September is an opportunity to look back at a wonderful summer and to look forward to a busy autumn. The summer provided a wonderful pilgrimage to the holy shrines of Fatima, Lourdes and Barcelona. The prayers and blessings of that special time away are still being experienced not only by the travelers but also the numerous people we carried with us in our prayers. Old friendships were nurtured, and many new friendships were discovered along the way. Now the question at hand is “Where are we going next, Father?” I had a meeting already with Fr. Stephen Sledesky of St. Mary in Simsbury, my partner on this trip, as well as our travel coordinator to look at possibilities for future trips.
With the luggage finally unpacked and the laundry done, it is time to move into the fall activities in the parish and in Suffield. Beginning September 1, we return to our “usual” weekend schedule of Masses on Sunday morning at 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. as well as our 4:00 p.m. Vigil Mass every Saturday. It might have been a big adjustment for some at first, but we did see many positives throughout the summer months as old friends reconnected and new members joined us in prayer. The schedule allows for the resumption of our Sunday morning religious education classes, full choir and other Sunday activities. One event to add to your calendar is our Outdoor Rosary in the Mary Garden on Sunday. September 15 at 12:15 p.m. as we honor our Lady of Fatima and pray for the needs of each one of us, our nation and our world. Everyone is welcome to attend. In the event of rain, we will meet in Fr. Ted Hall.
The parish and the Knights of Columbus are also gearing up for Suffield on the Green. Once again, Sacred Heart will host the Friends of the Library Used Book sale in Fr. Ted Hall. We will also have a booth on the green to share information about our parish family. With the support of our Knights of Columbus Council, Sacred Heart will be hosting the Roaming Railroad Kiddie Train Rides around the green. The rides are free of charge, tickets can be picked up at our booth.
As always, you can stay in touch with our Sacred Heart Parish Family by following us on Facebook, Sacred Heart Suffield, Conn. or our web site at www.sacredheartct.com.