July 18, 2026

Faith on Fire returns Aug. 20-21

REGIONAL
Staff report

Marian Father Anthony Gramlich blesses a family at Faith on Fire, Aug. 21, 2025, at Sacred Heart Parish in Feeding Hills. (IObserve file photo)

FEEDING HILLS – The 14^th annual Faith on Fire will take place Aug. 20-21 at Sacred Heart Parish in Feeding Hills from 6-9 p.m. The rally includes inspiring talks, praise and worship music, reconciliation, eucharistic adoration, a procession and pray overs.

The featured speakers are Maronite Father Bassam Saade’, the pastor of St. Anthony Maronite Catholic Church in Springfield; Marion Father Chris Alar, and Marian Father Anthony Gramlich, both of the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy in Stockbridge.

“I think of the rally as a booster shot of faith.  The rally supplements our religious life and encourages us to seek more ways to learn and grow in our faith by way of religious studies, seminars, etc.,” said Linda Bathel, one of the organizers for the event.

“The community has asked for more rallies to be organized. So that tells me how important the rally is to the Christian community,” she said. 

Father Saade and Father Gramlich will speak Thursday evening, Aug. 20. Longtime Sacred Heart parishioner, Dianne “Dee” Ziegert, will give a witness talk. Ziegert, whose daughter Lisa Ziegert was murdered in 1992, said she will share about how her Catholic faith sustained her.

“It will be a faith journey, how unbelievably my faith grew and increased after a tragic event,” Ziegert said of her talk. “It changed. It got stronger, got more personal. ” Ziegert has helped at Faith on Fire for several years as a member of the parish St. Martha’s Guild.

Marian Father Chris Alar will speak on Friday evening, Aug. 21. Psalm 33 will provide the music ministry for both nights.

After the talks, there will be a eucharistic procession, and the praying of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. People will have an opportunity to be prayed over after the procession, which is a highlight for many. Several priests will also be available for the sacrament of reconciliation.

“Friends meet at the rally to see each other to experience the evenings. When you come to the rally, you can feel the air is full of peace and faith. The guest speakers bring knowledge and their passion for God to ignite the fire in people,” said Bathel.

The Agawam Knights of Columbus Council 5585 and the St. Martha’s Guild will provide food and beverage for purchase. Attendees are asked to bring lawn chairs or blankets. The event will be held inside in the event of rain.