On the evening of Feb. 8, 2019, MHR held its 2nd Annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner since Father Piotr's arrival to MHR in Nov. 2017. Smithsonian caterers treated volunteers to a mouth-watering feast including a fish entree and a delicious Chicken Marsala. A beautiful cake was provided by parishioners Peter and Laura Meyer. Fr. Piotr started the evening with a prayer and grateful thanks to everyone who supports the parish with their time and talent. There are, of course, many opportunities for anyone who would like to become a volunteer, and we invite parishioners to stop by the office to see how they could take part.

The exciting young adult group known as i.d. 916 currently meets at Most Holy Redeemer Church on the first Thursday of every month at 6 p.m. This group of dedicated, faithful individuals is part of a growing number of millennials in the United States interested in deepening their faith and becoming "intentional disciples." (hence the abbreviation "i.d.") 916 refers to the biblical passage at 1 Corinthians, chapter 9, verse 16. Adults in their 20's and 30's are encouraged to join us for an evening of worship, food, fellowship, and discussion. If you are an adult generally in this age category who is seeking a deepening of your faith, you are more than welcome to attend the meetings. Come for all or any part of the evening's offerings. The agenda each month is as follows: 6:00 p.m. Holy Half (half hour of Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament); 6:30 p.m. Mass; 7:00 p.m. Dinner and social time; 8:00 p.m. Live Streaming Conference, discussion. More information on the group, how it got its start, and its mission can be found at www.id916.com.

The Knights of Columbus Council #1619 joined Most Holy Redeemer Parish in September and have been making their presence known in exciting ways ever since. On Nov. 3 the Knights sponsored the New Beginnings Harvest Dinner in our Parish Center (catered by the Log Cabin in Holyoke). One hundred fifty guests were treated to a fine repast, music by the Lark Jazz Trio, and door prizes. Recently the Knights sponsored the Coats for Kids Drive. At the time of this writing over 20 coats had been collected and were being distributed to families in need. Some of the many projets that the KOC are involved in are Pro-Life, Food for Families, Wreaths Across America, and the annual Tootsie Roll Drive.