EACH FRIDAY DURING LENT, parishioners at Mission Basilica San Juan Capistrano begin lining up outside the parish hall. By 4:30 p.m., the crowd is already forming for what has become one of the community’s most beloved traditions: the Lenten fish fry hosted by the Knights of Columbus.
BILL MILLARD, LEFT, VOLUNTEER CHEF, AND PAST GRAND KNIGHT FOR THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS, HANDS AN ORDER TO VOLUNTEER FOOD RUNNER JAYDEN REYES DURING A MISSION BASILICA PARISH FISH FRY. PHOTOS BY JEFF ANTENORE/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
Grand Knight Shane Stafford, who leads the Monsignor Paul Martin Council District 7519, along with Leo Norton, oversees the bustling operation. The council counts about 122 members, with several more men in the process of joining and completing their ceremonial degrees, known as exemplifications.
For the Knights, this isn’t just a social gathering – it’s a major fundraiser that supports a long list of local charities.
“This is our main fundraiser for community groups,” Stafford explained. “We do six weeks of Lenten dinners, and we support a variety of charities in the area.”
In addition, the council organizes a successful fall golf tournament that benefits the parish school at Mission Basilica. Last year, that event enabled the Knights to donate an impressive $84,000 to the school, with previous years’ donations totaling around $60,000. The Lenten dinners, meanwhile, focus more broadly on the needs of the parish and community.
CLAIR MUSHEN OF SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO SITS WITH HER KIDS, DAVID MUSHEN, JIM MUSHEN AND MARY ANN MUSHEN, FROM LEFT, WHILE CELEBRATING HER 104TH BIRTHDAY AT A MISSION BASILICA PARISH FISH FRY.
“What sets this fish fry apart from many others is the quality of the food,” said Stafford. “Rather than relying solely on bulk suppliers, the Knights partner with a local fishmonger who also provides seafood to well-known restaurants in the area. Diners can choose classic fried fish, shrimp, fish sticks and French fries – perennial favorites with families and children – or opt for restaurant-quality salmon and tilapia.”
“You can have a restaurant-quality fish dinner,” Stafford added, noting that it’s all offered in a parish setting that emphasizes fellowship and faith.
On a typical Friday, the Knights serve around 200 meals. About 120 to 150 tickets are sold at the door, and many parishioners purchase multiple dinners for their families. After paying at the entrance, guests receive a numbered ticket and find a seat with friends. Volunteers, acting as runners, bring orders to the kitchen window and deliver hot plates to the tables as they are ready. The atmosphere inside the hall is warm and lively but intentionally simple. In past years, the Knights experimented with background music, but they discovered that opinions differed about volume and style. Now, the evening leans more toward conversation and community building. Announcements highlight upcoming parish events, and, when his schedule allows, Monsignor Michael McKiernan, pastor of Mission Basilica, joins the gathering to offer a blessing and visit with parishioners.
FRIENDS MARICELLA MORENO OF SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, JO ANN MARTINEZ OF DANA POINT, JENNIE WEATHERHOLT OF SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, SUZANNE PITT OF DANA POINT AND JANICE SCHMIT OF SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, FROM LEFT, SIT TOGETHER DURING A MISSION BASILICA FISH FRY IN SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO ON FEB. 27.
Stafford, who has been involved with the Knights for several years, notes that the tradition dates back long before his time in San Juan Capistrano. He has lived in the area for 13 years, though the Lenten dinners have been a feature of parish life for even longer.
For many families, attending the fish fry has become an annual ritual that marks the penitential season – a chance to share a meatless meal after a day of fasting and abstinence. Beyond the numbers and logistics, what truly distinguishes the Mission Basilica fish fry is the sense of belonging it creates. Parishioners gather across generations, catching up with old friends, meeting new faces and sometimes celebrating special milestones.
This year, among the guests was 104-year-old Claire Mushen, surrounded by her children and extended family, a living reminder of faith, perseverance and the bonds of community that define parish life.
As Stafford put it with a smile, there may not be live entertainment, but there is something richer: “You show up, sit with your friends and eat. It’s about building community.”
For Mission San Juan Capistrano, the Lenten fish fry is more than a meal – it is a weekly feast of fellowship, generosity and grace.