“Lent, which will actually begin this coming Wednesday with Ash Wednesday, is a period of time of preparation for Easter,” said the Rev. Dennis Mende of Holy Apostles Parish. “Traditionally it is a time of fasting, of adding in extra prayer. Extra acts of prayer, of giving to people in need. Customarily during Lent, Fridays of the season are all meatless days, so the fish fry is a time to provide people with an opportunity for community, to get together and also to remember the meaning of the season and how it is we are preparing for Easter, which is the biggest celebration of the year.”

The tradition of hosting fish fries at St. John stretches back at least two decades.

“This fish fry here at St. John has been going on for many years,” Mende said. “I’ve been in Jamestown going on 21 years, and it predates my coming here. Basically a group of people from the parish decided to do something to bring people together. To bring the parish community together and to invite the larger community. That was the origin of this, which has grown over the years.”

Many members of the community gathered on Friday evening have started off the Lenten season the same way for all of those years.

“I’ve been coming for years and years,” said Gordon Buck of Kennedy.

To Buck, the goal is simple. “Community building,” he said.

Historically, many Christians celebrated Lent through fasting. More recently, observers have chosen to forgo some animal products in favor of fish or fowl.

Fish is served either broiled or fried alongside a choice of two sides, including golden-brown French fries, coleslaw, potato salad or applesauce. The church also offers meals that include fried shrimp, a combination of fish and shrimp or vegetable lasagna. For adults, a dinner costs $12, while a child’s dinner costs $10.

The dinners will continue every Friday throughout Lent except for Good Friday. The dinner lasts from 4:30-7 p.m. each week.

St. John’s is located at 270 Newton Ave. in Jamestown.