Last weekend, I got to observe something truly amazing come together on the grounds of my church.

My husband Bob and I and our son, Logan, have been members of St. Joseph’s Church in Summit Hill for quite some time, so we have seen the understandably defeated nature of many parishioners whose churches were closed and consolidated over the years.

Their faith was rocked to the core, and I understood their feelings of resentment for the diocese.

But in recent months, a transformation has been occurring in our parish — one of hope and togetherness, and it is refreshing to see it all blossom into something good, something strong and something worth believing in again.

That transformation was evident Saturday evening for the church’s new trunk or treat, a hopefully annual tradition that the Rev. Allen Hoffa and the new Christ One Alive Love or COAL Youth Ministry will continue for years to come.

Following the 4 p.m. Mass, the parking lot was transformed into a Halloween wonderland, filled with everything that goes bump in the night, from a ghoulish graveyard and Candyland stations to Father Hoffa and his family decked out as characters from Batman.

As Bob and I followed Logan through the event, it was amazing to see so many parishioners, some old-time faces, some newer, gather together to celebrate as a parish family and make one incredibly fun time for the children of the Panther Valley area.

I have to give credit to the dozens of parishioners who took the time to create such intricate themes for their vehicles to make an event a child could enjoy and a safe place for them to trick or treat.

I also have to commend Father Hoffa and those behind the scenes for making it happen — not just the trunk or treat, but for the transformation I am seeing every week at Mass.

We are coming back together and building a stronger faith in the pews of St. Joseph one week at a time.

We are building a foundation for our young and old alike, and to see that in this day and age is humbling.

So as we leave the month of October and the Halloween tricks and treats behind, and move ahead to the thankfulness of Thanksgiving, I have to say to those who have made St. Joseph’s Parish of the Panther Valley home, thank you.