August 28, 2023

Bishop calls on crowd to tell the world about Jesus at Faith on Fire

REGIONAL
By Nick Morganelli

AGAWAM – More than 250 people attended Faith on Fire, Friday, Aug. 25 at Sacred Heart Parish in Feeding Hills. Because of rain, the event was held inside the church. The annual event included talks, praise and worship music, reconciliation, Eucharistic adoration and a procession, and the laying on hands.

Springfield Bishop William D. Byrne was one of the evening’s speakers. The bishop found a common denominator in attendees with every hand going up as he asked “Who knows someone they love that doesn’t attend church anymore?” He continued by saying that there should be a sign posted as people leave the parking lot of their parishes that reads: “You are entering mission territory.”

Bishop Byrne said that so many people outside the church walls don’t know Jesus. He shared five points of evangelization from St. Philip Neri.

“A joyful heart is more easily perfected than a gloomy one,” he said. The bishop then called on those gathered to have a heart of Jesus when speaking to others.

“Jesus said, where two or three are gathered in my name, that’s who we are. It’s called ‘faith on fire’ for a reason,” Bishop Byrne told IObserve before his talk. “It’s important for everyone to do things that bring people in to give them encounters with Jesus and pray in front of the Blessed Sacrament, to sing together. And I encourage all to not wait for your pastor to say something. Get your friends together and bring it to your pastor and say ‘we’ll make it happen, just support us.’”

Other speakers included Marian Father Anthony Gramlich, the vice-rector of Shrine Liturgy at the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, who spoke on the Holy Spirit. Father David Aufiero, the pastor of Holy Family Parish in South Deerfield, spoke on the powerful example of the Blessed Mother.

After the talks, Father Aufiero carried the monstrance with the Blessed Sacrament in the Eucharistic procession which wound through the church parking lot, before coming back inside the church. Then, the youth music ministry groups comprised of Psalm 33 of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish in Westfield and teenagers from St. Cecilia Parish in Wilbraham, led the congregation in the singing of the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy.

“The procession reminds me of a Marian procession in Fatima, but it’s right here,” said John Paulmann, a parishioner at St. Mary Parish in Westfield. This was Paulmann’s first time attending Faith on Fire.

“I’m awakening to the power of the Spirit. We are slowly dancing with the beautiful harmonies here, and they’re not just musical for me, but spiritual to lift us up together, hope together as we pray together,” Paulmann said.

The Agawam Knights of Columbus Council 5585 and the St. Martha’s Guild provided food and beverages for purchase in the parish center.

A video version of this story will be featured on an upcoming edition of “Real to Reel,” which will temporarily air Sunday mornings at 6:30 a.m. on WWLP-22NEWS from Sept. 3 through Nov. 19.