Albertines prepare for Lent in culinary fashion -- making paczki

Published: 2006-02-24

HAMMOND, Ind. (CNS) -- Things are heating up in the kitchen at the Albertine Home in Hammond where the sisters are preparing for Lent in Polish culinary fashion. In a word, that's paczki. A pastry associated with pre-Lenten activities, paczki are very popular with the Albertines, and Sister Patrycja Bryniarska is the unofficial "pro" at making them. She came to this country several years ago from Poland. Having learned cooking from other sisters, Sister Patrycja is now in charge when it comes to paczki. Working with Sister Donata Stachowiak as her interpreter, Sister Patrycja told the Northwest Indiana Catholic, newspaper for the Diocese of Gary, that paczki are not just for "fat Tuesday," the day before Ash Wednesday. That, the sisters said, is more of an American tradition. In their native Poland, paczki are prepared on the previous Thursday. So, in keeping with the traditions of two paczki-loving countries, Sister Patrycja may make up to 100 on each of two days. "No one knows how this tradition got started," said Sister Donata, noting that paczki may go back to the 17th century.

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