August 1, 2023

Summer News From Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish

August 1, 2023

Dear Parishioners and Friends of Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish,

Greetings and blessings!

Rarely does the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord fall on a weekend. We are blessed that this powerful and inspiring Feast is this weekend during the heat of August. In the event we have come to call Jesus’ “transfiguration,” the three disciples actually realize the divinity—the very life and love of God—that exists within the person of Jesus. It seems to me, that we are reminded the the same hint of divinity exists within each one of us, as well: God present within us, animating us to do wonderful, holy things; guiding our steps as we try to walk justly and humbly in the ways of God; enlightening our vision with wisdom and selflessness to bring hope and mercy of God to our world.

Here a few moments (among many) of transfigurations that I see occurring all around me:

The recently married couple who transform into nurturing and generous parents, sharing their patience, enduring love, wonder and faith with their newborn child.

The person stricken by critical illness who still offers strength, wisdom, and kindness to those they encounter each day.

The young ones who discover for the first time a special talent, skill or insight that impacts the world around them.

What are those transfiguring moments you have witnessed in the past weeks? Name them and relish the moment of meeting a hint and clue of the holy, sacred, and divine entering our daily lives.

The challenge of discipleship is to allow the love of God within us to “transfigure” despair into hope, sadness into joy, anguish into healing, estrangement into community. May the ultimate gift of Jesus’ transfiguring power model the holy that is within us…to do good, to build peace, to make our world a better place for all…to see the Kingdom of God revealed.

Peace,

Fr. George Couturier

The Transfiguration

of the Lord

August 6, 2023

4:00 PM at Saint James

9 AM at Saint Elizabeth Seton

11:00 AM at Saint James

Join us for coffee & conversation after the Sunday Morning masses!

Photo courtesy of Saint John’s University, Collegeville, Minnesota. 2014

Hello Families!

Registration for our Faith Formation Program is happening NOW!

Summer is flying by so please get your registration in as soon as you can!

By registering now, you help us in planning our classes and recruiting the number of catechists we will need.

Registration for all classes will close this year on September 1, 2023.

We also need catechists for the upcoming year for grades 4 - 8. If you volunteer as a catechist you will receive free registration for your child/children. You will complete a separate registration form if you volunteer. Please contact the Faith Formation Office at reo@sjbrh.org or call 860-529-1274 to learn more.

All our registrations this year will be done online. You can access it by clicking the green button below or scanning the QR Code.

Fall classes begin starting the week of Sunday, September 24, 2023. We will have more information coming later about our Fall program.

Have a wonderful summer!

Peace,

Monica, Beth, Carol, Linda, and Lori

Click Here to Register for Faith Formation

Fifth Annual Golf Outing

Friday, September 22, 2023

Timberlin Golf Club

330 Southington Road, Berlin CT

Lunch/Registration at 11:00AM

Scramble Format

Shotgun Start at 12:30 PM

Dinner to follow

$150 per golfer includes 18 holes of golf w/cart, use of driving range, sleeve of golf balls, lunch and buffet dinner.

Cash prizes for first and second place. 50/50 cash raffle. Prizes for closest to the pin and longest drive.

Click Here for Golf Outing Brochure & Registration Form

Holiday Fair Planning Meeting

The Holiday Fair Committee will be meeting on Tuesday, August 1st, at 7:00 PM in the Parish Center. If you are interested in planning for this event, join us! Bring your enthusiasm, brilliant ideas and help plan for this joyful annual event!

Learn More About Our Holiday Fair

Learn More About the Pilgrimage Here

Charismatic Prayer Group

Our Charismatic Prayer Group gives praise, honor, thanks and love to Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Our gatherings include Christian music, charismatic prayer, discussion of biblical readings and sharing prayer petitions. We meet on the first Tuesday of the month from 7:00-8:30 PM online. Contact Kristie Witherspoon to learn more: kblicharz@gmail.com.

GIVE BLOOD

Give Blood! The American Red Cross needs you! The next blood drive hosted at our Parish Center at St. James Church is scheduled for Thursday, August 17 from 1:00 PM - 6:00 PM.

Go to www.redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS to register to give.

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 2023 Appeal literature! Please visit the Appeal website to learn more and make your gift today. All funds contributed to the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal 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.