SHERMAN - St. John Vianney Knights of Columbus Council 14024 will hold its first fish fry on Friday, Feb. 27, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the St. John Vianney Activity Center. The council, which just started in April of 2006, held a trial run to test its fish fry batter at a Super Bowl party earlier this month. Deacon David Sorrell at St. John Vianney described the fish as "delicious."

 "He is looking forward to the fish fry," his wife, Nanette, parish secretary, said.

 The fish fry menu includes a choice of walleye or shrimp dinner, for $7, which includes a baked potato or fries, slaw, and bread. A children's walleye dinner is $4, and a kid's hot dog dinner is $3. Carry-outs are available.

Proceeds from the fish fry go to support St. John Vianney Parish.

"We are a parish council, which is what most K. of C. Councils started out as," Mark Thompson, financial secretary for the St. John Vianney K of C, said. "Our whole philosophy is helping out the church."

The parish has a women's society, but did not have an active men's group in recent years. "Msgr. Carl Kemme (pastor) is very big into the Knights of Columbus," said Thompson. "He suggested we form a K. of C. parish council, which gives us a structured organization. There is a backing behind us. The K. of C. also has a good insurance program, and activities like its Tootsie Roll drive."

The parish has about 367 families, and the council has 65 members. Some, like Thompson have been members of other K. of C. councils.

A few of their members have been involved in fish fries at other councils. "There are a good number of Catholics in this area, and the local Methodist Church has been doing fish fries for years."

If things go well on the 27th, he says they may have another fish fry. "The Methodist Church in Sherman has three fish fries during Lent. If we do have a second fish fry, it will not be when the Methodist Church is having one."