Can drive and uniform exchange
Springfield – St. Michael’s Academy will be hosting a can drive on Saturday, March 5 from 9 a.m. to noon. Drop off your cans and bottles at the Wheeler Avenue parking lot. Also on this day is the second annual uniform swap from 10 a.m. to noon. St. Michaels Academy is located at 153 Eddywood St.
40 Days Spring Prayer Campaign for Life
Springfield – The 40 Days For Life spring campaign is scheduled for March 2 through April 10. The pro-life campaign is an ecumenical effort based on peaceful, prayerful witness before the Western Massachusetts Health Center in Springfield, operated by the Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts. People can register with their parishes or as individuals to cover hours in front of the clinic. For more information about the campaign and other pro-life activities, visit the Respect Life Office webpage at diospringfield.org/ministries/respect-life-office/.
Sale of Polish frozen food
Springfield – Immaculate Conception Church, 25 Parker St., in the Indian Orchard section will be hosting a Polish frozen food sale (pierogi, golabki, and kapusta) on Saturday, March 5 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. All are welcome to come and buy.
Presentation of the meeting of the Shroud
Southwick – The highly acclaimed ‘Shroud Encounter’ will come to Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church located at 224 Sheep Pasture Rd on Saturday, March 5 at 6 p.m. and Sunday, March 6 at 1 p.m. Admission is $10. Children under 18 are free. “Shroud Encounter” is a production of the Shroud of Turin Education Project, Inc.. and will be presented by international expert Russ Breault. The presentation is a fast-paced, large-screen experience using over 200 images covering all aspects of Shroud research. A full-scale, museum-quality replica will be on display. Tickets can be purchased on the website at Shroud Encounter Tickets or by contacting Kim in the office at 413-569-0161 or parishoffice@ollsouthwick.org.
Heifer Project
Agawam – This Feeding Hills Easter Congregational Church will sponsor Heifer International in “feeding our faith and feeding the hungry.” During the six Sundays of Lent, CHF Canada will “Fill the Ark” with animals. With each donation, we will receive a cut-out animal to place in the ark, a home devotion card and a raffle ticket. The raffle prize, which will be drawn on Palm Sunday, will be a daily devotional titled “Jesus Listens” by Sarah Young. Heifer International is a global non-profit organization working to eradicate poverty and hunger through holistic, sustainable, values-based community development. Heifer International distributes animals, as well as agricultural and values-based training, to needy families around the world as a way to ensure self-sufficiency. Beneficiaries must agree to “pass on the gift” by donating animal offspring, as well as sharing the skills and knowledge of animal husbandry and agricultural training with other poor families in the community. More information can be obtained by emailing the church at fhcc.communications@gmail.com. The church is located at 21 North Westfield St. in the Feeding Hills section.
Bible studies course
Chicopee – St. Mary’s House of Prayer, 202 East Main St. will host “The Seven Sorrows Bible Study: What We Can Learn From Our Mother of Sorrows,” hosted by Penny Piazza. During this study, learn to meditate on the 7 Sorrows of Mary in order to navigate your own personal trials and sufferings as Mary, the Mother of Jesus, did. By meditating on the Sorrows of Mary, discover how the Sorrows of Our Lady correspond to the 7 Gifts of the Holy Spirit. The 7-week series is offered Tuesday mornings from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. from March 8 to April 9 or Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. from March 9 to April 20. Full details and entry form are available at www.maryshousechicopee. For questions, contact Penny at pennypiazza@me.com. The cost of the notebook will be $15.
hamentash bake
Longmeadow – Chabad Women invites you to Part 4 of “A Holiday Series,” taking place Tuesday, March 8 at 7 p.m. at Lubavitcher Yeshiva Academy, 1148 Converse St. Bake your own hamentash for the Purim holiday with toppings unique. All attendees will learn the four mitzvot (commandments) that apply to Purim. Each participant will leave with materials to create their own Mishloach Manot. Home cooked Hamentash will be served. RSVP Chanie Cohen 413-731-1381 or email chaniecohen@gmail.com. The cost for the evening is $20. Admission includes all hamentash supplies and refreshments.
Additional worship time
AGAWAM – St. John the Evangelist Church, 833 Main St. announces extra time for worship each month. On the occasion of the “Year of the Eucharist”, an initiative of the Diocese of Springfield. On the first Fridays, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., mass precedes adoration at 8 a.m. Any Catholic interested in registering for a First Friday Worship Hour can register in the church vestibule. third Thursday, 7 to 9 p.m.; Wednesday, every week, from noon to 5:45 p.m., Holy Mass takes place at 6 p.m. “The Year of the Eucharist” is an initiative of the Diocese of Springfield to inspire and cultivate a deeper understanding and practice of the real presence of the Eucharist. The “Year of the Eucharist” runs until October 7. For more information visit www.YearOfTheeucharist.net
Vigil for the unborn child
Springfield – Please join Catholics for the Unborn for a pro-life vigil Thursday, March 10 at 10 a.m. at St. Michael’s Cathedral, State Street. The vigil begins with the Exposition, the Recitation of the Rosary, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy and then Adoration. At noon, there will be the blessing followed by the daily mass. For more information, call Marilyn at 567-6085.
Agawam Catholic Women’s Club Meeting
Agawam – Fr. John Hurley, Parish Vicar of St. John the Evangelist Parish will be the guest speaker March 14 from the Catholic Women’s Club of Agawam. It will be held at the Parish Center, 833 Main Street, beginning at 6:30 p.m. with refreshments in the gymnasium. The evening will continue at 7:00 p.m. with the monthly club business meeting, after which Fr. Hurley will speak. All Catholic women, residing or members of a Catholic parish in Agawam are invited to attend this meeting.
Novena to Saint Patrick
Holyoke – St. Jerome’s Church celebrates a novena to St. Patrick beginning Wednesday March 9 and ending Thursday March 17. This Novena is a community-wide prayer service, with each of the nine Novena Masses being celebrated by a different priest. Bishop William Byrne will be the celebrant on Tuesday, March 15, and priests currently serving or who have served in any of the three parishes of Holyoke will be the other celebrants. Weekday novena masses will be celebrated at 12:15 p.m. Saturday novena mass will be celebrated at 4 p.m. and Sunday novena mass will be celebrated at 8 a.m. The church is located at 169 Hampden St.
St. Patrick’s Day Dinner
Southwick -Knights of Columbus Council #11178 will host a corned beef and cabbage dinner on Saturday, March 19 from 5-6:30 p.m. St. Patrick’s Day dinner will consist of corned beef and cabbage, potatoes, onions and carrots. Also, a drink and a dessert. Dinner will be held at Our Lady of the Lake Church, 234 Sheep Pasture Road. Dinner will be held at Fr. Shea Hall on Saturday, March 19 from 5-6:30 p.m. Cost will be 13 and over $10, 5-12 $5, under 3 free (maximum per family $25). -8440 or email KofC11178@ollsouthwick.org.
Pro-Life Art and Essay Contest
Springfield – Pro-Life of Pioneer Valley sponsors their annual essay and art contest. Contests on this topic, “Why am I pro-life,” are open to all children and young adults in grades four through 12, living or attending school in Western Massachusetts. Prizes will be awarded in three age categories. For the essay contest, first and second prizes will be awarded. As part of the poster competition, one prize per age group will be awarded. For specific rules and a submission form, visit www.prolifepv.com or email prolifepioneervalley@gamil.com. The deadline for entries is April 8. The awards will be presented at the annual banquet to be held this year at Wyckoff Country Club on April 23.
Free weekly lunch for veterans
Holyoke – Community Roots Neighborhood Services provides a free hot meal to Veterans and their immediate adult family (parents or spouse). Lunches are held every Thursday at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 485 Appleton St. Questions? Email Gina Nelson at crnsholyoke@gmail.com.
online devotions
Easthampton – The Baha’i Community of Western Mass./Southern Vt. invites everyone to its regular online devotional programs as follows: Weekly Sunday Devotions via Zoom at 11:30 a.m. every Sunday morning, hosted by local communities, including the Baha’is of Easthampton and others on an alternating basis. Their regular Zoom programs also include La Pausa Devocional offered every other Saturday at 10 a.m. Additional and updated programming can be viewed on their online schedule at https://pvbc.local.bahai.us/ or call 413-570-3019 for details.
The Vine and Branches Gift Shop is open
Agawam – The Vine and Branches Gift Shop at Sacred Heart Parish in Feeding Hills will continue to be open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Contact Deb Briancesco at 786- 8200 ext. 3 for any questions.
