December 27, 2022

The Christmas Season Shines Bright at Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish
Christmas
Season Liturgy
Schedule
New Year's Eve~Mary, Holy Mother of God
Saturday, December 31
4:00 PM at St. James

Mary, Holy Mother of God
Sunday, January 1
9:00 AM at St. Elizabeth Seton**
11:00 AM at St. James**

Epiphany
Saturday, January 7
4:00 PM at St. James

Sunday, January 8
9:00 AM at St. Elizabeth Seton**
11:00 AM at St. James**

** denotes Mass will also be livestreamed
Rich Blessings
Our scripture readings for January 1st are filled with blessings. In the reading from Numbers, Moses is given a blessing for the Israelites; in the refrain for the responsorial psalm, we ask God to bless us; from Galatians, we hear that we are adopted children of God; and in the Gospel, the shepherds see the infant Jesus, certainly a blessing.

It is up to us to continue to carry the blessings we have received into the world, just as the shepherds “made known the message that had been told them.” Not only can you let others know of the good news that has been passed on to you, but you can bless others.

Write down the words of the first reading: “The Lord bless you and keep you! / The Lord let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you! / The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace!” Use this text to bless children, friends, and relatives during this last week of the Christmas season. Parents could use the blessing in the reading from Numbers to bless a child before bedtime. Teens could use these words to conclude their weekly youth ministry gatherings. Consider other people in your life who would appreciate being blessed.
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.
In his Christmas homily, Fr. George invited all of us to reflect on the significance of the manger in the here and now. As we journey through the 2 weeks of the Christmas Season, we can ponder how we welcome and glorify Jesus, born anew in the manger of our lives. Enjoy this compilation of the manger scenes displayed in our church spaces and shared by fellow parishioners throughout Advent as a source of inspiration. How is the birth of the infant Jesus, once laid in a manger in Bethlehem, the source of our life, our faith and our joy?
Christmas Blessings from Faith Formation
 Wishing all members of Saint Josephine Bakhita parish a joyful and peaceful Christmas season as you celebrate with your loved ones! We look forward to seeing you in the New Year!
Peace,
Monica, Beth, Carol, Linda & Lori

Here is a special prayer that we would love to offer for all of you!
A warm thank you from Fr. George and the staff at Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish for all the ways you generously gifted us this Christmas Season. Thank you for your kind gestures, cards, gifts and support through this holy time of year! We are truly grateful!
Advent Giving Projects
🍬💌💝HUGE THANKS to our Faith Formation catechists and students in Grades 2-8 who made beautiful holiday cards and candy bags to be donated to the agencies we support, our local nursing homes and our homebound parishioners.
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.
Stay tuned for more news on the amazing and generous reach our parish community has had through our Advent Giving Trees!
Other Tidbits
Annual Women's Retreat Weekend
Women of Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish and Friends are invited to join us on our annual weekend retreat, January 6-8, 2023. Let us find, together, "A Missing Peace" for which we all long. Through our prayer together, presentations, and shared discussions, we can come closer to understanding how to achieve the peace that Jesus meant for us to have, and equally important, the peace that is meant for us to share in our families and in our world.

The retreat center is located in West Hartford, Connecticut. The weekend begins with a buffet dinner from 6-7:30 PM on Friday evening and concludes Sunday with the celebration of Mass at 10:45 AM followed by a hot brunch at noon.

Offering: $350, more if you can, less if you can't. Please do no allow finances to prevent your decision to attend. Scholarships are available. See Fr. George to inquire.

Registration forms can be found in the foyers of both churches or sign up online:  Click Here.
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Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish
767 Elm Street
Rocky Hill, CT 06067
Lisa Orchen