have the "Little Flowers Girls", a class that teaches girls 5-16 about saints, virtues and other skills in a safe an welcoming environment. The girls earn badges while learning the virtues of piety, faith, love of God, obedience - and have fun at the same time. The class ends with a Mary crowning and mother-daughter tea. Kuddos!

After you received your meal ticket, you waited until you were told to take that stub and find a seat - leaving it as reserved. Then you came back and picked what side you wanted to fill your plate from, picking from 12 salads, including a meat/cheese tray, deviled eggs and homemade bread.

And a really clever idea - although I'm a big fan of desserts of all kinds, sometimes you don't do them justice because you are too full, or maybe you don't take that one scrumptious salad choice because you gotta have that piece of German chocolate cake. Well, at St. Pauls, their dessert was a Russell Stover chocolate, which was just enough to top off the meal. What is better than coffee and chocolate at the end of such a meal? And an added bonus not mentioned it had been done at other meals in my previous undertakings: diabetic and no-gluten salads as well.

Timothy Befort filled a plate of
chocolates and was rewarded
with a drink of lemonade for
all his hard work.

Because of lack of room in many cases, not all churches can have two serving lines. But I'm a big fan of it, probably dating back to three starving kids and trying to feed them fast enough not to inconvienence everyone else with they screaming or running under the table. In my case nowadays, I can hardly wait to try out all the great food. As most people realize, it seems like everyone else's salad, even though it might be the same one you make, just tastes better because we don't have to make it!

With Monday and Tuesday preparation days, volunteers bring in the food necessary to make the salads and Tuesday is make-em-up day. Linda, however, said that next year the church will be able to bring salads from home again as the law might become more lenient in its interpretation.

St. Paul's Catholic Church was around half a century before they secured land on South Main Street for their edifice. The cornerstone was laid in 1900 and the church became the seventh one built in Goodhue County at the time.

Amidst all the hustle and bustle from workers, the greatest quote came from 10-year-old Timothy Befort, who proudly helped little old ladies to their seat, grabbed dirty plates, filled coffee pots, etc. during his shift. His hard work sprouted sweat dripping down his face and the question to Linda, "Could I have a drink of lemonade since I'm working so hard?'

A small price to pay for a loyal - and future - parishioner!

Yummy Popcorn Salad
2 cups salad dressing
1/2 cup sugar
1 TBSP vinegar
2 cups chopped celery
2 small jars (8 oz) water chestnuts, sliced
1/2 cup crumbled bacon
1/2 cup chopped red onion
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Make 6-10 hours before serving. Add 6 ox. of popped white corn just before serving.

Spinach Salad for the Throngs
40 oz. spinach
4 bags romaine
12 red apples, diced
2 cans salted cashew halves
8 oz. shredded parmesan
8 oz. shredded swiss cheese
32 oz. craisins

Dressing:
3 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups vinegar
2 2/3 cups canola oil
3 bunches chopped green onions
1 TBSP salt
1 TBSP dry mustard
4 TBSP poppy seeds

Add dressing to mixture of ingredients, refrigerate an hour before serving.

Future food fun

Wed. August 28 - Garden Salad & Hotdish Luncheoon, St. John's Lutheran Church, Annandale, 11-1

Sat. Sept 1 - Aebelskiver Supper, Trinity Lutheran Church, Blooming Prairie, at BP Servicemen's Club, 4-7

Sat. Sept 28 - Pork Dinner, Pine River United Methodist, 4:30-7

Sat. Oct. 12 - Pine River Lutheran Church, First ever Lutefisk and Meatball Supper, 3:30 -7:30, downtown Pine River

Seconds are

 OK . . .

Somewhere in the depths of my brain was the idea that you just go through the church social line once, so make sure you pile up on the foods as much as you can. And, of course, the plates are always too small . . .

But at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Wells, they encourage you to take seconds - so I apologize to the hefty guy that went up for seconds before hostesses went around and suggested another trip. He was about to get a dirty look, and besides, who doesn't get enough on the first wave?

WELCA volunteers: back row: Gwen Peterson, Darlene Quade, Sue Seedorf, Marlene Kauffmann; front row: Diane Luedtke, Arlene Breitkrutz, Carol Jacobson.

If there awards given out from Church Cuisine of Minnesota, Good Shepherd may have received two Wednesday, July 23, at their Annual Salad Luncheon. They would top the list on friendliest people, as just about every worker came up and wondered who the stranger was that arrived 15 minutes early with a camera and notepad. And a new description was crowned best of show, when "creative stacking" was introduced as way to make room for more food. 

Gwen Peterson busy peddling lemonade.

"I wasn't supposed to chair today, but that's OK, I've done it enough that it runs itself," chuckled Diane Luedtke. The Wells church served over 110 people, filling to the brim in the 50-year-old church basement about halfway through the 1 1/2 hour meal. "We've done this for over 25 years," she added. "It's a good money-maker for us (WELCA members volunteer and coordinate the well-run machine.)"

Another bonus was the garlic toast to top off the salad selection tables, a first at any social for my taste buds. "We used to make them ourselves, and people still think we should, but it's just easier to get them from the grocery bakery." About 50 women donate salads, time and duties to pull off the yearly event. Altogether there were 45 salads, 11 large platters of bars, plenty of coffee and plenty of lemonade - as Gwen Peterson can attest.

"I'm not sure I'm peddling the lemonade very good," Gwen mentioned in her many trips to customer tables. "I'm not getting many people to pour for." It wasn't because of lack of effort or the flavor as my full glass lasted just 10 seconds as it was gulped down midway through the meal - just enough to catch my breath for the second half!

Earlier this year, in April, the church group was ready to have another luncheon. But as we all remember, mid-April brought over 1 1/2 feet of snow to some places in southern Minnesota. "We got together and prepared the Friday night before, thinking we could still have it," said Diane. "Well, I woke up around 6 a.m. and looked out the window and couldn't see two feet in front of me." The event was called off, but two hardy, dedicated souls who didn't get the news braved the weather and brought their salads to the church. "We finally got a hold of them and felt bad they made the trip when no one was there!"


This July feast had little extra food, but what was left was put in containers and taken down to the local senior-assisted facility to share with people there. Appreciative appetites didn't take long to dispose of those tasty dishes!

Diane runs a pretty tight ship, as the person in charge should with church eating events. "It was a hard sell for a few people," she explained. "Some of them don't like that I make them wear aprons at the funeral meals and wash their hands a lot. It took awhile for them to understand you can't bring your hankie, blow your nose and slip it under your watch to use later. I guess you can call me the taskmaster, but that's my job to make sure the meals are healthy ones."


Usually the money goes to Lutheran charities or missions, unless the church has a specific need to address. In the past roof and floor work needed some extra funds and the women's group gladly helped out. Two years ago they held their last meatball dinner to concentrate on salad luncheons, which are a little easier to manage. And a church-wide garage sale would be a welcome return, although that can take some time to pull off as well.

Good Shepherd has 1,100 members in the town of 2,443. At one time the luncheon was held in May, hoping to bring in more teachers, but when that didn't work out, they went for a July date. "I think it's so hot in July that people don't feel like cooking and can have a good meal in air-conditioning," added Diane. "We have a pretty good turnout in July."

The church opened in January 1963, brought together by two town Lutheran churches - one of German descent and one of Norwegian. Over the years 15 pastors have headed the church, with Pastor Kay Fullarton leading the congregation today. As any church, fellowship and sharing meals prompted an update in the kitchen in 1998 and a handicapped elevator in 2000. A library addition a year later. Change can be difficult, but Good Shepherd has taken its diverse congregation and created a sound, God-served church.

As people became more brave to sit at the 'stranger's table', my conversation veered towards my place of residence, Faribault. Happens to be two women at my table have daughters that live there, and I knew both of them. That's why every church social is so unique and special: people who love their church and community working toward a common goal, with hungry visitors from all around willing to get their fill on homemade cooking.

My social wanderings may be random, but never dull or boring. Never had a bad meal, bad conversation nor a bad drive - all because the likes of people at Good Shepherd and each church that undertakes volunteer meals such as these.

Small-town America still reigns in my world! Thanks for a wonderful experience Good Shepherd!

Diane's Hawaiian Chicken Salad

5 cups of cooked, cubed chicken
1 can pineapple chunks, drained
1 1/4 cups seedless green grapes, cut in 1/2
1 1/4 seedless red grapes, cut in 1/2
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
3/4 cup salted cashews
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup green onions chopped

Mix together in bowl. Combine dressing: 3/4 cup mayo, 3/4 cup yogurt, 2/3 tsp. salt. Pour over salad, stir and enjoy!

Four-bean Salad

1 can green beans
1 can yellow wax beans
1 can light kidney beans
1 can garbanzo beans
1 small, diced red onion
3/4 cup chopped green pepper
3/4 cup chopped celery
Drain beans and mix altogether.

Dressing - 1/2 cup vegetable oil, 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar, 3/4 cup sugar, 1 tsp. salt, 1/2 tsp. pepper. Mix together and add to salad. Refrigerate overnight.

Eggs-citing Waldorf meal

When a hungry person plans on going to a church social, their eyes are primed on the prized 'food of the day'. Thus, attending an ice cream social in the tiny town of Waldorf, one would suspect the cold delight would top off the tastebuds.

First Lutheran Church in Waldorf held it's annual community event June 30, but for me it wasn't the ice cream and ginormous selection of homemade pies that made me salivate, but the egg salad sandwich. So far, in all the church socials my mouth has experienced, no one has served such a sandwich.
On such a beautiful day, which we thankfully accept with open arms after the dreadful spring, church volunteers conjured up 12 different pies, potato salad, chips, coffee/juice, sloppy joes, fruit, baked beans, angel food cake and of course, ice cream.

Although the barbeque sloppy joes were good - I snagged a bite of my husband's - eating the egg salad sandwich brought back a lot of childhood memories of making them with my mom and making them for our 4-H ice cream socials. You just don't see egg salad sandwiches on menus anywhere anymore. There's not much to making them, but it must be the thoughts of yesteryear that made me grab one, that, and the fact that going against the norm is not alien in my life! 

Pastor Michael Mathews greets visitors

Two other things were special on the day: Pastor Michael Mathews meeting and greeting the guests as well as handing them a beautifully flowered tray and a smile to boot, somethings he's done for several years; and just the freshness of summer fruit in pies. The raspberry pie was superb and was too hard to pass up. It was hard to pass up the strawberries, but I had plenty of them waiting for me at home from my garden - the raspberries are a few weeks away!



So I didn't pass up the raspberry pie. Mmmm!

The social used to be held in the church basement but the lack of air conditioning and handicapped accessibility prompted a move to the community center on main street. The air conditioning was a nice rush to the open doors to the front of the building and the back of the building shared many proud community moments captured through school photos, local veteran awards and antiques collected and displayed with the the local ties in three huge display cases. Crocks, calendars, bank books, thermometers, and much more proudly showed the heritage of the town's businesses since the town was founded in 1908.

The Plum Valley Creamery opened first in 1898 near Waldorf, but it wasn't until businesses like Waldorf Hardware, Geo. Habeck Electric, The Corner Cafe, Waldorf Produce, Waldorf Gamble Store, Mark's Standard, that made the town open up for settlers. It still has a few businesses, but with Mankato  and Albert Lea nearby, it continues to be difficult to keep local businesses open.


It didn't take long to feed 100 people and when I left, it looked like they were going to break the 170 number or so they expected. In fact, later I found out 250 people lined up to eat, easily breaking previous high numbers!

Stan and Margie Sternyske of Good Thunder have made the trip to the ice cream social for many years and try out new desserts every year. That's a good idea - if you can remember the year before! Stan lamented about the little towns as well and as a construction business owner, he knows it's tough to keep the doors open. He and Margie make several area socials and enjoy each of them with their unique foods and community pride.

Thelma Schweer served drinks to thirsty patrons

Patty Flemming saved the day and researched the ice cream social, which began back in the 1940s. Delores Rosenau, Marilyn Gerdts, Margaret Ewert, Marie Tesch, Darlene Tesch, Thelma Schweer, Jeanette Bluhm and Grace Miller have bragging rights on working the most socials. Three ladies co-chaired the event this year and that changes each year. Volunteers sign up for the pies and cake and for eggs and potatoes for the potato salad and egg salad. Work groups are established to make the salads on Saturday morning at the church. Sunday morning they meet at the community center to make the sloppy joes and cut up the fruit. Food line and dishwashers have two splits each - it works flawlessly!


First Lutheran has just 207 members but about 50-75 volunteers generally do preparations for the social - which is great participation from a congregation. Proceeds earned go towards church improvement projects or a charity picked ahead of time.

In the past, it's rare, but pie has run out, "but no one goes away hungry," added Patty. "Leftovers are sold at the end of the evening. The menu hasn't changed much over the years except that fruit was added in recent years." 

Delores Rosenau is the oldest member and still is involved. Darlene Tesch shared a memory of a past ice cream social when it was held on the west side of the church. The dinner included use of the church glass plates and in a regular assembly line fashion, dirty dishes went through the window to be washed and brought back outside. The dish towels were hung on the clothesline to dry and reused when they were dry.

Lisa Traynor, Diane Bluhm, Jan Bluhm, Brenda Gerdts had the early
kitchen shift at the ice cream social.

The community center and it's huge area has allowed for more people to hang around and visit - which is what church socials are for. No need to hurry this day, as there was plenty of food, conversation, friends and full tummies that satisfied all that came.

Small town America does not disappoint if you give it a chance. Thanks for Waldorf's First Lutheran for a grand meal and experience!

Bonnie Truebenbach's Scrumptious Raspberry Pie

3/4 cup sugar
2 TBSP corn starch
3/4 cup water

Cook to thick and add a package of raspberry Jello. Stir and then add raspberries. Pour into a precooked pie shell and refrigerate until it is set.

More Summer Eat Events!

Thursday, July 11 - Rapidan Calvary Lutheran Church ice cream social, 6-8

Sunday, July 14 - Dale Lutheran Church, rural Kenyon, ice cream social, 5-7
     -St. John's UCC ice cream social, rural Faribault, 4-7

Wednesday, July 17 - Truman St. Paul's Lutheran Church Salad Luncheon, 11-1

Thursday, July 18 - St. Charles St. Matthew's Lutheran Church ice cream social, 5-8
     -St. Augustine's Church, Austin, Salad Luncheon, 11:30-1

Sunday, July 21 - St. Paul's Lutheran Church salad luncheon, Green Isle, 10:30-1

Sunday, July 28 - Wabasha United Church of Christ Summer Sensation Salad Luncheon, 11-1

Sacred luncheon

Donna and Dorothy Harguth get to relax at the luncheon nowadays.

The Harguth cousins by marriage - Donna and Dorothy - remember the days when 60 or so salads were made scratch from various members' homes for the Sacred Heart Catholic Church annual luncheon. They likened it to organized chaos trying to make sure salads stayed cold in the limited refrigeration space, finding a temporary resting spot for all the food plus keeping track whose bowls and spoons belonged to who.

Nowadays, they get to sit and enjoy eating portions of 13 salads if they want, as Deb Perrault and Pat Foley utilize Marya Eustice culinary schooling to feed the throngs of a hungry lunch crowd on Friday, June 8. Due to the state food safety law and the Catholic School's use of the church basement kitchen the Waseca Catholic Daughters group had to get schooled and get the appropriate permit to continue holding their yearly meal. The law, dubbed the "Church Lady Bill", was passed in 2011 and exempts faith-based groups from routine state health inspections at events where food is served to large groups. But it requires at least one volunteer who prepares food at that event to attend training and share what is learned with other church cooks.

An annual fall videoconference is held each year, courtesy of the University of Minnesota Extension and Minnesota Department of Health. It covers foodborne illness, personal hygience and hand-washing, storing and preparing foods safely and other health issues that may come up.

Although all church events must do so, the Waseca bunch took it a step further: they now purchase all the groceries to make 13 salads each year, and then prepare them in the basement kitchen the day before. Most churches still have volunteers bring a dish from home.

Waseca Sacred Heart Church ladies and leader:

 Melissa Gerdtz, Arlys Fell, Jenifer  Dvorak, Geri Kassel, Deb Wobschall, 

Bea O'Brien, Kris Butterfield, Carole Schumacher, Deb Perreult, 

Kit Haag, Caroline Condon, SueHarguth, Father Marty Schaefer.

"Honestly, I think it works better this way," said Deb. "Not that the old way was bad, but we just find it more organized and easier to handle less salads, and just make more of each." Each year they pick new recipes, gathered from their own church cookbook (published a few years ago), guaranteeing great food each year. Like the past, the food never runs out - just enough left over to take home.

This year, they had more people attend than ever, close to 200. The event has been held over 35 years - there's just something about church history ledgers that never keep track of their fundraisers, but each year they run without a hitch and raise valuable money for the congregation projects or charities!

Eileen Muler pays Pat Foley at the door.

When you first see Sacred Heart, it's spectacular block and brick edifice looks intimidating, but it's beauty brings you peace and contentment. It's first church building was built close to today's, back in 1874 facing south - the current one faces east. The parish was officially established in 1869 and in 1886 the Sisters of the Holy Child of Jesus of Philadelphia built a school across the street. Today's current building went up in 1899 for a cost of $20,000.

Although the school once held K-12, today it has preschool through fourth grade. A $1.2 million renovation took a year but was finished in 1999.

This year the luncheon fell on Sacred Heart of Jesus mass, a sacrament of anounting was held. Many left the 11 a.m. service and quickly got in line for lunch right afterwards.

"This was the first year doing this licensed," said Deb. "Pat, Geri (Kassel) and I spent about $300 in groceries, shopping carefully for the best deals to save as much as we can. Yesterday (Thursday) was had 10 women making salads and about 12 today (Friday) helping serve."

Pat has worked with the luncheon the past five years. Adorned with a hilarious t-shirt that says " You don't scare me I work at the School Cafeteria", she works the front table and greets people. "This group of ladies are a lot of fun to work with. I really enjoy working with them." Deb, on the other hand, has worked the luncheon 25 years.

Gloria Pommerenke has attended many a luncheon at Sacred. She and several friends find it a way to meet up, enjoy a meal and help out local causes. "They do a really good job," she said. "It's hard to pick which salad you want!"

Catholic Daughters at Sacred Heart have 176 members, and it's a group you must ask to join. The congregation has about 1,000 families, so only a select few decide that journey is very important in their lives. According to their website, the group is one of the oldest and largest organizations of Catholic women in the Americas. They donate to charities, administer scholarship programs and strive "to be helping hands where there is pain, poverty, sorrow or sickness. The motto is 'unity and charity'. It was formed over 100 years ago and numbers 75,000 members in 45 states.

Aside from this luncheon the local group is toying with the idea of bringing back the fall hotdish luncheon. For now they hand out gummi bears at church to raise money for Habitat for Humanity, have a soup luncheon and bake sale in December. Funds raised to to a variety of charities, local and nationwide.

The Harguth cousins remember telling the women of their group to bring a salad that would feed 10-12 people. "Well, some would bring different size bowls, and would we have enough room, it got to be quite a ordeal," said Donna. "It looks like they made it a lot easier now with the training." I'm sure they are modest in how well they ran the event in yesteryear!

The food still is as good as it's always been!

Yummy Recipes:

Taco Salad
1 head of lettuce, cut up
1 onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
2 tomatoes, chopped
1 lb. hamburger, browned and cooled
8 oz of cheddar cheese
1 bag of taco chips, crushed
1 bottle of Catalina dressing, mix with 1 cup salsa

A bag of taco seasoning is used in meat. Mix dressing just before eating. Add dressing and taco chips just before eating.

Popcorn Salad
2 cups mayonnaise
1 cup sugar
1 can water chestnuts
1 bunch green onions, chopped
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 lb. bacon, fried crisp
Popped popcorn, 2 bags microwave popcorn

Mix all ingredients together except popcorn. Add popcorn just before serving.

Broccoli Salad
5 cups broccoli
10 strips bacon (cooked until crisp)
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1/4 cup chopped red onion
1 cup mayonnaise
2 TBSP sugar
2 TBSP vinegar

Combine in large bowl. Chill 2 hours.

Upcoming Events:

-Tuesday, June 11 - Red Oak Grove Lutheran Church, Blooming Prairie, Strawberry 
   Festival, 4-7
     -Delano United Methodist Church, Delano, Salad Luncheon, 11-1

-Wednesday, June 12  - Faith Lutheran Church, Dodge Center, Salad Luncheon, 11-1
     -Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Salad Luncheon, Fergus Falls, 11-1

-Thursday, June 13 - Farmington Lutheran Church, Farmington, Salad Luncheon, 11-1

-Wednesday, June 19, Salem Lutheran Church, Montevideo, Ice Cream Social

-Thursday, June 20 -  Luverne ARC, Salad Luncheon, 11-1
     -Appleton Methodist Church, Appleton, Ice Cream Social, 3-7

-Friday, June 21, Vista Lutheran Church, rural New Richland, Ice Cream Social, 4:30-
   6:30

-Sunday, July 20 - St. Paul Lutheran Church Salad Luncheon, Green Isle, 10:30-1

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