ABIE (SNR) – While parishes and organizations across the country have had to cancel events this fall, Ss. Peter and Paul Parish in Abie will hold their annual duck and ham dinner – with changes in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 4, with a live auction at 4 p.m.
The first dinner began in the early 1940s, with about 120 families taking part, under the guidance of Father Boniface Tomek, pastor at that time. There are 65 families now.
The price of the meal ticket at that time was $3.50 for adults and $2 for children. As with anything, the price of ducks has gone up drastically and people are no longer raising their own ducks as in years past. The dinner is now $15 for adults and $6 for children (dine-in only).
The meal continues to be the same over the years. The menu will consist of duck, ham, potato dumplings, sauerkraut, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn and cranberry salad. Also served with the meal are pies, rolls and kolaches.
Some parishioners, along with pastor Father Ronald Homes, stepped up to plan and implement changes to make the dinner safe despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
Chairs of the event are Pam Vavrina, Michaela Moravec and Kaela Paseka. They’re assisted by parish council members Dwayne Lanc and Travis Polacek, and trustees Adam Paseka, Tyler Polacek and Leo Juranek.
Due to the pandemic, the parish hall may be filled only to 75% of capacity. So, along with dine-in and carry-out options, the parish opted to try a drive-thru and even delivery to nearby parishes. A sign-up sheet was placed in the back of each church in the surrounding area so that organizers would know how many meals to bring to that location on the day of the dinner.
Restrictions due to the virus did cancel plans for the games, but the parish is permitted to have the country store, with plenty of kolaches, strudel and frozen potato dumplings for sale. Also permitted is the cake walk – with all items covered in plastic wrap – a money raffle, quilt raffle, and a silent and live auction.
Parishioner Pam Vavrina filled out a 10-page report on the plans for the health department. The Four Corners Health Department approved the parish efforts and put their stamp of approval on the flyers, a welcome relief to the parish. The funds raised from the annual bazaar are used to pay bills such as the parish assessment to Aquinas High School and other church expenses.
In preparation, volunteers held a general church cleaning and a “dumpling day.” A group of 22 made 3,541 dumplings which are frozen and then reheated the day of the event. As always, CK Catering of Brainard will prepare the ducks and Ernie Stara of Bruno will heat all the meat that day. A plan for the drive-thru and delivery was drawn up. Food was ordered, work lists made, dishes assigned to parishioners to bring, raffle tickets sold, signs made, items for the auctions collected, and the large tent raised. Several parishioners are not able to work this year because of the danger of contracting the virus, so fewer have to do more to get all the work done.
Father Homes has overseen the event, along with his regular duties of pastor of both Ss. Peter and Paul and St. Anthony in Bruno, and teaching at Aquinas High School in David City.
“We couldn’t put on an event of this magnitude without the help of parishioners, family and friends,” said Dorothy Vavrina. “We ask God’s blessing for a beautiful fall day and thank Him for all his blessings on the parish of Ss. Peter and Paul in Abie.”
