Shrove Tuesday Pancake Breakfast for the Sacred Heart Elementary
Tuesday February 17th, 2026
Outside was a wall of cold and drifting snow, the kind of morning that tests resolve. Brothers began arriving at the St. Carlo Acutis Hall around 7:00 a.m., and Br. Leslie Trainor already had the venue open, the lights on, and was busy setting up tables. In the kitchen, Br. Mike Walsh, SK Tim Dahm, and Br. Sijo Abraham got to work on Br. Lorne Gartner’s from-scratch pancake recipe, the not so closely guarded council secret. The recipe itself was floating around on a piece of paper, and it was lost and found several times throughout the morning, usually right when someone needed it most. Getting the mixture right took longer than any of us expected. We turned out more than a few dead flapjacks while we tried to dial it in. The breakthrough came when we realized one of the baking powder containers we were using had expired by three years and was essentially dead. After a bit of back-and-forth experimentation, we got back on track and finally landed on an execution of Br. Lorne’s batter that we are confident he would have been proud of.
While the kitchen worked to get Br. Lorne’s batter dialed in, SK Stephen Sheridan, Lady Jacquie Sheridan, and Br. Shibu Anthony began setting up the serving stations. They staged paper plates, knives and forks, and napkins, filled the water dispensers, and portioned out butter so the line could move quickly once the first good pancakes came off the griddle. SK Stephen Sheridan also took up the solemn post of syrup sentinel at the end of the line, dispensing just the right measured amount to each plate. Enough for delight, not so much that the classrooms returned to Sacred Heart at warp speed. Much to Br. Lorne’s probable chagrin, juice was not served. Let the record show the water dispensers were filled with exemplary care. Let the record also show that a certain gentleman, whose initials may or may not be S.S., conducted an unscheduled water distribution drill.
Our fearless Youth Director, SK Cyril Nwachukwu, arrived and coordinated with the teachers at Sacred Heart. With the calm confidence of a man who has seen a busy kitchen before, he assured the school that everything was under control, even as the rest of us were still bringing the morning to full operating temperature.
At the beginning of each sitting, SK Cyril Nwachukwu and Br. Phonse Delaney took a moment to explain what Shrove Tuesday is and why it matters as we enter Lent. They also led grace, grounding the breakfast in its proper purpose.
The first students arrived right around 9:00 a.m. They came in waves, typically two classrooms at a time, roughly 50 kids with their teachers and aides. The morning found its rhythm that way: serve a wave, clear the tables, wipe everything down, reset, and be ready for the next wave.
As the kitchen came up to full speed, Knight of Distinction SK Wayne Gerylo arrived and slid straight into the production line. Along with Br. Gil Escobar, a capable chef in his own right, and Br. Shibu Anthony, he took a turn on the griddles. That, in turn, freed up our council chef, Br. Sijo Abraham, to keep the critical pieces on track: batter preparation, proportions, and the rhythm and flow that kept pancakes moving steadily from mixing bowl to plate.
SK Roy Ifill quickly found his natural position behind the serving counter, serving pancakes to the students from Sacred Heart with steady good humour. As the line moved along, he would ask each student whether they would like one or two pancakes. Every so often a student would ask for three, and Roy had the perfect reply: “I’ll tell you what. I’ll give you two now, and if you still want another one, come back.”
Br. Phonse Delaney, ready to hand off the batter-duty role he has carried in previous years, found a better use for his engineer’s brain. He took one look at the serving line and reworked it with a few practical changes: servers behind the counter, students marshalled into a tidy line, and a smoother rhythm from start to finish. It was not complicated. It was just better. Lady Jacquie Sheridan backed him up with the practical touch that makes everything work, keeping the line orderly, guiding the students along, and keeping the mood warm and calm. Lady Jacquie’s presence added a real touch of class to the morning. Her calm, practical help kept the line moving smoothly, and it was genuinely appreciated.
Our council chronicler, SK Roland “Rollie” Reeves, brought his usual energy and enthusiasm, capturing the morning through his photography from every angle. He was everywhere at once, snapping close-ups, catching candid moments, and gently insisting on at least one proper group photo for the record. In the end, we gave him his moment, and we are all glad we did, because those photos will help us remember the morning as it really was.
Later in the morning, PGK Doug Elder and SK Bryan Wynker arrived and quietly took on roles that mattered more than they sound. Between each wave of students, Doug gathered the used paper plates and cutlery into a clear bag for recycling, helping us reset the room quickly and keep the flow moving, while Bryan held a friendly “sentinel” post at the line, corralling and guiding students so everything stayed orderly. Years in the classroom showed. Calm, organised, and quietly in control, Doug helped the whole room run smoother.
Br. Leslie Trainor once again played an outsized role in making the morning work, with the kind of energy that seems to multiply as the day goes on. Beyond the main serving line, he prepared a tray of pancakes for Sacred Heart’s office staff and ensured pancakes were delivered back to Sacred Heart Elementary for the kindergarten students who did not come over for a sit-down breakfast. He also brought pancakes, syrup, and butter to the money counters at Sacred Heart, who later relayed how much they appreciated the gesture. With the weather pressing in, Leslie was also outside shovelling snow when it needed doing, and inside he kept an eye on spills and wet spots so the floor stayed safe and clean. All morning long, he quietly handled the engineering of the event. He kept the logistics and timing tight, anticipated problems before they became problems, and made sure the whole operation stayed on course. After the event, Leslie also ensured SK Wayne Gerylo got home safely and was properly looked after. It was noticed, and it was genuinely appreciated.
Helpers and attendees: Br. Sijo Abraham; Br. Shibu Anthony; SK Tim Dahm; Br. Phonse Delaney; PGK Doug Elder; Br. Gil Escobar; SK Roy Ifill; SK Cyril Nwachukwu; SK Roland “Rollie” Reeves; SK Stephen Sheridan; Lady Jacquie Sheridan; Br. Leslie Trainor; Knight of Distinction SK Wayne Gerylo; SK Bryan Wynker; Br. Michael Walsh.
Regrets: Br. Lorne Gartner (ill).
This lively morning bore a meaning deeper than the breakfast itself. Shrove Tuesday is not only a tradition or a meal. It is a practical act of charity and fellowship on the threshold of Lent, a day when we clear the decks, gather as a parish family, and prepare our hearts for Ash Wednesday. When the Church places ashes on our foreheads, she speaks the truth we all need to hear. Tempus fugit. Memento mori. Time flies. Remember death. Life is short, sin is real, and repentance is a gift. What we did today matters because it is not pretend. We served children, teachers, and staff with joy, order, and care. Lent invites that same spirit to go deeper, expressed through prayer, discipline, and concrete works of mercy.
This morning was a reminder of something simple. When brothers show up, take responsibility, and serve with good cheer, ordinary work becomes a witness. That is the spirit we carry into Lent.
