Sacred Heart Parish hosts annual auction fundraiser

By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Sacred Heart Parish hosted their annual dinner and auction to raise money for the newly finished Sacred Heart Church, Nov. 2, at the Strathmore Civic Centre. 

“It has been happening for a number of years here already and it is one of the main fundraisers that we have … each year to try and increase a little bit of our revenue on top of the usual contributions from our parishioners,” said Father Cristino Bouvette.

“This time last year, we were aware that the building project was underway, but it still just did not seem real, like it was actually going to happen … it is hard to believe that it actually has happened.”

Bouvette explained the dinner and auction is the most impactful fundraiser of the year for the church.

He added there was no specific fundraising goal in mind, and when the time comes that the church itself is completely paid for, the dinner and auction will continue to be held for the community building that the event offers. 

“I think we already have it booked for another year at least in advance. The fundraising is an important element and we are grateful for whatever we make,” said Bouvette. “Ultimately, it is about getting everybody together, and then there are a lot of people here who are not regular parishioners of Sacred Heart. They are community members from here in Strathmore, and then contacts that people have from out of town. There are people from all around Wheatland County who (come) here.”

Both the silent and live auctions were filled with items, articles, and contributions donated and solicited through the local community. These ranged from physical things, new-in-box donations, to services. 

Bouvette himself offered to host a five-course home cooked Italian meal for up to six as an auction prize for his contribution. 

“It helps us, I think, give a signal to the wider community that we are not just interested in closing in on ourselves and just doing our own thing, but that we really do want to be a part of the life of Strathmore and then hopefully be positively contributing towards it as well,” he said. 

Now that the physical church is open to the public, Sacred Heart continues to expand what it is able to offer to the community in addition to its regularly scheduled worships.