No Carnival Rides, but Plenty of Good Food and Conversation at Church Picnic

As soon as the last Mass concluded Sunday afternoon at St. Anthony of Padua Church, the parking lot quickly transformed into a giant party. Tents provided shelter from the bright sun and polka music filled the air. The church picnic, held annually every July, was in full swing by lunchtime.

People - parishioners and just area residents - milled throughout the tables and booths, which offered something for everyone. Bargain hunters looked for treasures at the White Elephant sale while children played the bean bag toss and slurped on Italian ice.

Anna Uszkiewicz, a parishioner for more than 50 years, perused the various items in the tag sale area, wearing a summery straw hat she found and carrying various items. "It's a great place to meet people," she said. "The food is great. I like the liver and onions, and the pastries are delicious."

Indeed, the food is a huge draw for many visitors. On the menu were Polish specialties like stuffed cabbage and pierogies, as well as clams on the half shell, lobster, liver and onions, and sausage and peppers.

"I come every year," said Fairfielder Karen Zeglen, as she enjoyed a plate of stuffed cabbage. "I come with a group of people. We like to support the church. It's a good cause."

All proceeds from the picnic are donated to various charities. This year, 25 percent of the profits will be donated to Merton House, a Catholic charity in Bridgeport, for school clothes and backpacks. The remaining money will be used to purchase a new organ for the church.

Fairfielder Bob Siverson came to the picnic with his family "to kill time before the World Cup Game," he said with a laugh. "Actually, I heard the food is good," he said, digging into a sausage and pepper grinder. He was happy with his choice.

In addition to jewelry, plants, and lots and lots of raffle items, people could also purchase a copy of "Recipes to Remember," a cookbook compiled from parishioners' recipes. "Every year we have soup suppers," said Marcy Vidoli, who was manning the information booth."It's like a community dinner we have during Lent. We have different soups and bread, and people were asking for the recipes, so they put together a cookbook." For $7, home cooks could get enough soup recipes to last all winter.

But in addition to the food, it's the spirit of camaraderie that brings people to the event. "It's become sort of a reunion," said the Rev. John Baran, pastor of the church. "Because we have no rides, no Twister, no Whack-a-Mole, it's about conversation. This is the time of year when people are in town and they come here and talk and eat and listen to music."

Indeed, that's what brought friends Jan Pistey, Laurene Instone and Deb Gustafson to the picnic. They sat on hay bales surrounding the outdoor dance floor, enjoying cold cups of beer on this hot day.

"We like Polish food," said Instone. "We've had the pierogies and the stuffed cabbage. Now I'm trying to decide between the lobster and the liver and onions."

"And," she added, "we like the beer."