| BUFFALONIANS STORM CORPUS CHRISTI’S PIEROGI PARTY 9/21/2007 - BUFFALONIANS STORM CORPUS CHRISTI’S PIEROGI PARTY
Bid to defend Buffalo’s title as Pierogi Capital enters the next phase
Buffalo, New York – On Sunday September 9th, Corpus Christi Church hosted
Buffalo’s biggest Pierogi Party, as part of its bid to defend Buffalo’s title
as “Capital of the Pierogy* Pocket of America.”
1,200 handmade pierogi sold out in 45 minutes to hundreds of people who
traveled from far and wide
to take part in Corpus Christi’s defense of Buffalo’s title as pierogi
capital of America.
With just 10 days to plan and execute this major event, over 30 parishioners
and supporters of Buffalo’s defense of the title mobilized to make five
varieties of the ethnic specialty by hand for four evenings straight.
There were many more mouths to feed after the initial batch was sold out.
In Buffalo, one needs not go very far to buy pierogi. The parish was easily
able to purchase an additional 2,500 pierogi from another East Side
institution, the Slavic Bazzar, thus keeping those who stormed the party well fed and
happy; so happy that they sang and danced into the afternoon.
Led by Corpus Christi’s Pastor Fr. Anzelm Chalupka, who was dressed as a
pierog, the crowd sang a song about pierogi (One pierog, two pierogi…) made
up for the occasion, accompanied by Bruce Woody and Al Kania. The party ended
with cheers for Corpus Christi’s bid and more singing and dancing.
Parishioner Christopher Byrd captured the mood of Sunday’s event. “…Corpus
Christi's attempt to defend Buffalo's title as "The Pierogy Pocket Capital
of America" was a huge success. The church hasn't won the title yet, but I
don't think anyone involved with this pierogi project expected the turnout
considering all the competing things going on in Buffalo and Western New York
on Sunday. There were people lined up down Sears Street waiting to get
in...the event was scheduled to run for two hours...it went three plus...Corpus
Christi's 11:30 AM mass which preceded "Buffalo's Biggest Pierogi Party"
had almost triple the attendance from a normal Sunday...all of it one big WOW!”
A video of the Pierogi Party will be included in Corpus Christi’s
application to Mrs. T’s Pierogies this week. Should Corpus Christi’s entry be
chosen to compete among finalists from other cities,
Buffalonians will be asked to vote online in support of Buffalo’s bid. If
successful, all of Buffalo will “get the glory” while Corpus Christi will
receive a check for $10,000, to be used for a new furnace in the former
convent building of the church complex, now the headquarters for Parish Nurse
Ministries. The building has been used for this purpose since May of 2006 on a
rent-free basis. Parish Nurse Ministries is a faith-based organization
providing health services to residents in Erie, Niagara, and Genesee Counties that
includes counseling, referrals and support.
*Spelling provided by Mrs. T’s Pierogies.
The common Polish spellings are pierog (singular) and pierogi (plural).
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