How to Plan a Fish Fry: A Parish Guide to a Lenten Tradition

Why the Fish Fry Is More Than a Meal

The Fish Fry is one of the most beloved Catholic traditions of Lent. Across parishes, it brings people together in fellowship and service, turning a simple, meat-free meal into a joyful expression of community. Often serving as both a fundraiser and a time of connection, the Fish Fry embodies what Lent is all about: faith, generosity, and community.

But anyone who’s ever organized one knows the truth: a successful Fish Fry doesn’t happen by accident. It takes planning, coordination, and a touch of creativity to turn fried cod and coleslaw into something truly meaningful.

First, Set Your Intention

Before you fire up the fryer, take a step back and ask: Why are we hosting this Fish Fry?

Do you want to invite neighbors who might not yet be connected to your church community?

Are you raising funds for youth ministry, the parish school, or outreach programs?

Is it part of your parish’s Lenten observance and a way to bring people together on Fridays?

Clear intention sets the tone for everything that follows, from your menu to your ministry.

Set Your Dates

Decide when and how often your Fish Fry will take place. Ash Wednesday marks the start of Lent—40 days of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving before Easter. Depending on the date of Easter each year, Ash Wednesday can fall between February 4 and March 10. Many parishes host their Fish Fry every Friday of Lent (excluding Good Friday), while others plan a single, parish-wide event. Clarifying your schedule early will help determine how many volunteers you’ll need and how to manage your supplies effectively.

If your parish uses a volunteer signup tool like Unison, start there: create the event, set key dates, and add volunteer roles. You can even use the built-in Fish Fry theme! Giving parishioners an easy, ad-free place to sign up early helps turn interest into action.

Reminder: Check if your parish kitchen requires updated food-service permits or safety certifications before the event.

Build Your Volunteer Team

The heart of every successful Fish Fry is service—volunteers offering their time and talents together. Many parishes partner with groups like the Knights of Columbus, Men’s Club, Ladies Auxiliary, or the parish school PTA to lead the event. Youth Groups and Scout Troops also make great volunteers for setup, serving, and cleanup. But any ministry or school group can help out.

With Unison, you can list each role—cook, cashier, server, greeter, dishwasher, cleanup—and let volunteers choose the shifts that fit their schedules.

Start recruiting at least a month before Ash Wednesday, or earlier if you’re running weekly events. 

Assign “captains” for each area (kitchen, dining, cleanup) so the work stays organized and no one burns out.

Include your Fish Fry volunteer signup in the bulletin, e-newsletter, and Facebook page as a QR code and link

Announce the Fish Fry at Sunday Mass and in the parish bulletin.

Pro tip: Invite ministries, families, or parish councils to “adopt” a night of service to build ownership and ensure coverage.

Plan the Menu and Portion Sizes

Food costs can make or break your Fish Fry, so plan carefully. Review past attendance or start with a goal—say, 250 servings—and build your menu around that.

Crowd-pleasing staples include:

• Lemonade, coffee, and water
• Coleslaw, rolls, and dessert
• Fries, baked potatoes, or mac and cheese
• Fried fish (cod, catfish, or tilapia)

Buy in bulk from local suppliers or wholesalers who support community fundraisers. Keep a running list of what’s ordered and donated—this helps next year’s team start with accurate numbers.

If your parish works with the Knights of Columbus, lean on their vendor experience—they often have great local connections with established vendors or bulk-purchasing contacts.

Pro tip: Consider offering takeout meals...many guests appreciate the convenience!

Set Up Stations for Smooth Flow

The key to a smooth Fish Fry is flow. On event day, organize your space into clear zones:

Cleanup crew station: Label bins for compost, recycling, and trash.

Dining area: Arrange seating that encourages conversation.

Cashier area: Accept donations or ticket sales efficiently.

Serving line: Keep items warm and easy to reach.

Kitchen prep: Batter, fry, and plate in a continuous motion.

Pro tip: Tape simple signs to each zone so new volunteers know where to go. Even small visual cues help the Fish Fry run like clockwork.

Spread the Word in and Beyond the Parish

A Fish Fry isn’t just for parishioners—it’s a way to welcome the wider community. Use a mix of old-school charm and modern outreach:

• Create a Facebook event with your date, menu, and volunteer link.
• Ask parishioners to share the post on their timelines and local community groups.
• Add the event to your parish website and bulletin.
• Post flyers at nearby schools, libraries, and grocery stores.
• Send a short note to your diocesan newspaper or local radio station—they often list parish events.

Pro tip: Visuals help! Photos of smiling volunteers and sizzling fish are digital gold.

Turn Hospitality into Invitation

Beyond the meal, the Fish Fry is a chance to live out your parish’s spirit of welcome. Greet guests personally. Offer prayer cards. Invite them to upcoming events, like the parish festival, choir concert, or service day. Make sure visitors feel welcome.

Small touches—like music from the youth choir, decorations from the parish school, or a table hosted by the Knights of Columbus—add warmth and purpose.

Don’t forget to recognize your volunteers: begin with a short prayer before opening and thank them publicly at the end of the night. You can even post your Unison signup link near the exit or in the bulletin—so guests inspired by the evening can easily sign up to help at the next Fish Fry or other parish volunteer events.

Reflect, Record, and Repeat

After the last plate is washed, gather your team for a short debrief:

Which shifts or systems worked best?

What ran out too fast?

What went well?

Document the details while they’re fresh. If you manage signups in Unison, all your volunteer schedules and contact info are saved automatically—so next Lent, you can duplicate the event in one click and start with a proven template.

End on a Joyful Note

A Fish Fry might begin as a fundraiser, but it always ends as fellowship. You’ve fed both body and spirit, raised funds for parish ministries, and strengthened community ties—all in one evening.

Share photos on social media, thank your volunteers and sponsors, and highlight a few moments in the parish newsletter. When people see the joy that comes from serving together, they’ll be eager to volunteer again next time.

With thoughtful planning, organized volunteers, and a clear sense of purpose, your parish can transform the Fish Fry from a simple meal into one of the year’s most meaningful gatherings.

And next year, when it’s Fish Fry season again, your parish will be ready—with a plan, a team, and a fryer full of faith.