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New App Makes Searching For Lenten Fish Fry Simpler

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - The start of Lent means hundreds of Pittsburgh-area churches are also starting the long-time tradition of the Lenten Fish Fry.

A Pittsburgh-based company just launched a new app to help hungry Pittsburghers find all that food.

The Pittsburgh Fish Fry and Food Festival app was created by Jireh Mobile.

"My wife and I came up with the idea because we love Pittsburgh and we love the food. We thought, let's put the technology together and put in the palm of your hand the ability to visit these wonderful fish frys and food festivals Pittsburgh has throughout the year," Co-owner Curtis Brown told KDKA's Kym Gable.

Saints John and Paul Catholic Church in Sewickley is one of the first churches to utilize the technology.

Larry Mueller is the fish fry coordinator there. He says the volunteers serve about 1,500 customers a week. The church has the capacity to do even more.

"The way I look at it, it's almost like having a parish festival each week," said Mueller. "We bring a lot of people together, whether it's parishioners or outside the parish. It's not just Catholics coming here to have fish," Mueller said.

The app displays the locations of the subscribing churches, along with maps, driving directions, menus, photos, times, and more. Over 30 churches are participating.

"The price for the app was $55 and as far as I'm concerned, it's the best $55 we've spent," said Mueller.

Parish Priest, Father Joseph McCaffrey says he has no problem mixing a little high-tech pop culture with their deeply rooted faith.

"Everybody today is so attached to their phone these days," said Father McCaffrey. "When the Pope is tweeting, you know it can't be a bad thing."

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