It doesn't get any better: Sacred Heart Church's chicken & dumpling dinner this Sunday is a real “family affair”

Celebrating families and families' traditions are very strong at Sacred Heart Parish, and the annual chicken & dumpling dinner on Sunday, Oct. 20, is truly a family affair. Not only do family members work on the numerous committees that kick into high gear in late August, but the recipes themselves are often family secrets.

According to the events coordinator, Linda Sherman, "Our dinner is more of a community event. We send tickets and notices to all the churches hoping they and their congregations will share a meal with us. We just try to bring the community together on a beautiful October Sunday and share our gratitude with food. We celebrate life and faith with good food, family and friends."

Good food is exactly what you will get with the family style dinner of the famous chicken and dumplings and delicious side-dishes of seasoned-just-right green beans, buttered corn, piled-high dishes of homemade slaw, bread and butter, and save room for the decadent desserts.

Dessert Committee chair Kelly Paxton says, "Yes, we're sweet on desserts. People remember the pie they ate at the fish fry and want one just like it. We'll try to find it and will pack an extra dessert to take home for just $2 extra." Edna Bailey who works with daughter Carol Collins says, "We usually know who will bring and bake what-all delicious family recipes passed down from generation to generation. We like to wow people and give very generous pieces."

Liz Wynn who plans each year the amount of chicken thighs and legs (because they make the richest broth) says this year she has purchased in advance 300 pounds of chicken. 'In our family we always use the same flavoring that I use here at Sacred Heart which is simply: celery, onion, parsley, salt and pepper…" how much of each? "Until the flavor is right… Our meal is comfort food, made and served by parishioners, their children and grandchildren to keep the tradition alive."

Suzanne Majewski gets her notebook out from previous years to see just how much she needs to purchase of flour, eggs, milk and lard… lots of rich lard. " We don't want to run out of dumplings! Our meal isn't gourmet; it's the classic favorites from the chicken and dumplings to the perfect pie crust served with the heaping scoop of Cedar Crest Ice Cream donated by parishioner Bob Bytnar. It just doesn't get any better than that!"

You can buy your tickets at the door or from parishioners for this Oct. 20 event with serving from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tickets are adults, $9; Children 6-10, $5; Children under 5 are free. Carry out dinners are available at the front door of Haffner Hall. No call in orders or container sales. Mass at Sacred Heart Church on Oct. 20 will be at 10 am.

Parishioners are anxious to welcome and introduce to the community their new priest, Father Joseph Oganda, who will be assisting "wherever they need me."