December 31, 2024

Christmas Season Happenings from Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish

Tuesday, December 31, 2024

Dear Parishioners and Friends of Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish,

This coming Sunday we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany (Greek for “showing forth” or “manifestation”). Little is known about the three visitors from the East who paid the Holy Family homage. Still we can’t help but marvel at their determination to meet Jesus despite the distance and that their only guide was a star.

In many cultures, Epiphany is celebrated with as much festivity as Christmas. Friends and family enjoy “Three Kings Day” with parades, parties, gift-giving and holiday meals. Create annual traditions to make Epiphany special in your household. The primary symbol of Epiphany is light.

The liturgy offers a house blessing on this day. Inscribe 20+C+M+B25 with chalk on the door frame. It stands for Christus mansionem benedicat, “let Christ bless this house” and the current year. Custom attributes the letters to the names of the three Magi: Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar. Bring the figurines of the three Magi closer to the manger, light candles and sing your favorite Epiphany and Christmas carols.

The Christmas season ends on Sunday, January 13, at sundown on the Baptism of the Lord. As the Christmas season draws to a close, I invite you to look back upon your journey since the beginning of Advent. From waiting for the coming of Christ, to welcoming him anew into our lives, and then making a permanent home for him in our hearts, we have traveled far.

What new insights did you uncover along the way about the in-breaking of God into humanity?

How will your faith journey bring you closer to Christ in the coming Jubilee year of hope?

Lisa M. Orchen, M.Div.

Communications Coordinator

Text by Lisa M. Orchen, M.Div., edited by Suzanne Gagne Bregman, M.A., used with permission.

The Christmas Season at Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish

The Solemnity of Mary

Holy Mother of God

January 1, 2025

4:00 PM Vigil at St. James

9:00 AM at St. Elizabeth Seton

and livestreamed

The Feast of the Epiphany

January 5, 2025

4:00 PM Vigil at St. James

9:00 AM at St. Elizabeth Seton

and livestreamed

11:00 AM at St. James

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!

The Archdiocesan Office of Radio and Television came along with our Christmas Caroling Caravan to our homebound parishioners on December 22 and featured us on Crossroads Magazine yesterday! Click the video to enjoy this great story!

Wishing a very Merry Christmas Season

and Joyful New Year

to all our Faith Formation Families!

As we celebrate the birth of Jesus and look forward to the new year, may your hearts and homes be filled with Hope, Peace, and Joy!

May God shower his bountiful love on you and your family this Christmas and throughout the new Year!

Peace,

Monica, Beth, Carol, Linda, and Lori

Christmas Prayer for Families

Loving God,

During this holy season of Christmas,

we ask for your blessing on all families.

Let Mary’s openness

to your wondrous ways

be an inspiration to place

all trust in you.

Let Joseph’s courage provide hope

during times of anxiety

and uncertainty.

Let Jesus’ life ignite all families

with a spirit of light and love.

May the grace that encircles

the Holy Family

widen to embrace all families.

For this we pray.

Amen.

mycatholicprayers.com

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care. In hope that St. Nicholas soon would be there. He was THERE in the hearts of the parishioners of Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish! Every tag on our Giving Tree made it home to our parish families who filled the wishes of those in need during this Advent season.

Those who helped coordinate our Giving Tree ministry were moved to tears when they collected the abundance of donated gifts.

We coordinated with The Friendship Service Center in New Britain, helping 10 families have a brighter Christmas as we filled their wish list from the smallest wish of a new pillow to a set of pots and pans.

Apple Rehab in Rocky Hill was overwhelmed as we were able to provide a gift for all 94 residents, many of whom have no one to remember them at Christmas. They didn’t have the staff to wrap them, so we brought in a team of elves from our parish to wrap and tag all 94 gifts. Thank you to those who donated the gift bags to help with this mission.

We built a wall of diapers, baby wipes, socks and lotion that are the essentials of parents in need and then we clothed teens in a mountain of coats and boots to keep them warm this winter.

The generosity of the gift cards was more than we could ever have hoped for. Truly a gift that will keep giving!

For each and every one of you who donated, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish Outreach Ministry

Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish is excited to offer a new opportunity for parents of children age birth to five, in our community. Nurturing Seedlings is designed to provide parents the support, encouragement and skills needed to nurture the spiritual life of their young children. The ministry also aims to build community among parents who are in the midst of raising babies, toddlers and preschoolers.

Current research has found strong connections between spirituality and emotional well-being in children. Children who are solidly grounded in an affirming faith build up resiliency and are more likely to respond effectively when challenged by stressors. Children who are raised with a closeness to Jesus and grow up within a parish family feel more secure in their identity as a child of God. They will develop a spiritual compass for decision making.

The opportunity begins later this January under the leadership of Lori and Ken Gosselin. Learn more about how you can get involved by clicking the button below!

Learn More About Nurturing Seedlings Here

Give Blood

The American Red Cross needs our help. All eligible blood donors are encouraged to schedule appointments now. The next drive hosted at our Parish Center at St. James Church is scheduled for Thursday, January 2, from 1PM-6PM. Call 1-800-RED-CROSS or visit www.redcrossblood.org to register to give.

Annual Retreat Weekends

Holy Family Retreat Center

Members & Friends of Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish are invited to join together on our annual weekend retreats in 2025. The retreat theme this year is In my Love, Abide. We invite you to come and explore the depths of a life of prayer and learn ways to maintain the sacred connection to God through Christ, the true vine.

The retreat center is located in West Hartford, Connecticut. The weekend begins with a buffet dinner on Friday evening and concludes Sunday with the celebration of Mass. The retreat offers conferences, workshops, wonderful musical liturgies, time for contemplation or quiet walks in a clean, comfortable setting with private rooms & great food.

Parish Contacts are Kathleen Quintana at 860 680-3195 or Bob Manzi at 860 502-5097.

Learn more and sign up online at: holyfamilyretreat.org/themed-retreats

Requested Offering: $350, but they emphasize more if you can, less if you can't. Couples weekend requested offering is $575. Please do not allow finances to prevent your decision to attend. Scholarships grants are available. See Fr. George or our parish contacts.

Women's Retreat Weekend: January 3-5, 2025

Men's Retreat Weekend: February 21-23, 2025

Couple's Retreat Weekend: February 14-16, 2025

(includes Valentine’s Gourmet Dinner)

Easter Youth Choir

at St. Elizabeth Seton Campus

Our wonderful singers welcome more children interested in singing at the Easter Morning mass on April 21, 2025. Now is the time to start learning more about singing and the music of the church. Our singers are in 3-8 grade. This choir will sing at one mass a month as well. Rehearsals are on Wednesdays from 4:30-5:30 PM at St. Elizabeth Seton Church. We will resume rehearsals on January 15, 2025 after our Christmas break. Contact Elizabeth Husmer at elizabeth@sjbrh.org to register or just come to the first rehearsal on January 15 to join!