Advent Reflections
From the rose vestment to the depiction of joy in the prayers and readings, the Advent theme of rejoicing permeates the liturgy on the Third Sunday of Advent. The day is called Gaudete Sunday, “gaudete” coming from the Latin, “to rejoice.” We hear the word rejoice in the entrance antiphon: “Rejoice in the Lord always,” and the word joy in the collect, or opening prayer. The reading from Isaiah portrays this joy, telling of the desert and the parched land rejoicing and a time when the eyes of the blind will be opened, the lame will leap, and the mute will sing.
Isaiah predicts salvation and God’s victory over sickness and evil. Our “Thanks be to God” after the first reading should be emphatic, because wonderful things await us. Psalm 146 offers praise and hope as it tells how the Lord sets captives free, protects strangers, and thwarts the wicked. At this halfway point in Advent, the Letter of St. James tells us to be patient “until the coming of the Lord.”
For your Advent prayer this week, reflect on the reading from St. James, reading it in the morning or before a meal. St. James tells us not to judge another and to look to the prophets as an example of hardship and patience. The Scripture will help you center on the meaning of Advent.
Excerpt © 2022 Liturgy Training Publications. 800-933-1800. Text by Patricia J. Hughes, dmin. Scripture quotations are from the New American Bible, revised edition. Permission to publish granted by the Archdiocese of Chicago.
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Immaculate Conception
December 8, 2022
Noon - St. James
7 PM - St. Elizabeth Seton
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Third Sunday of Advent
Gaudete Sunday
December 11, 2022
4 PM Vigil - St. James
9 AM - St. Elizabeth Seton & Livestreamed
*Masks strongly encouraged in our worship spaces!*
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The Giving Manger
We invite our families in Faith Formation as well as all our parishioners to join us in our Advent Faith Activity. Create a simple manger for Jesus out of a basket or small box and fill it each day with straw or strips of paper every time you perform an act of kindness.
The Giving Manger is a tradition that focuses on preparing for Jesus' birth through acts of kindness and service to others. During Advent, a piece of straw (or other material like hay, yarn, paper, ribbon, etc.) is placed in the manger for each kind deed or act of service performed during Advent
Click on the link below to download "The Giving Manger" kit with samples acts of kindness for adults and children in your household.
When your manger is full at Christmas, please share pictures with us by email to reo@sjbrh.org.
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Advent Spirituality Opportunities |
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Advent Morning of Reflection
Praying with Mind, Body & Spirit
Saturday, December 10
9:45 - 11:30 AM
Saint Elizabeth Seton Church
Join us for an Advent morning as we learn, share, discuss and pray using mind, body and spirit. Expand your understanding of prayer through the experience. Adults of ALL abilities are welcome to participate. Let us know that you are planning to attend.
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Parish Tree Lighting
Carol Sing & Christmas Pageant
Saturday, December 10
5:00 PM
Saint James Church
Labyrinth Adjacent to Parish Center
Join our community after the 4PM Vigil Mass in celebrating and lighting our tree in the center of the Labyrinth on the campus of Saint James. We will enjoy pizza, cookies and cocoa in the Parish Center after. Free will offering. All are welcome!
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Christmas Caroling Caravan
To Bring Our Homebound Cheer
Sunday, December 11
4:30 PM
Meet at Saint James Church
(eastern side of parking lot)
Small groups will sing 3-4 carols at the homes of elderly and homebound community members and friends. Family groups are encouraged! This a great memory-making event for the carolers and for homebound. Please email Joy at Joy@sjbrh.org to sign up to carol. If you know someone who would appreciate a Christmas visit from our merry band of carolers, email that information to Joy as well. There is a limited number of people we can visit based upon the number of volunteer carolers, so contact Joy ASAP!
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Third Annual Virtual Caroling Event
Join Members of the Music Ministry in
singing your favorite Christmas Carols
Sunday, December 18 at 7:00 PM
We especially encourage families with children to participate in this precious tradition of singing these rich and wonderful songs about the birth of Christ and some popular Christmas season songs too.
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Bless Your Home Nativity Scene
The practice of setting up a nativity scene begins in Advent and continues through the Twelve Days of Christmas until the Celebration of the Epiphany on January 6. Saint Francis of Assisi began the custom of the nativity scenes when he celebrated Christmas with his brothers at Greccio in 1223 with a Bethlehem scene which included live animals. This tradition quickly spread and people began to construct their own nativity scenes in their homes, churches, schools and public spaces. You might set up your entire scene leaving the crib empty for the Christ Child to arrive on Christmas Eve. Or set up the scene slowly, placing the figures far from the scene and moving them closer day by day. The three kings arrive on Epiphany bearing gifts for the child Jesus. For a simple blessing of your nativity scene, Click Here.
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Pray the Rosary this Advent
Our parish community gathers to pray the rosary at St. James Church on Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 8:30am and Saturday afternoons at 3:20pm. All are welcome!
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Advent Daily
Mass Schedule
Monday | 8:30 AM at St. Elizabeth Seton
Tuesday | 8:00 AM at St. James
Thursday | 8:00 AM at St. James
Friday | 8:30 AM at St. Elizabeth Seton
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Advent
Reconciliation Schedule
Mondays | 6:00 PM at Seton
12.18.22 | 4:00 PM at St. James
12.20.22 | 6:00 PM at St. James
12.22.22 | 6:00 PM at St. James
12.23.22 | 6:00 PM at Seton
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Fr. George and our parish Directors of Music Ministry lead Prayer online through Advent.
Wednesday Morning Prayer with Music: Streamed Wednesdays on Facebook at 5:00 AM and available after
Evening Prayer: Streamed Monday - Friday on Facebook at 5:00 PM and available after
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Adoration
First Thursdays
8:30 AM at St. James
Every Thursday
3:00 PM at St. James
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Advent Giving Opportunities |
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Advent Giving Project
The Christmas tree symbolizes the spirit and joy of Christmas. This year our parish is bringing back the tradition of helping others thru our Giving Trees that will be located at both churches.
This effort will be a collaborative one between our Parish Outreach Ministry and our Faith Formation Ministry. Our theme will be “the circle of life,” in collecting items for people at all ages and stages. We will be supporting four organizations that have asked for help.
Our Giving Trees will be filled with gift tags for you to take. On the tags you will find suggested gift items needed for one of our four agencies:
- Baby Bottle tags for infants in support of Birthright (e.g., diapers, “onesies”)
- Cell Phone tags for teens in support of The Solnit Center (e.g., art supplies, games)
- Bowl of Soup tags for adults / homeless in support of The Friendship Center (e.g., clothing, kitchen & bedding items)
- Nativity Scene tags for older adults in support of local nursing and memory care facilities in Rocky Hill (e.g., coloring books, slippers)
All tags will be clearly identified by “life’s chapter” and the specific items being requested.
All gifts should be returned unwrapped to either church NO LATER than Monday, December 12, 2022.
Donations can be dropped off at either church location:
St. James Church: Father Shea Hall, Mon-Fri (9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.) or before the masses at 4:00 or 11:00.
St. Elizabeth Seton Church: Bins located near the Church kitchen, Mon - Fri (9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.) or before the Sunday mass at 9:00.
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Food & Cereal
For Our Local Pantries
Households who struggle with hunger need our help year round. We continue to seek food and cereal donations for our monthly delivery to the Rocky Hill and Amazing Grace food pantries. Non-perishable food items and cereal boxes can be dropped off at either church location. Learn more here.
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Winter Clothing
Collection
The Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish Winter Clothing Collection continues. We accept Winter Clothing in clean, good to excellent condition. Place donations in the collection bin in the front foyer of St. James Church (behind the divider). Absolutely NO household goods.
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Give Blood
The American Red Cross has launched a Severe Blood Shortage Appeal. All eligible donors are encouraged to schedule appointments now. The next drive hosted at our Parish Center at St. James Church is scheduled for Thursday, December 8, from 1PM-6PM. Call 1-800-RED-CROSS or go to www.redcrossblood.org to register to give.
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Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish
Rectory Office
on the campus of St. James Church
767 Elm Street, Rocky Hill
860-529-8655
Monday - Friday: 9:00AM - 2:30PM
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Help us to stay connected and keep you up to date with the information you need to know about Faith Formation and St. Josephine Bakhita Parish.
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Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish
767 Elm Street
Rocky Hill, CT 06067
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