St. Wenceslaus feeds crowds 10 times its size

The annual series of chicken dinners and festivals hosted by Catholic churches in Leelanau County began last weekend in Gills Pier.

Volunteers assemble tent

St. Wenceslaus Church’s annual chicken dinner was held Sunday, and similar events are planned at St. Mary’s Church on Sunday, July 8, and Holy Rosary in Cedar on Sunday, July 29. But none of the parish communities are as small as St. Wenceslaus. The church, with 65 registered “families” or just less than 150 people, prepares the church grounds, puts on their collective aprons and feeds crowds nearly 10 times its size.

“We’re planning on about 1,350 meals,” said Martin Korson before the meal. He’s a lifelong member of the Gills Pier church, now serving as its administrator. “Some people get all worked up, but I really don’t. People are very cooperative and friendly. We count on them and they continue to show up.”

Church business manager Theresa Hitchens leads much of the charge for the meal and summer celebration, and has for about the past five years.

“You’ll recognize me. I’m the woman in a daze,” she said.

So how does the church, which has not had a resident priest for years, continue to dish out chicken, dressing, potatoes and gravy, coleslaw, vegetables, and — of course — dessert each year with all but the potatoes and canned vegetables homemade?

Easy — with volunteers’ help.

A crew of more than 25 arrived at 7 p.m. Friday, just as it has every year, to raise the tent on the church grounds. Women were indoors, covering tables and rolling silverware. The group also shared a meal after its work was done.

“We have a lot of people who may have gone to church here once, but don’t any more,” Hitchens said. “A lot of people come back and pitch in. Julius (Kolarik’s) sisters come back each year and fill in.”

Preparing the food

Some people have had the same assigned task for years, which is a little disconcerting to Hitchens given the growing age of the membership, which is around 60.

“We need to get some of this written down,” she said. “If something happens (to the longtime volunteer) … So far, we’ve been able to plug the holes. We’re getting older and more tired, but it all gets done somehow.”

To cope with the grayer workforce, Hitchens works at assigning the more senior volunteers to “sit down” tasks. She also assigns shorter or “split” shifts, “so the older folks don’t have to work all day,” Hitchens said.

Joan and Lynn Schaub of Suttons Bay go to church at St. Mary’s in Lake Leelanau, but are among a growing number of volunteers from their parish who help out at Gills Pier.

“We know a lot of people up there,” said Joan, who waits tables each year. “Their church is growing older and can’t do things like they used to … So we make the effort to help.”

Lara (Korson) Sweitzer is an example of someone who is no longer a member of the church, but comes back every year to help out. She, her husband, Joel, and children Andrew, 5, and Alayna, 3, make the trip each year from their home in Rosamond, Calif., about 80 miles from Los Angeles.

Children's games

“It’s really amazing that a parish with only 100 or so members is able to serve so many people,” said Sweitzer, the son-in-law of Korson. Sweitzer was a designated “floater” Sunday, filling in where help was needed.

“We have 5,000 members at our parish in California and serve 500 at our annual dinner, which is big for there.”

Bohemians of the Catholic faith began having services in the home of Julius Kolarik in 1885, with Rev. Mrak offering up the first Mass. In 1890, a frame church was built and was dedicated to St. Wenceslaus, the patron saint of Bohemia. In 1941, a brick church was built, and in 1948 a rectory was constructed. Both frame and brick churches stood together until the former structure was razed in 1963.

“Everything comes full circle,” said Julius Kolarik, great grandson of the man whose home was the first place of worship at Gills Pier more than 100 years ago. The Rev. Andrew Bulava lives at the Blessed Kateri parish in Peshawbestown, but makes the trip to Gills Pier each week for 8 a.m. Mass on Sunday. “Fr. Mrak traveled from community to community and that’s what we have now.”