A beloved parish tradition where hospitality, community and grace come together
Story by Clint Berge
On the second Saturday of every December, Mary, Mother of the Church Parish becomes home to one of the Coulee Region’s most beloved Christmas traditions—the cookie walk.
Before the doors even open, a long line begins to form outside the parish hall. Some shoppers arrive with a list in hand. Others come hoping to find the cookies, candies or Scandinavian specialties that have become part of their own family Christmas traditions. Many simply know that if they wait too long, the most popular selections may be gone.
“A couple of minutes before ‘go time,’ the ladies request a prayer for a blessing upon our day, our hospitality and all our guests. When the Christmas music stops, I use the sound system so that those in the front of the line can hear that we are praying for them,” said Father Brian Konopa
“During the last four years,
I have found myself in the hallway of the parish hall, welcoming and chatting with people. When Father Konopa announces the opening prayer inside the doors, I see those in line paying their respects by bowing their heads, making the sign of the cross or simply maintaining silence,” said Lu Ann “Lu” Miller, the Mary, Mother of the Church Cookie Walk organizer. “It is heartwarming to share this experience with them, knowing that we are all in such caring and loving hands and that everything will be okay.”
Faith, hospitality, hard work and the joy of Christmas combine to make the Mary, Mother of the Church Cookie Walk grow larger each year.
a christmas bake sale on steroids
The Mary, Mother of the Church Cookie Walk has earned its playful description because it is far more than a traditional parish bake sale. Upon entering the parish hall, guests are greeted by Mrs. Claus, with a plate of samples in hand, before receiving a glove and a plate. Then comes the cookie walk itself, where row after row of trays filled with many varieties of homemade Christmas cookies, ranging from beloved traditional recipes to new creations that parish bakers have decided to try for the season.
At the very end of the cookie tables, plates are weighed and priced by the pound. Yet the walk continues well beyond the cookies. Guests can find candies such as divinity and fudge, breads, pies and Scandinavian favorites, including rosettes, krumkake, sandbakkels and lefse. There are crafts, raffle baskets, Scrip, door prizes and a breakfast and lunch menu for those who want to sit down for coffee, egg bake, cinnamon rolls, soup, chili or a meal—each promoted throughout the day by the cookie walk announcer.
“Each area of the cookie walk highlights both the parishioners’ generosity and talent and the best offerings from our bakers and makers,” Lu stated. “The Mary, Mother of the Church family shows such support for this fundraiser, not only for their parish but also in recognition of the efforts of the Parish Council of Catholic Women (PCCW).”
It is challenging to determine the exact amount of food donated each year. The cookie walk includes thousands of cookies, but that number only begins to tell the story. There are trays and trays of cookies, pre-plated selections for shoppers short on time, baked goods for sale throughout the hall and food prepared for the day’s breakfast and lunch.
a tradition families depend on
The cookie walk has become part of the Christmas routine for many households in the area. It gives busy families a chance to purchase homemade holiday treats without spending days baking themselves. It also gives people an opportunity to find gifts, bring treats to work or simply enjoy a festive Saturday morning with friends and neighbors.
“Our cookie walk has remained popular because we are one of five parishes in the area that hold this event close to Christmas. This timing helps relieve households of the task and stress of Christmas baking and gift shopping, giving them more time to focus on other holiday needs,” Lu said.
The stories she hears each year are part of what makes the event special. Wives send husbands out early, reminding them not to miss the cookie walk. Hospital employees stop by to purchase treats for their coworkers and families return year after year because the event has become a familiar part of their Christmas preparations.
The event’s popularity has also encouraged the cookie walk committee to keep finding ways to make the cookie walk fresh. As the parish prepares to celebrate the event’s 20th year in 2026, each area has been challenged to create something connected to the number 20.
a parish working together
The cookie walk is possible because of an extraordinary amount of parish involvement. Bakers prepare cookies and sweets, volunteers decorate the parish hall and parishioners donate raffle items. The men’s club assists with tasks that require extra hands. Some volunteers roll cookie dough while others decorate the finished cookies.
“This event helps build community by the many who contribute,” Lu said. “We have people doing so much, not only by baking and crafting, but also by going the extra mile, such as donating items for raffle baskets or sharing their decorating skills.”
The energy does not end when the final cookie is sold. As the event concludes, parishioners are already sharing suggestions for the following year. The cookie walk has become a place where people discover how their own gifts can contribute to something greater than themselves.
Father Konopa sees that collaboration as one of the clearest signs of the cookie walk’s importance to parish life, bringing people together in service while also giving them a meaningful way to welcome the wider community.
“There are plenty of people who don’t have a positive connection to the Catholic Faith, perhaps even to Jesus,” Father Konopa said. “Attending this event can be a more inviting doorway than entering our church for Mass.”
That doorway matters. Visitors encounter cheerful volunteers, Christmas music, hospitality and a parish family working together with joy. They are welcomed by Mrs. Claus, offered cookie samples and invited into a space where faith is present naturally and openly.
“This brings them through our parish hall door to then spend time with joyful Catholics,” Father Konopa said.
grace at work
Every major parish event has challenges, and a winter fundraiser presents its own unique obstacles. The weather can affect attendance, prices change and volunteers grow older. Yet Lu believes every parish has its own strengths and its own way of building something meaningful.
“Some parishes may not have a designated room or specific area for events, but they have their own unique structures and parish families. Regardless of how they organize an event to achieve their own success story, it’s important for them to take a moment to step back, smile and listen to the whispers of a ‘job well done,’” she said.
The Mary, Mother of the Church Cookie Walk has also demonstrated its resilience. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when many parishes were forced to cancel winter fundraisers, Mary, Mother of the Church adapted by creating a careful drive-thru version of the event. Working with health officials and following recommendations, parishioners found a way to preserve an important Christmas tradition during an uncertain time. “It was essential to maintain the normalcy of this time of year, bringing some aspect of our Christmas event into homes. Moving to the drive-thru setup allowed us to do that,” Lu said.
Father Konopa credits Miller’s leadership while also recognizing her humility and the many volunteers who made the event possible. “Lu is an amazing organizer. No detail is too small, and no person is insignificant,” he said. “She is powered by something greater than caffeine: Grace.”
That grace is visible in the thousands of cookies, the busy hands, the warm welcomes and the quiet moment of prayer before the doors open. The Mary, Mother of the Church Cookie Walk may begin with a plate and a glove, but it offers something much greater: a joyful witness to what can happen when a parish family comes together to serve, celebrate and share the Christmas spirit.