2026 St Valentine’s Day Gala
On Saturday, February 14, 2026, Sacred Heart Parish hosted the 2026 St Valentine’s Day Gala in St. Carlo Acutis Hall, following the 5:00 p.m. Mass. The event was sold out at 80 attendees, and the energy in the room matched it. It was an exciting, joyful night of community life, with a clear purpose: supporting the Sacred Heart Building Fund.
The evening was hosted jointly by the Catholic Women’s League (CWL) and the Knights of Columbus, with Anna Marinelli (CWL) serving as master of ceremonies. From the first welcome to the final raffle draw, the program moved smoothly and the tone remained upbeat, friendly, and genuinely communal.
The meal was catered and thoroughly enjoyed: chicken, roast potatoes, vegetables, salad, and buns, followed by dessert and a cake auction that became a highlight of the night. Thirteen beautiful cakes were auctioned off, and the bidding was led by our own SK Stephen Sheridan, who served as auctioneer and kept the room engaged from start to finish.
Fundraising was woven into the evening in several ways. Alongside the cake auction, there was a gift card raffle and three gift card trees raffled as major prizes, with strong participation throughout. The Knights of Columbus also operated a wine sale, with all proceeds directed to the Building Fund. Thank you to SK Wayne Gerylo and Br. Tom Shannon for staffing the wine bar throughout the evening.
By the end of the night, ~ $22,000 had been raised for the Sacred Heart Building Fund. This total reflects the generous giving of those present, a $5,000 donation from the Knights of Columbus through matching contributions (fully achieved to the maximum), and the impact of the Diocese’s Multiply the Hope campaign, through which the donations raised that evening were matched.
Photo credits: Photographs from the evening were captured by our Council Chronicler, SK Roland “Rollie” Reeves, through his skillful photography. We also thank our Council Chef, Br. Sijo Abraham, who helped to plate and serve the catered meal.
It was a powerful example of what happens when parish organisations collaborate well and the parish community responds with enthusiasm. Thank you to the CWL and the Knights of Columbus for hosting, to everyone who attended and contributed, and to all who helped make the night such a success for Sacred Heart.
