Parishioners in the western Massachusetts ended summer with pancakes and parish picnics, and looked forward to fall with a fundraiser for a local Catholic school — This Week in the Diocese!

A volunteer serves pancakes to hungry patrons at the End-of-Summer Pancake Breakfast at St. Michael's Cathedral.

Sister of St. Joseph Eileen Sullivan, pastoral minister; a parish volunteer; and Deacon Leo Coughlin, director of the diocesan diaconate formation program, serve at the End-of-Summer Pancakes event at St. Michael's Cathedral.

St. Joan of Arc School families and students volunteer at the St. Rose de Lima Parish Picnic in Chicopee on Sept. 8.

St. Joan of Arc School alumni volunteer at the St. Rose de Lima Parish Picnic to fulfill confirmation service hours.

St. Rose de Lima Community Life members sell raffle tickets at the parish picnic, which benefits St. Joan of Arc School.

A Conventual Franciscan priest and parishioners enjoy the annual Parish Picnic/Block Party, held on Sept. 8 at Our Lady of the Cross Parish in Holyoke.