A Lenten Season Reflection: From Filet-O-Fish to Faith and Renovations

Welcome back to the blog! This week, I’m diving into a mix of personal stories, food adventures, and the spiritual journey of Lent. We’ll talk about the humble origins of the Filet-O-Fish sandwich, some recent fast-food escapades (both wins and disappointments), a little about the quirks of Southern California road trips, and a heartfelt update on my Lenten experience and home renovation challenges in Santa Barbara. So, pour yourself a cup of coffee and join me for a stroll through memory lane, a few culinary detours, and reflections on faith.

The Filet-O-Fish: More Than Just a Sandwich

Did you know the Filet-O-Fish sandwich dates back to 1962? I was ten when it came onto the scene, thanks to Lou Groen, a McDonald’s franchise owner in Cincinnati, Ohio. Here’s the story: His neighborhood was overwhelmingly Catholic—about 87%—so during Lent, when many abstain from meat, his Fridays were rough. Profits during that season dipped to around $75 a day. Being Catholic himself, Lou saw the problem firsthand and pitched a fish sandwich to Ray Kroc, McDonald’s CEO. Kroc wasn’t convinced at first and instead pushed another idea—the Hula Burger, a grilled pineapple and cheese sandwich. They decided on a contest: whichever sandwich sold better would make it to the menu. The Filet-O-Fish won, and the rest is fast-food history, with the sandwich officially joining the permanent menu in 1965.

The Filet-O-Fish has been my go-to over the years, especially during Lent. But, let me tell you, my recent experiences haven’t exactly been legendary. One afternoon, I suggested we grab a Filet-O-Fish for lunch. Sounds simple, right? Not when you have to wrestle with the McDonald’s app first. We ended up spending $21 for two sandwiches, which is a bit rich for fast food, only to find the sandwich disappointingly dry and light on tartar sauce—the true star of the show. We tried again last Friday, armed with the app and a clear plan, paying $2.99 each. This time, the sandwich was still missing that saucy sparkle I remember, lingering as a dry reminder that nostalgia doesn’t always match reality.

Fast Food Redemption on the Road

On a brighter note, our frequent trips to Santa Barbara have introduced us to some new favorites — Mesa Cafe for breakfast, where the generous portions keep us fueled for hours, is a standout. But our day trips aren’t without their quirks, especially when you’re juggling charging your electric car with road trip hunger and bathroom breaks.

Our experience with LA gas stations taught us a tough lesson: don’t count on public restrooms there. Instead, we opt for stops at Agoura Hills/Calabasas off-ramps—easy on, easy off, with friendly amenities. Since we don’t usually buy gas, we make sure to grab something small because, well, you gotta honor the hospitality somehow. I told Mike, “I’m done paying $20 just to use the restroom,” so we stopped at McDonald’s instead, ordering two cheeseburgers to go. And guess what? Those burgers turned out to be pure joy—ketchup oozing out, juicy patties, the kind of food experience that can make a fast-food stop feel like a small victory. Though I had this joyous food experience, I’m done with Filet-O-Fish sandwiches, even for $2.99 on Fridays. It’s not worth another disappointment.

Lent 2026: Fish on the Menu

Speaking of Lent, plenty of fast-food chains recognize the season with fish-forward menus. Del Taco offers crispy, beer-battered and shrimp tacos, Chick-fil-A jumps in with their own fish sandwiches, and Arby’s recently rolled out a Cajun Fish sandwich alongside their usual fish options. It’s nice to see these choices expanding, making it easier for folks sticking to Lenten traditions to find something tasty on the go.

Closer to home, we regularly support St. Norbert’s parish fish fry on Fridays during Lent. It’s only $12, delicious, and serves a wonderful cause—raising funds for eighth graders heading to Washington, D.C. After dinner, the Stations of the Cross service at 7 p.m. is a peaceful, reflective way to end the day. Lent, in all its forms—from fast food specials to community fellowship—feels like a season during which the sacred and the everyday intersect.

My Lent Journey: Wrestling with Grace

Honestly, Lent hasn’t been all smooth sailing for me. Discipline and love have been a challenge, and when I stumble, my instinct is to be hard on myself, like punching the air with oversized gloves. But Lent is also a time for reflection—towards myself, and toward God’s patient guidance. I want to draw from the well of His mercy, let Him speak to my soul, and recognize when I’m off course.

More than being convicted of my shortcomings, I crave the peace of a clear conscience and a straightened path. Lent is a pilgrimage, and I want to feel ever more deeply the holy presence that walks beside me.

Update from Santa Barbara: Renovation Realities and New Dreams

We didn’t plan, really, to invest in a renovation project in our twilight years, but here we are. Our Santa Barbara home has been under construction since last August, but it’s been a slow and costly journey. Permits in this coastal city come with unique rules designed to protect the environment and architecture. Our windows, initially installed, didn’t pass inspection due to new codes requiring stronger protection against Pacific moisture, meaning they had to be redone.

After a recent rainstorm, we discovered the roof needed replacement. Adding to this, plumbing and electrical systems required updating, none of which were in the original budget. Despite the delays and surprises, I have developed a new-found love for Santa Barbara. Though the atmosphere and wardrobe is relax and lay back, I like to dress up.  But If all goes well, Mike and I plan to make it our home, God willing.

A Prayer for the Journey

I leave you with my prayer for this journey:

Dear Lord, thank You for loving us unconditionally. It doesn’t matter where we are in our walk or how imperfect we feel—You take us as we are and say, “Come to me, and I will give you rest.” Thank You for meeting me when I stray and redirecting me to Your path. Forgive my transgressions and let me enter Your holy chambers with a pure and contrite heart. Amen.

How’s your Lent shaping up? Whether smooth or stormy, remember you’re not walking this road alone. I look forward to sharing more stories, reflections, and maybe even some recipes next week. Until then, may your days be blessed and your sandwiches delightfully saucy. Maybe not so much the recipes – after all I’m still the Reluctant Chef!

When God Surprises You: Reflections from a Parish Catechist

Called to Serve

No amount of preparation can fully ready a catechist for what God has in store at a retreat. That truth has been learned firsthand over five years of volunteering at the parish — and every single year confirms it. Each year brings its own unexpected graces, challenges, and moments that no lesson plan could have anticipated

A Welcome Surprise: An Unexpected Aide

Last year brought a particularly joyful development: the gift of an assistant. When it was discovered that Yosellin would serve as aide for the class, the news was met with genuine delight. She was not a stranger — she had been one of the students in a previous Confirmation preparation class, which made her presence all the more meaningful.

The 2024 Class: Diversity as Providence

Yosellin’s quiet, introverted nature had made her stand out from the very beginning, back when she was a student herself. Placed in a room full of unfamiliar faces, she nevertheless found her way — gradually, gracefully — into a circle of friends. That class left a lasting impression, and not only because of Yosellin.

It was, quite simply, the most diverse group ever encountered in this ministry. Half of the students came from private Catholic schools, many of them already friends from their years together at St. Norbert School. They arrived comfortable, confident, and at ease with one another. The other half came from five different local public high schools — a mixture of backgrounds, experiences, and comfort levels that made the dynamic both rich and challenging.

The Catholic school students settled in quickly. For the others, it took a little more time to warm up — to let their guards down, to trust the space, and to begin to feel that they, too, belonged.

An Unexpected Courage: Preparing to Speak

When Yosellin approached with a request to share her testimony at the retreat, the news came as a genuine surprise. Her quiet, introverted nature had always been one of her most defining qualities — the last thing anyone would have expected was a desire to stand before the group and speak. Yet when she explained what she wanted to share, it became immediately clear that this story needed to be heard. It mattered.

At the following meeting, however, doubt crept in. Yosellin found herself uncertain about standing up in front of everyone. The courage that had surfaced one week seemed to waver the next.

Moved by the Holy Spirit

Then the retreat arrived — and with it, something remarkable.

The Holy Spirit had other plans. Yosellin followed the main speaker, and what unfolded was nothing short of astonishing. She spoke with an eloquence and poise that no one could have anticipated — natural, clear, and deeply moving. Her words touched the girls in the room in a way that only truth spoken from lived experience can. She was not performing. She was witnessing.

What Yosellin shared was this: she had suffered from depression — a depression that had led her to thoughts of suicide.

Depression: A Cross Carried in Silence

Yosellin’s struggle had begun early. Her relationship with both of her parents had been strained, leaving her with a persistent and painful sense of being unseen. Her father worked long hours, and by the time he returned home, exhaustion had consumed whatever emotional energy remained. Her mother’s relationship with her had been marked by instability from the start.

By the eighth grade, Yosellin had reached a breaking point. Alone in a way that felt total, and without confidence that her parents could help, she began experiencing suicidal thoughts.

Mental health struggles like these often remain associated with embarrassment or shame — a stigma that contradicts the compassion of Jesus and is contrary to the foundation of Catholic Social Teaching. No diagnosis, no darkness, no suffering — none of it can alter or diminish the God-given dignity of a person. Every suffering soul remains a beloved child of God, a God of healing and hope.

Depression is far more than prolonged sadness. It is a complex illness that can profoundly impair a person’s mental and physical functioning — affecting not just moods, but also the ability to think clearly, to concentrate, and to focus. Those afflicted often suffer in silence, unrecognized by those around them.

Yosellin had been one of those silent sufferers. And now, through grace, she was silent no longer.

Adoration

This year’s retreat was about transformation — and what unfolded this weekend was nothing short of a miracle. God moved mightily in the souls of these young people, and many were genuinely, visibly transformed.

Though my group was scattered throughout the hall, the effort to find them — to pray with them, to encourage them toward the confessional — was worth every moment. With four priests hearing confessions, more than half of the students brought their sins before God and walked away renewed.

My Prayer

Dear Lord, thank You for Your holy presence at this retreat. Pour out Your continued grace upon every young man and woman who participated. Thank You for using each of us who volunteered as instruments to guide them into Your loving arms. May the seeds planted this weekend take deep root and bear fruit that lasts. Amen.