MERRILLVILLE, Ind. — A parish fish fry that has been operating for decades is, this Lent, serving up a prayer campaign for those who have turned away from the Catholic faith.
Father Andrew Summerson, administrator of St. Michael Parish, has been promoting the prayer campaign at the church’s fish fry, which draws more than 300 people every Friday during Lent.
Before any meals are served, at 1 p.m., the 33-year-old priest leads a moleben, which is an Eastern Catholic service of supplication for a particular intention. Patrons can then pray before the icon of the Mother of God, Searcher for the Lost, which is set on a wooden podium in the parish hall, at any point during the afternoon. Icon cards are also distributed.
While some parishioners “were worried that it would be too abrasive to talk about prayer and religion to our patrons,” the response has been very positive, said Father Summerson. Many have openly shared with him their sorrow about adult children or family members who have left the church, he said.
“Some people came back the second week of Lent, bringing family members — not just for our fish — but to venerate the icon and to pray for their own intentions,” he added.
He also shared that a young adult, who didn’t know about the icon, told him she was grateful she passed up another fish fry for St. Michael’s, so that she could participate in the Lenten campaign and pray for her long list of loved ones who have left the church.
The priest is also holding the prayer campaign at St. Mary Parish in Whiting. Both parishes, he said, have experienced the tragic loss of parishioners over the years.
“Unfortunately, so many other churches are in the same situation,” he said.
Caption: A patron of St. Michael’s weekly fish fry stands before an icon of the Mother of God, Searcher for the Lost and offers names of loved ones who left the church. (Photo: Father Andrew Summerson)
As published in Horizons, March 24, 2019.
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