September 2, 2026

Celebration of Hope Healing Mass to be held at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel

REGIONAL
By Carolee McGrath

SPRINGFIELD – The Celebration of Hope Healing Mass will be held Friday, Sept. 25 at 6 p.m. at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish in Springfield. The Mass is dedicated to all those affected by cancer and other illnesses, their caregivers and loved ones.

“The Celebration of Hope Healing Mass is to give hope, inspire people with any kind of illness. We want to give them something to believe in, strength, and inspiration,” said Teresa Recchia, one of the organizers.

Franciscan Father of the Renewal Giuseppe Maria Siniscalchi will be the celebrant. The Springfield native and former member of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish is the superior of theMost Blessed Sacrament Friary in South Orange, N.J. Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, who recently announced that his cancer is in remission, is the honorary chair of the event.

“The reality is that we have a hope in Jesus that transcends this world. St. John says something that I really love, ‘Who is the conqueror of this world? The one who believes that Jesus Christ is the son of God.’ If we truly believe that God sent his son Jesus into this world to die for us, we will be saved and we will have eternal life,” said Father Siniscalchi in a conversation with the mayor that can be found on the Celebration of Hope website.

“That is the basis of Christian hope and the hope the Catholic Church offers the world. It’s bigger than this world. When we walk with Christ, the light of the Holy Spirit walks with us and gives us the strength and a peace that this world can’t give and this world cannot take away,” he said.

Prayers begin at 5:30 p.m. followed by Mass at 6:00 p.m.

Light refreshments & food for purchase will be served in the parish center following Mass.

A free-will offering will be accepted to benefit the Sister Caritas Cancer Center at Mercy Medical Center.

visit celebrationofhopema.org.