For more than 40 years, Otto Bleier has prepared a Thanksgiving feast for the members of his parish at Holy Family Catholic Church. Last year, 525 people scrambled to get in line to fill their plates with turkey and his famous stuffing.
òòò½ÊÓƵWe have our personal family and then our spiritual family, which is united by God through faith and baptism. This is an opportunity for us to be thankful for one another,òòò½ÊÓƵ Father Ryan Kapovik, Parochial Vicar at Holy Family Church, said.
Thereòòò½ÊÓƵ™s no reward for Bleier at the end of the day, accept maybe a cold beer and glory to God, his wife added. The Knights of Columbus, bought, cooked, and prepared the meal with Bleier. On Tuesday evening, over 450 plates plates were given away to parishioners within the first 35 minutes. Bleieròòò½ÊÓƵ™s crew of volunteers had been cooking and occasionally tasting the goods, for days.
òòò½ÊÓƵI donòòò½ÊÓƵ™t have time to call them for help. I just announce I need help and they show up,òòò½ÊÓƵ Bleier said.
Volunteers began preparing for the feast at 5:30 a.m. Tuesday. But it didnòòò½ÊÓƵ™t take that long for parishioners to eat the food. From de-boning 30 turkeys to making a stainless steel tubòòò½ÊÓƵ™s worth of cornbread for the stuffing, it took 30 volunteers working in shifts and two days to prepare for the feast.
òòò½ÊÓƵœWe open the doors and get out of the way,òòò½ÊÓƵ Bleier said.
Parishioners piled their plates high with turkey, stuffing, green beans, sweet potatoes and, of course, smothered it all in gravy. What started as a small operation in the carpeted foyer in the church has become a parish-wide feast for hundreds.
òòò½ÊÓƵœThis meal just grows every year. Last year was the biggest weòòò½ÊÓƵ™ve seen yet,òòò½ÊÓƵ Bleier said.
While there might not be any special ingredients or a secret recipe to his cooking, Bleier said heòòò½ÊÓƵ™s been cooking long enough to know what tastes good.
òòò½ÊÓƵœWe donòòò½ÊÓƵ™t nickel and dime people. Everything is free and itòòò½ÊÓƵ™s all for the Lord,òòò½ÊÓƵ Bleier said.
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