Where we come from.
Ten events in Springfield between 2011 and 2026, rebuilt from a binder of scanned flyers, save-the-date cards and Mass programs.
Fifteen years of Masses, pasta dinners and church-basement raffles, told from the flyers themselves. Every date, name and price on these pages is read off a scan of the original. Personal phone numbers and email addresses of past volunteers have been painted out of four of the flyers. Where a newspaper covered an event we summarize it in our own words and link to the outlet, rather than reprinting the clipping.
Where it started.
A 4 o’clock Mass at St. Michael’s Cathedral, a homemade pasta dinner at the Elks Lodge, and five local cancer charities splitting the proceeds.
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The year it went on television.
The bishop celebrated it, WWLP carried it the next morning, and the dinner dance moved to its own date two weeks later.
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The year the paper came.
A $10,000 goal, a full page in The Republican’s Lifestyle section, and a board member’s line that still runs on this website: all the money stays local.
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Four charities, one ticket.
A save-the-date card, a sponsorship letter dated the day before the Mass, and a board of fourteen volunteers.
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A band called Diversion.
Elks Lodge banquet hall, catered pasta, raffle prizes, and a fifth beneficiary added to the list: LIVESTRONG at the YMCA.
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A law office, a case of wine.
The night the organization stopped being a once-a-year event, held in the law office at 185 Belmont Ave. that is still our mailing address.
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A voice from The Voice.
Balloons on the save-the-date, a balloon release at the Elks Lodge, and a singer from Palmer whose name ran in letters four inches high.
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Hope as an anchor.
A plum program with a gold anchor on the cover, a bishop in the pulpit, and a poem about what cancer cannot do.
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Live. Rejoice. Hope.
A rainbow ribbon instead of a pink one, the Sullivan Family as honorees, and a reception with go-kart racing after.
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Eight years later, the same priest.
A free evening of prayer for anyone touched by cancer, at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Springfield. Prayers at 5:30, Mass at 6:00. Everyone is welcome, and the evening was recorded for anyone who could not be in the room.
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The Healing Mass is Friday, September 25, 2026 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, with the same celebrant who said the first Pink Mass in 2011.