Central Ohio Churches Kick Off Lent With Massive Fish Fry Friday
Updated (2 articles)
First‑Friday Fish Fry Draws Hundreds in New Albany Volunteers at the Church of the Resurrection opened the Lent season on Friday, Feb. 20, serving roughly 800 lb of Alaskan pollock and feeding between 800 and 1,000 people [1]. Grand Knight Sean Morrissey explained the Friday meat‑free tradition as a sacrifice for the Lenten period [1]. The event offered lunch, dinner, and a drive‑through option, with plans to repeat the format for six Fridays, excluding Good Friday [1].
Schedule Extends Through March 27 Across Central Ohio The Catholic Times published a comprehensive list of fish‑fry locations and times spanning Feb. 20 to Mar. 27, covering parishes in Columbus, Powell, Hilliard, Worthington, New Albany, Gahanna, Reynoldsburg, Lancaster, and other communities [2]. Most events occur on Fridays between 4:30 p.m. and 8 p.m., supplemented by pasta dinners, soup suppers, and Stations of the Cross on other days [2]. The schedule highlights affordable, family‑friendly meals throughout the six‑week Lenten season [2].
Lent Practices Emphasize Meat‑Free Fridays and Symbolic Traditions Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and lasts about six weeks, ending on Holy Saturday, during which many denominations abstain from meat on Fridays [2]. Violet is the official color of the season, and Fat Tuesday marks the final indulgent feast before fasting begins [2]. The practice traces its origins to the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD and is observed by Catholic, Orthodox, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Anglican churches [2].
Volunteer and Youth Participation Highlight Community Focus Long‑time volunteer Yvette Pederson stressed the event’s social and family‑fun aspects, while 12‑year‑old Macie Morrissey described her role flipping fish [1]. Dozens of central Ohio churches host similar fish‑fry events, with schedules posted online for broader community access [1]. The collective effort underscores the role of parish volunteers in sustaining the Lenten tradition [1].
Sources
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1.
WBNS: Central Ohio Churches Begin Lent with Friday Fish Fry Events: Details the inaugural fish fry in New Albany, 800 lb of pollock served, volunteer involvement, and community emphasis .
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2.
WBNS: Central Ohio Churches Publish 2026 Lent Fish Fry Schedule: Provides the full Lent‑season schedule, lists participating parishes, explains Lent’s historical roots, and notes symbolic elements like violet and Fat Tuesday .
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Timeline
325 AD – The Council of Nicaea establishes the practice of observing Lent, laying the foundation for the 40‑day sacrifice period adopted by many Christian denominations today [2].
Feb 10, 2026 – Fat Tuesday marks the final day of indulgent meals before the Lenten fast, and violet becomes the season’s official color as churches prepare for the upcoming period of sacrifice [2].
Feb 11, 2026 – Ash Wednesday launches the six‑week Lenten season, prompting Catholics and other Christians to begin abstaining from meat on Fridays and to focus on prayer and sacrifice [2].
Feb 20, 2026 – The Catholic Times publishes the 2026 central Ohio Lent fish‑fry schedule, listing 30+ parish events from Feb 20 through Mar 27, including Friday evening fish fries, weekend pasta dinners, soup suppers, and Stations of the Cross across Columbus, Powell, Hilliard, Worthington, New Albany and surrounding towns [2].
Feb 20, 2026 – Volunteers at the Church of the Resurrection in New Albany kick off the first Friday Lent fish fry, preparing roughly 800 lb of Alaskan pollock and serving up to 1,000 community members through lunch, dinner and a drive‑through option [1].
Feb 20, 2026 – Sean Morrissey, grand knight of the parish Knights of Columbus, explains that the fish fry “takes sacrifices” during Lent, emphasizing the spiritual purpose behind the communal meal [1].
Feb 20, 2026 – Long‑time volunteer Yvette Pederson stresses that the fish fry “brings families together for fun and fellowship,” highlighting the event’s role in community building [1].
Feb 20, 2026 – 12‑year‑old Macie Morrissey describes her role flipping fish, noting that “it’s hard work but we love doing it for everyone,” illustrating youth participation in the tradition [1].
Feb 20 – Mar 20, 2026 – Central Ohio parishes host weekly Friday fish fries each evening from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., consistently preparing about 800 lb of pollock and feeding 800‑1,000 attendees, while offering drive‑through service for most Lenten Fridays except Good Friday [1][2].
Mar 27, 2026 – Good Friday arrives; the scheduled fish‑fry series pauses for the solemn observance, marking the climax of Lent before Holy Saturday concludes the season [2].
Mar 29, 2026 – Easter Sunday follows Holy Saturday, ending the Lenten period and concluding the series of community meals that began with the Feb 20 fish fry [2].