Serving began today at 11:00 a.m. of meals that included spaghetti with the church’s famous meat sauce (for which the recipe is a closely guarded secret I made no headway on getting hold of), salad, bread sticks and a slice of vanilla bundt cake.  Serving continues until 7:00 p.m. for those who have bought their tickets. 

Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults Coordinator Vic Massanelli, who I caught carrying meals to an SUV a little before 5:00 p.m. said, “The rainy weather kind of slowed us down a little bit this morning, but it seems to be picking up now. Usually, we have a pretty good rush from about five to six in the afternoon, so hopefully it'll be as good as it has been in the past. We've been so blessed with them. We're grateful for all that we do get.”

Massanelli said the proceeds from ticket sales will go to renovations and to other needed fixes to the church building. “We've always got something going. We've always got insurance to pay and upkeep and things like this. So it mostly just goes right back into the church.”

Father Nirmalraj Kambala Mariadass, pastor of Our Lady said some of the proceeds will also go to the church’s food pantry.

At the entrance a group of students stood ready to help motorists using drive-in service. Among them was April Torres who attends Blevins High School.  “I think it's been really, really good,” she said. “I know at one point we ran out of noodles, so I think that's telling something.”

But the big question had to be asked.  Speaking to Father Mariadass and Vic Massanelli in the fellowship hall, I asked for the secret ingredient for that fantastic sauce. Father Mariadass simply said, “Love.”