The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)
Sacred Heart to host first parish carnival
The years of traditions -- like in many other parishes and private clubs -- have been going by the wayside for the last several years now. Thirty five years ago at Sacred Heart Parish the parish women and men would get together weeks before the Sacred Heart Polish Festival to make perogies from scratch. They would cook cabbage to make golabki and haluski. Special ways of cooking sauerkraut the old fashion way.
Mostly woman back then did most of the cooking and preparing with the help of some men. Many of the ladies of the parish back then did not have jobs outside of the home. They were stay-at-home moms and those who did work had no problem taking a day off here and there to help out with the cooking to get things done in time for the festival. The amount of hours to prepare for an event like this goes into the hundreds of hours. This was a joint effort by everyone back then to get things done, cooked and ready for the festival.
When the church merger came about in the Bridgeport area and the dust settled several of the new parishioners of Sacred Heart Parish from Mount Carmel came out to help with the festival. They are astonished at how much work on food preparations had to be done for the festival. They said it was crazy but they joined in and things got done.
Over the last couple years more of the older parishioners could no longer help or sadly some are no longer with us. So it was suggested that the festival become a carnival. So 2017 was the last festival for Sacred Heart Parish and 2018 the parish will introduce the first carnival of the parish. Bernie Gutkowski, who ran the Kennedy–Kenrick Catholic High School Carnival years ago, is the chairman of the Parish Carnival and is hoping for a good turnout.
With the carnival the hundreds of hours of food preparations will be gone not to mention the three weeks of setting up the festival grounds. Volunteers are to help with the food, bar and other booths planned for the week of the carnival.
The Sacred Heart Parish Carnival will take place on June 13th to the 16th. The hours of the carnival will be June 13, 14 and 15th 6 to 10 and Saturday June 16th 4 to 10 at the old Sacred Heart School yard,120 Jefferson Street, Bridgeport Pa. 19405. There will be 15 carnival rides that everyone will enjoy. The perogies, kiekbasa, special baked goods and hot pork sandwiches that have been a big hit at the past festivals. Special ticket prices for rides will take place on Wednesday and Thursday of the carnival with $20 wristbands for unlimited rides!
And for entertainment Elvis - as portrayed by Bob E. Hamel, will be in the house on Friday and Saturday nights from 7 pm to 9 pm in the beer garden around the convent grounds.
The surrounding area has plenty of parking including the Sacred Heart Church parking lot. For more info please call 610 275 1750 or unitedinthesacredheart@aol.com or Face book Sacred Heart Parish Carnival.