April 5, 2022
Dear Parishioners and Friends of Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish,
Greetings and blessings!
This coming Sunday we begin the best week in the whole liturgical year. Centuries ago, it was called the “Great Week.” Now we call it “Holy Week.” We follow Jesus every step of the way.
On Palm Sunday, we start with his triumphant entry into Jerusalem, where he is welcomed, applauded, and acclaimed, by a big crowd of followers.
On Thursday we will join him at table and receive the gift of himself in bread and wine and where he washes the disciples’ feet in reminder of our own call to servant discipleship.
After dining with him we walk with him along the path that leads from the Upper Room to the Garden of Olives. There we will see him falling to the ground in fear and anxiety about the cruel death that awaits him.
Friday will find us standing beside his mother at the foot of the cross and feeling compassion for both his physical agony and his mental torment. There we will be feeling especially some of his sense of being alone and abandoned, betrayed, and deserted, not only by friends and followers, but even by God.
On Saturday we will be quiet and silent around his tomb, as we remember the injustice, hostility, and cruelty of all those evil people who killed him. Then, late on Saturday, we will move from the darkness of our journey to the place of the brightly burning fire. There we will join the procession of the great Easter Candle, representing the risen Christ, as he lights up the darkness of our church and our lives and our world.
There and then, the pain and sadness of our journey with Jesus to Calvary, will give way to the hope and joy that comes with our awareness. Jesus Christ is not dead and gone. No, he is alive, strong, and powerful, alive in himself, and alive in us.
And so, we will be hearing in our hearts those assuring words that Juliana of Norwich in her vision of Christ Crucified heard from his own lips: “All will be well, all will be well, all manner of things will be well.”
Come, let us journey together this great and holy week…as a parish and as a universal church.
Peace and Blessings as we journey together!!
Fr. George Couturier
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April 10, 2022
4 PM Vigil - St. James
*Masks are strongly encouraged in our worship spaces!*
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Lent Evening of Reflection |
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Tuesday, April 5, 2022
7:00 PM
Saint Elizabeth Seton Church
Ignation Pause
Please join us for an hour long evening program first learning about and then praying St. Ignatius of Loyola’s Examen. This is a powerful prayer tool for discernment and to help us grow closer to God by pausing to examine the contours of our daily lives. Our session will be led by Laura Marcucio, a Spanish teacher at East Catholic High School in Manchester. Trained in spiritual direction and in Ignatian spirituality, Laura made the Spiritual Exercises for the first time as a student at the College of the Holy Cross. She has a Masters in Theology from Weston Jesuit School of Theology. For more information, Click Here. |
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Pray The Stations of the Cross |
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The Stations of the Cross invite us to use all our senses as we reflect prayerfully and walk intentionally with Jesus through his suffering, death on the cross and resurrection. Here are some of the ways available:
Attend The Stations of the Cross
Friday, April 8
5:30PM at St. James
&
7:00PM at St. Elizabeth Seton
Good Friday, April 15
7:00PM at St. Elizabeth Seton
&
7:0pm at St. James
led by our Confirmation Program
and livestreamed
Pray The Stations of the Cross with Fr. George Virtually
Pray the Stations of the Cross for
Children, Families & Everyone Virtually
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CRS Rice Bowl Collections
Many Thanks to all the Faith Formation students and families who recently participated in collecting donations for Catholic Relief Services through the Rice Bowl Collection.
Grades 4-8 had a contest organized by our Year One Confirmation students to see what class could raise the most money for this important charity. The totals are in and the and the donations totaled over $1800.00!
The top 3 winning classes are Traci Raila’s 4th grade, Rosanna Glynn’s 7th grade, and Mallory Monaco’s 4th grade.
The Easter Bunny will be visiting all the classes to pass out special prizes to the winners as well as special treats for all the Faith Formation classes. Thank you one and all for this wonderful response and gift to Catholic Relief Services.
All households who have filled their Rice Bowls during Lent are asked to convert your change into cash or a check made out to Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish. Drop your envelope labeled "CRS Rice Bowl" into our collection boxes in the entrance ways of our church buildings. Thank you!
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Easter Food Baskets &
Grocery Gift Cards
Collected April 9-10
Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish will be collecting Easter food “baskets” for families within our community on the weekend of April 9-10 so that they can be delivered before Easter. Rocky Hill Human Services is asking for "generic" baskets for families of four to six people. If your family or group would like to donate a basket, please sign up on the sheet located in the Foyer of either church so we know how many to plan for. If we get enough, some will also be donated to Catholic Worker in Hartford.
Please bring your basket (any container is acceptable as long as it looks nice) to the Rectory garage at Saint Elizabeth Seton or Father Shea Hall at Saint James on Saturday afternoon, April 9 or Sunday morning, April 10. A list of suggested items is available here. Please do not include perishable foods. People will be given gift certificates to use for their fresh foods.
During this weekend we will also be collecting grocery store gift certificates which Rocky Hill Human Services will add to the baskets when they are distributed. Please bring the gift certificates to Mass April 9-10 and place them in the collection basket.
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Lent Special Collection
Our parish collection for the season of Lent will benefit My Sister’s Place, a local agency committed to ending homelessness by empowering women, families and others in Greater Hartford to achieve independence and stability in their community by providing housing and supportive services. Those served by My Sister’s Place are in great need of the following items:
Toilet paper, Baby wipes, Pull-Ups (size 4T & 5T)
Bars of soap, Body wash, Shampoo & Conditioner
Deodorant, Toothbrushes, Toothpaste
Mouthwash, Feminine products
Our parish Outreach Ministry has offered to coordinate our parish donations on their behalf. Donations can be dropped off at either church location:
St. James Church:
Father Shea Hall, Mon - Fri (9:00 AM - 1:00 PM) or before the masses at 4:00 or 11:00.
St. Elizabeth Seton Church:
Bins located near the kitchen, Mon - Fri (9:00 AM - 1:00 PM) or before the Sunday mass at 9:00.
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Lifting Up Intercessory Prayer in Our Churches |
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Light a Candle
Along the back wall in St. James Church and in the Reservation Chapel at St. Elizabeth Church there are votive candle stations which represent our “Sacrifice of Praise.” The word “votive” comes from the Latin word "votum," which originally meant “expressing a desire.” So the next time you are in the chapel, feel free to light a votive candle as a sacrificial offering, expressing your desires and petitions to God.
Prayer Intention Books
Along the back wall of St. James and in the foyer of St. Elizabeth Seton, you can also find prayer intention books. These intentions are then prayed for during the celebration of Mass, and the rosary offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays following daily mass.
Prayer Walls
Additionally, during Lent, our parish Faith Formation Program has placed “Prayer Walls” in both of our churches. You are welcome to tie a ribbon on the wire “wall” to pray for family, friends, peace, or the church community. Ribbons are in the cups surrounding the “wall.”
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When our Prayers Don’t Seem to Work
All are invited to gather and watch a 35 minute video reflection on finding God in times of loss and pain called "When Our Prayers Don't Seem To Work," featuring Noelle Garcia McHugh.
Friday, April 15 at2:00PM
Saint Elizabeth Seton, Room E
Questions: call Ellen & Steve Lowrance at 860-759-0614.
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Holy Week Schedule 2022
Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion
April 10, 2022
4PM ~ St. James
9AM ~ St. Elizabeth Seton (livestreamed)
11AM ~ St. James (livestreamed)
Holy Thursday
April 14, 2022
Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper
7PM ~ St James (livestreamed)
Adoration until 10:00PM
Good Friday
April 15, 2022
Celebration of Our Lord’s Passion
3PM ~ St. James (livestreamed)
3PM ~ St. Elizabeth Seton
Stations of the Cross & Veneration
7PM ~ St. James
7PM ~ St. Elizabeth Seton
Holy Saturday
April 16, 2022
Blessing of Easter Foods
Noon ~ St. James
Easter Vigil
8PM ~ St. Elizabeth Seton (livestreamed)
Easter Sunday
April 17, 2022
9AM ~ St. Elizabeth Seton (livestreamed)
9AM ~ St. James
11AM ~ St. James (livestreamed)
More details can be found here.
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Easter Season Bible Study
Jesus: A Man of Prayer
This Easter Season, Deacon Michael
will be leading a Bible Study
on “Jesus: A Man of Prayer.”
This six-session series will be
held in-person and online.
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Jesus and prayer—two topics that are of immense interest to Christians and that are inextricably linked together.
On Wednesdays starting April 27th Saint Josephine Bakhita Adult Bible Study will be offering a 6-part read and reflect series on praying with Jesus Christ. In this convening of Jesus: Man of Prayer, we will consider prayer by studying the way Jesus prayed as offered in Scripture. We will gain greater understanding of Jesus—and prayer—as we work our way through this helpful and practical Bible study.
The series begins on Wednesday April 27th. Two identical sessions are offered each week, one at 10:00 AM at 7:00 PM at St. James Church Parish Center, and one at 7:00 PM ONLINE via Google Meet.
Registration and participation details can be found here.
All are welcome. No special knowledge of Scripture is required. Preregistration is requested by Tuesday April 12th. $8 fee for materials. Please register by signing up via email at saintjmdeacon@gmail.com or by calling and leaving a message at 860-529-3222 Ext. 14.
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Lenten Rosary
Prayer time: 20 minutes.
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Adoration
Join our community for Adoration this Lent every Thursday at St. James Church from 8:30 - 9:30 AM immediately following the daily mass.
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Lent Daily Prayer
Fr. George and our parish Directors of Music Ministry will lead Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer online through Lent.
Morning Prayer: Streamed on Facebook at 5:00 AM and available after
Evening Prayer: Streamed on Facebook at 5:00 PM and available after
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Daily Mass Schedule
Monday: 8:30am-St. Elizabeth Seton
Tuesday: 8:00am-St. James
Thursday: 8:00am-St. James
Friday: 8:30am-St. Elizabeth Seton
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Reconciliation
Sunday, April 10
4:00pm - St. James
Monday, April 11 & Tuesday, April 12
6:00pm - St. Elizabeth Seton
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It is important that when you give to any charitable organization, you are confident that the funds received are being used wisely. Be assured that your gift to the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal supports the ministries and programs indicated in the 2022 Appeal literature! Organizations in our own community received funding from the Appeal’s Outreach Program, making a difference in the lives of our local neighbors. All donations are used exclusively for the purposes outlined in the Appeal literature, which can be found here. No Appeal funds are ever used for legal fees or settlements.
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Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish
767 Elm Street
Rocky Hill, CT 06067
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