SPENCERVILLE, Ohio (WLIO) — The sweet smell of success filled the air in Spencerville Sunday afternoon as St. Patrick Parish continued a long-standing tradition of bringing the community together.
For nearly 50 years, St. Patrick Catholic Church has invited people to its annual Apple Dumpling Luncheon. The event is the parish’s biggest fundraiser, with proceeds going toward religious education for children and other parish needs.
To assemble the hundreds of apple dumplings needed for the luncheon, it takes weeks of planning and a team of volunteers ready to help in any way they can.
“The night that we make the dumplings. It's a great parish function where everybody comes and helps. And we just have from the Apple peelers to the cores, you know, to the dough makers to the dough rollers, to putting in the cinnamon and the sugar. And it just really brings everybody together to work toward that goal,” said Mary Ellen Lenhart of St. Patrick Catholic Church.
“What’s great, it’s all age levels, from the smallest kids to the oldest parishioners, everybody is gathering here and having a great time. And what I think is so wonderful that so many families, so many people, volunteer, and we can have such a great time working together for the glory of God. And that's what it's all about, the joy of living in a world that needs joy and hope we feel that in some small way we can provide that and food is always a great a great family builder, isn’t it?” said Sister Mary Edward of St. Patrick Catholic Church.
“An uplifter,” added Lenhart.
Sister Mary said the Apple Dumpling Luncheon is a good way for St. Patrick Parish to share its faith with the surrounding community.
