LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- As the Lenten season begins, Catholic parishes across Louisville are hosting fish fries, bringing people together for food, fellowship and fundraising.

Each parish puts its own spin on the traditional meal, offering a variety of fish and sides. But no matter the menu, the common thread across all these events is the sense of community.

"It does bring all of us together, and we know what we're doing is good for the community," said Carol Mattingly, who serves at Holy Family Parish on Poplar Level Road in Louisville.

For many, the fish fries are a reunion.

"We're all family, and the guys who already left are from grade school at Guardian Angels, and we all just meet here," said Jeannie Thompson, who attended a recent event.

And for some, the appeal is as simple as the food itself.

"Keeps me coming back," Thompson added.

At Holy Family Parish, volunteers prepare large quantities of food to meet demand.

"We've got 1,000 pounds of fish thawed out, ready to fry up and serve," said Mary Beth Porter, who helps organize the event. "Hand-breaded, center-cut, Atlantic cod, homemade mac n' cheese, green beans (and) coleslaw."

For Louisville’s large Catholic community, abstaining from meat on Fridays during Lent is a tradition, and fish fries provide a tasty alternative with a greater purpose.

"It brings our community together," Porter said.

The proceeds from these events help churches sustain their missions, supporting both operations and improvements.

"We're a small parish by number, so we really rely heavily on our fundraising to help keep improvements in our building," Porter said. "We do financially OK with our tithing to pay the bills, but maybe there's not a whole lot to do improvements, and you don't want your buildings to deteriorate."

For many, the lesson of Lent in Louisville is as much about fellowship as it is fish.

"We try to do everything with a smile on our face and welcome people, and I think if you've got that going in your parish, you're going to have a good fish fry," Porter said.

A full list and schedule of fish fries in the area is available below:

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