Hours before congregants gather at Saint Vincent de Paul Catholic Church for Lenten activities each Friday evening, the Arlington parish is packed for another reason: fried fish and fellowship.
The unmistakable savory smell of pollock fills the hallways. Parishioners sporting maroon aprons direct a steady stream of hungry guests into a large room full of grandparents, parents and their kids sitting at round tables sharing a meal together.
Outside cars typically line up around the parking lot, waiting to receive their meal to-go. On March 6 the church’s fish fry take-home option was indoors due to the chance of rain.
Servers fill $10 to-go plates with mac and cheese, hush puppies, coleslaw, french fries and, most importantly, crispy, golden-fried fish.
Members of the St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church Men’s Club put fish, fries, mac and cheese and coleslaw on plates for families dining in at the fish fry on March 6, 2026, in Arlington. There are options to both dine in and take away meals. (Maria Crane | Fort Worth Report/CatchLight Local/Report for America)
Members of the St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church Men’s Club put fish, fries, mac and cheese and coleslaw on plates for families dining in at the fish fry on March 6, 2026, in Arlington. There are options to both dine in and take away meals. (Maria Crane | Fort Worth Report/CatchLight Local/Report for America)
This is Saint Vincent de Paul’s weekly fish fry, a nearly 20-year tradition organized by the Men’s Club at the church. It’s become so popular that the group serves about 750 plates from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. every Friday during Lent, said Matt Kertz, president of the club.
St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church’s Men’s Club hosts a fish fry on March 6, 2026, in Arlington. Around 750 people attend each Friday during Lent, either in person or via drive-thru. (Maria Crane | Fort Worth Report/CatchLight Local/Report for America)
The fish frys are not a fundraiser but rather a way of “taking care of the community,” he said. Kids receive their meals for free. Any leftover food is given to people experiencing homelessness, he added.
“We’re not here to make money on this. We’re here to serve the community. Make sure people have meals and give meals to those who need them,” Kertz said.
Hundreds of people gather inside of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church for a fish fry on March 6, 2026, in Arlington. Around 750 meals are served each Friday during Lent, either in person or via drive-thru. (Maria Crane | Fort Worth Report/CatchLight Local/Report for America)
St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church’s Men’s Club hosts a fish fry on March 6, 2026, in Arlington. Around 750 meals are served each Friday during Lent, either in person or via drive-thru. (Maria Crane | Fort Worth Report/CatchLight Local/Report for America)
About 10 years ago, the church implemented the drive-thru system, he said. The fish fry is open to the public, which often brings people from the community and other churches together for a meal, he added.
“It’s the holiest time of year from the church,” Kertz said. “It’s really big for everybody to break bread together.”
Members of the St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church’s Men’s Club wear embroidered aprons each year they have volunteered for the fish fry on March 6, 2026, in Arlington. (Maria Crane | Fort Worth Report/CatchLight Local/Report for America)
Multiple vats of oil fry fish to keep up with the line of people at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church’s fish fry on March 6, 2026, in Arlington. Fish was breaded by members of the Men’s Club then fried fresh for those enjoying a meal upstairs. (Maria Crane | Fort Worth Report/CatchLight Local/Report for America)
Lent is a 40-day period of prayer, fasting and giving that ends on Easter, which is on April 5 this year. The observance of Lent, practiced by many branches of Christianity, is meant to be a time dedicated to mourning of sins and preparing to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
During Lent, which began on Feb. 18, observers abstain from eating meat on Fridays as a way to recognize and honor Jesus’ sacrifice.
The church’s fish fry is a family tradition for attendees and volunteers.
Men’s Club members bread fish before it’s fried at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church’s fish fry on March 6, 2026, in Arlington. (Maria Crane | Fort Worth Report/CatchLight Local/Report for America)
Downstairs at the parish, Bobby Ellis Jr., 46, and his father are one of the many members coating the fish with a mixture of seasonings, preparing the fillets for a bubbling bath of hot oil tended by other Men’s Club members stationed outside.
Ellis’ two teen sons run up and down the church stairs, delivering freshly fried pollock to servers upstairs.
The father is one of the few club members who knows the special combination of seasonings used, a recipe he prefers to keep secret. A hint: the bold, savory and spicy flavor profile reflects his former residence in Louisiana.
A member of the Men’s Club since 2016, he says it’s important to be a role model for his children.
“You can say you do stuff all day long, but you actually being physically into it speaks more volumes,” Ellis said.
Around 7 p.m., families wash down their last bites with lemonade or sweet tea.
With full stomachs, parishioners make their way to pray at the Stations of the Cross, reflecting and commemorating Jesus Christ’s final day.
Marissa Greene is a Report for America corps member, covering faith for the Fort Worth Report. You can contact her at marissa.greene@fortworthreport.org.
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