Women stirring up treats and fellowship in Hudson

It's a colorful group in the kitchen at the former St. Mary's Academy in Hudson.

Glimpses of a fire-red marinara sauce in large silver pots can be caught between the powder-blue aprons and brightly colored sweaters of the senior chefs. On an adjacent counter, five women create spiced Italian meatballs with practiced hands. Others are poring proudly over a freezer that's stuffed with Polish delicacies.

More than 25 senior women between 70 and 95 are preparing for a March 20 food sale at their parish that will include hundreds of pierogies, dozens of plates of sugared wand pastries and stuffed-cabbage golombkis, flavorful Italian meat sauce and fat meatballs, and pies, cakes and cookies.

Food and faith

For the women of the St. Mary's Christian Service Group, their morning meetings aren't just about food: They are about helping their parish, creating a community, building friendships and supporting one another.

They come from strong Italian, Polish and Irish ethnic backgrounds, and gather for cooking, chatting and charity, sharing the recipes they learned from their families.

"We come here and have fun," explained Gloria Campetta. "We've known each other for 15 years. Days that we don't come here, we miss it. We look forward to coming."

Dough for dough

Kathryn McDonald estimates that thousands of dollars have been raised for St. Mary's through the efforts of the group's food sales, trash-and-treasure sale, Palm Sunday breakfast, tool sale and Christmas cookie sale.

The women also help with various parish receptions, religious education events and programs, and dinners that dot the parish calendar.

The Christian Service Group also aids local shut-ins and nursing home residents, many of whom are the cooks' peers and friends. At Easter, they make them palm crosses and baskets; at Christmas, they distribute gifts; and, year-round, they visit the sick, provide food for the families of deceased parishioners and support ALIGHT, a crisis pregnancy center.

Stove lessons

At a burner, Ann Tanburro adds parsley and black pepper as Molly Battista stands over a steaming pot of fragrant sauce.

"I learned how to make pierogies and golombkis here," the latter said. "It's very interesting because I'm not Polish. The Polish women taught the Italian women how to make their food and vice-versa. We're one big family."

Virginia Blasky enjoys "helping the girls out" and sharing her family's knowledge of Polish foods: as a young girl, her mother taught her how to make pierogies from scratch.

Pastor's salute

Rev. Winston Bath, pastor of St. Mary's, says that the group "provides a sense of community, bonding and belonging" for the women.

"There are over 20, 25 here all the time, plus some snowbirds in Florida," he noted. "One of my own understandings of parish life is as a family -- and the Christian Service Group helps accomplish that."

Next to him, a number of women are admiring a lemon pie with a layer of tufted meringue gracing the top.

"I feel like a kid here," said Florence Hamm, 75, the pie's creator. "The young people -- they're too busy. They have jobs, and they have families. But when we die, there'll be no ethnic food; there will be just Ragu and Mrs. T's."

From scratch

Childhood friends Jessie Barry and Mary Kutski note that the pierogies are made from scratch, a process that involves two days of cutting, peeling and chopping potatoes, onions and cheese; making and rolling the dough; cutting out rounds; filling them with dough; and pinching them shut.

The women recently held fundraisers to purchase some time-saving devices, including a machine that helps roll the dough.

"Before, we rolled by hand," said Ms. McDonald. "It's a two-day job; and when you get 80 and 90, it makes a difference."

Helen Krisniski and Fran Degnan note that they made "over 200" meatballs that morning.

"I was never married," said Ms. Degnan, looking upon the sight proudly. "I'm alone now. I like all these ladies. We're all friendly. I like to help the church."

(The "Big Ethnic Food Sale" will be held at St. Mary's in Hudson, March 20, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. All items are homemade and for take-out only.)

(3/18/04) [[In-content Ad]]