Women's Holy Week Salad Luncheon returns after 4 years

Feb. 20—It's back after a four-year hiatus.

Plans are to hold the 52nd Annual Holy Week Salad Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. on March 28 at the Scottish Rite Center, 302 N. Second St. in McAlester.

A tradition for more than a half-century, the Holy Week Salad Luncheon brings women in the McAlester area together for the longtime event.

It's been canceled for the past four years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but this year volunteers who organize the event are looking forward to its return.

As in previous years, the Holy Week Salad Luncheon is open to all women in the McAlester area.

While serving is set to begin at 11:30 a.m., ladies attending who do not work outside the home are asked to bring a large salad and arrive 15 minutes early at 11:15 a.m.

They are also asked to label their salads with their first and last names. Serving utensils will be provided.

Women who are working outside the home do not need to bring a dish," said Megan Ciolli, one of the organizers of the event.

She, like the other organizers, is enthused about the revival of the Women's Holy Week Salad Luncheon.

"We're all missing the community and having the women meet together," Ciolli said.

The Women's Holy Week Salad Luncheon is also known as the Maundy Thursday Salad Luncheon.

"Women in our city and community are excited that the annual Maundy Thursday Women's Holy Week Salad Luncheon is being planned again this year," said Dot Thompson, another organizer of the event.

"All women of the community are invited and encouraged to attend this free luncheon, which has been canceled the last four years because of the COVID pandemic," organizers said.

"It is a wonderful opportunity for all women to join together in fellowship for an hour of prayer, music and a motivational speaker, with a large variety of salads to chose from for lunch."

Maundy Thursday is the Thursday before Good Friday during the Holy Week, with Easter coming early this year, on March 31.

Maundy is a derivative of the Latin word maundatum, which means the word commandment in English.

It comes from John 13:34, when Jesus told his disciples "I give you a new commandment that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you should also love one another."

Four churches are participating in organizing this year's Holy Week Salad Luncheon, but all women are welcome and do not have to attend one of the four churches involved to participate.

They've divided the organizational tasks as follows:

—First Presbyterian Church, with Dot Thompson, is hostess and is providing the speaker for the event.

—All Saints Episcopal Church, with Carri Parks, is providing decorations.

—First United Methodist Church, with Megan Ciolli, is to provide the prayers and publicity.

—Lakewood Christian Church, with Jane Glenn, is providing the music.

The group held its first organizational meeting on Jan. 26, with more meetings expected as the date of the Holy Week Salad Luncheon nears.