Reverend Francis P. Scanlon, the relatively new pastor of the Shrine Church of St. Ann on Bainbridge Avenue, surprised his congregation recently by announcing the church’s very first Irish soda bread baking contest.

Almost 90 percent of St. Ann’s congregation is of Hispanic descent and most had never even heard of the staple Irish bread leavened with baking soda. The competition began Sunday afternoon, March 11. The three judges – Father Scanlon, William Curran of McKeon Funeral Home, and parishioner Myra Smith – are Irish.

“I’m going to go back to my neighborhood and ask for a rice and beans contest and see how they do,” he said. Smith said three or four entries were authentic, but all were delicious. First place winner for Best Taste, Devina Torro, of Santo Domingo, cooks a little of everything, but this was her first soda bread attempt.

Hector Martinez, of Filipino descent, church organist and music teacher, enjoys cooking and makes “a mean Calabasa soup,” but had also never made soda bread. He took away third place for Best Taste.

Ashley Caraballo, 12, an altar server and sixth grader in St. Ann’s school, didn’t know what soda bread was, but won first place for Most Unique. 

“I gave [the recipe] a twist. I added cinnamon,” she said, holding up her prize, a ceramic figurine of the Lady of Knock.

Sister Gladys organized the event and explained that it was part of a new effort at St. Ann’s to build community. Father Scanlon agreed.

“It’s a way to be together, eat together, celebrate together,” he said.

At the end of the contest, the priest’s voice boomed over the din of children’s voices as he thanked all the participants twice: in English and Spanish. He invited guests to come try the entries. And of course, butter was provided.

Ed. note: The winners of the contest in first to third place order in each category were Best Taste: Devina Torro, Phyllis Meegan and Hector Martinez; Best Appearance: Adele Campos, Sister Gladys and Maria Cabrera; Most Unique: Ashley Caraballo and Cecelia MacDonald.