A couple of Fridays ago, I went in search of fish. Not the kind you catch, well, I guess in a sense you catch it, but the kind that's all battered up and ready to serve. I don't cook, we all know this, so I was checking out the various restaurant drive-thrus and they were busy, busy. So I gave up, but then I remembered all the church fish fries during Lent and I'm ready to cast my line again.

HOW DID THE FISH FRY START?

You could throw in your own punchline, but the season of Lent is the one occasion closely associated with the fish fry. It's all about giving up meat, including chicken, and dairy on Fridays during the Lenten season, which this year will extend to April 8th, followed by Good Friday on the 15th.

Fish fries are most common in the Midwest and Northeast regions of the U.S. Not surprising, as in the northeast, they live off the sea, catch it and eat it. And did you know the McDonald's Filet-O-Fish sandwich happened because a Cincinnati franchise-owner was having trouble selling burgers during Lent? It's a regular menu item now, but sales of the sandwich jump during the Lenten season.

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What's great about a fish fry is you can connect with your community and you don't have to be Catholic to do so. Fish fries are a seminal form of fellowship that after two years of scaling (no pun intended) back the camaraderie due to the pandemic is more welcome than ever.

All right, now I'm hungry. Here are all the fish fries in the Owensboro Diocese area:

Blessed Sacrament Chapel, Owensboro
Address: 602 Sycamore St, Owensboro
Format: Drive-thru only
Dates:  April 8
Serving time: 5-7 p.m.
Contact: Sr. Jeannette Fennewald, SSND, at (270) 926-4741

Christ the King Parish, Madisonville
Address: 1600 Kingsway Dr., Madisonville (in the parish hall)
Format: Dine-in
Dates: March 18, 25; April 1, 8
Serving time: 5:30-7 p.m.
Contact: (270) 821-5494

Holy Name of Jesus School, Henderson
Address: 628 2nd St., Henderson; serving in school cafeteria or drive-thru at school parking lot
Format: Dine-in, with option to do drive-thru only depending on COVID-19 situation (updates will be in parish bulletin, social media and websites)
Dates: March 18, 25; April 1 (tentative due to spring break)
Serving time: 5:30-7 p.m.
Contact: Aaron Hauser at (270) 748-0325

Holy Spirit Parish, Bowling Green
Address: 4754 Smallhouse Rd., Bowling Green
Format: Dine-in and carryout will be available
Dates: March 18, 25; April 1, 11
Serving time: 4:30-7:30 p.m.
Contact: Parish office at (270) 842-7777

Knights of Columbus Holy Rosary Council 1055
Address: 3028 Jefferson Street, Paducah
Format: Drive-thru only
Dates: March 18, 25; April 1, 8
Serving time: 4-7 p.m.
Contact: (270) 443-3480

Mary Carrico Catholic School, Philpot
Address: 9546 Hwy. 144, Philpot (school gym)
Format: Dine-in and carryout
Dates: March 18, 25
Serving time: 4:30-6 p.m.
Contact: Parish office at (270) 281-4802 

Our Lady of Lourdes Knights of Columbus, Owensboro
Address: 4029 Frederica St., Owensboro
Format: Dine-in, carryout, and drive-thru may be available (would not include drink or dessert)
Dates: March 18, 25; April 1, 8
Serving time: 5 p.m.
Contact: (270) 684-5369

Precious Blood Parish, Owensboro
Address: 3306 Fenmore St., Owensboro
Format: Drive-thru only
Dates: March 18, 25; April 1, 8
Serving time: 5-6:30 p.m.
Contact: (270) 684-6888

St. Ann Parish, Morganfield
Address: 304 Church St., Morganfield
Format: Dine-in and carryout
Dates: March 18; April 1
Serving time: 5 p.m.
Contact: (270) 389-2287

St. Columba Parish, Lewisport
Address: 815 Pell St., Lewisport
Format: Drive-thru and dine-in
Dates: March 18, 25; April 1, 8
Serving time: 4-7 p.m.
Contact: (270) 927-8419

St. John the Evangelist Knights of Columbus
Address: 6705 Old US Hwy. 45 S, Paducah
Format: Drive-thru only
Dates: March 18, 25; April 1, 8
Serving time: 4-7 p.m.
Contact: Paul Roof at (270) 556-3678

St. Peter of Alcantara Parish, Stanley
Address: 81 Church St., Owensboro
Format: Dine-in or carryout
Dates: March 18, 25; April 1, 8
Serving time: 5:50 p.m.
Contact: Parish office at (270) 764-1983

St. Pius X Parish, Calvert City
Address: 777 E. 5th Ave, Calvert City
Format: Carryout only
Dates: March 18, 25; April 1, 8
Serving time: 5-7 pm.
Contact: (270) 395-5747 (call in to order, or walk in and order)

Whitesville Lions Club, Whitesville
Address: Whitesville Senior Citizen Center, 10345 Hwy. 54, Whitesville
Format: Dine-in and to-go orders available
Dates: March 18, 25; April 1, 8, 15
Serving time: Begins 5 p.m.
Contact: (270) 233-4332 (for to-go orders)

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