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Dear Parishioners and Friends of Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish,
In this weekend’s Gospel Jesus says to us, “Love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you.” He never said that we would have no enemies. But he offers us a new way of dealing with our enemies. The injunction “Love your enemy” is a radical rejection of violence.
But how can we be expected to love our enemies? Do we not find it hard enough to love our friends, at times? We are not expected to feel love for our enemy. Love is not a feeling; it is an act of the will. We can make a decision to love someone, even though we do not have feelings of love for that person.
Jesus is telling us to love, not to hate. Hatred is a very destructive thing. When we hate we expend more energy than in any other emotion. Hate is toxic and poisons our soul.
Jesus’ way is not an easy way. It is a hard way, but it is a better way…better for each of us as persons, for us as a family, for us as a community, for us as a nation, for us as a world, etc. Jesus challenges us to respond to darkness with light…not revenge, retaliation, retribution, hate. That does not mean we do not get angry with injustice in all its forms. But hate, run wild, dims or even extinguishes the light.
As Lent quickly approaches, we may want to ponder the reality of the escalating turns of hate emerging in our world these days. Let us be recommitted to the hard teaching of Jesus in the Gospel…for it offers the only viable alternative.
I wish each of you a happy, holy, and transformative Lenten Season.
Peace and blessings,
Fr. George Couturier
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Seventh Sunday in
Ordinary Time
February 19, 2023
4 PM Vigil-St. James
9 AM-St. Elizabeth Seton
& livestreamed
11 AM-St. James
*Masks are strongly recommended in our worship spaces!*
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Exciting News from Faith Formation
Save the Dates: July 17-21, 2023
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Our Vacation Bible Program, Bakhita Bible Camp, is coming this summer! The camp is for children entering grades 1-5. Our theme this year is “Cathletics: Training To Be Champions For Christ.” Teens, young adults, and adults of all ages are invited to participate in this wonderful intergenerational ministry. Get in on the ground floor as we continue planning for this educational and fun week for our parish. More information coming soon! Contact the Faith Formation office at 860-529-1274 or reo@sjbrh.org for more information.
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What Are You Doing For Lent This Year? | |
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February 22, 2023
8 AM Mass & Ashes
Saint Elizabeth Seton
Noon Prayer Service & Ashes
Saint James
7 PM Mass & Ashes
Saint James
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Wednesdays
March 1, 8, 15
10:00AM at St. James
7:00 PM online
Led by Deacon Michael
Sign up by February 15!
All members of the Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish community are invited!
Learn more & sign up here
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Lent Evenings of Reflection for Couples | |
Lent Afternoon of Reflection | |
Contemplative Dialogue Lenten Series | |
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Mondays
March 6, 13, 20, 27
April 3, 10
Online via Zoom
Our group will read Bridges to Contemplative Living with Thomas Merton. Each week, participants will read a chapter and reflect on it with the practice of contemplative dialogue. If you would like to participate, please sign up in either church foyer by February 25th to allow sufficient time to order the books before our initial session. For more information, contact Fran Mastro at 860-810-2403 or Fmed6@icloud.com.
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SJB Men: Make a Retreat This Lent | |
Men of Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish and Friends: You are invited to join us on our annual weekend retreat, February 24-26, 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, BUT! … as they often remind us…more if you can, less if you can't. Please do not allow finances to prevent your decision to attend. Scholarships for the weekend are available. See Fr. George or contact Holy Family to inquire.
There are eight additional opportunities through June 2023, if the February date is not convenient.
Question? - Contact Bob Manzi manzirj@sbcglobal.net
Learn more & sign up here
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ImmaCare
Shelter Dinner
With ImmaCare back to near full capacity the Saturday Night Shelter Dinner Food Group will once again be requesting food and paper donations. Sign-up sheets will be posted in entrances at both churches. Our first monthly opportunity to donate will be for the Saturday, February 18th dinner.
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Food & Cereal
For Our Local Pantries
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, Click Here.
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2023 HomeFront Team
Looking for Volunteers!
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The HomeFront work day is a very rewarding experience, offering the opportunity to work side by side with fellow parishioners and help make a difference in someone’s life. We complete amazing renovations for very appreciative households over the course of 1 or 2 weekend days. In conjunction with non-profit HomeFront Inc., we provide supplies, tools, meals and even accident insurance, (which has never been required). This effort embodies Christian stewardship - sharing our time, treasure and talent to benefit our extended community.
We are currently evaluating whether we can field a team in May-June 2023. Everybody from age 16+ are welcome to join us. Typically our team has a variety of skill levels including painting, plumbing, carpentry, simple repairs, gardening or even general project organization. If you have renovation contractor experience we would love to have you on board.
Whether you are part of our previous team of over 30 men & women, or would like to join now, we need to hear from you. Friends or relatives outside of our church community are also welcome. Please respond by email or sign up boards in the next few weeks. We will reply to all inquiries, provide additional information and clarify how the program works.
A sign-up sheet is available in the entrances of both churches beginning Feb 10.
You can also contact Bob Manzi by phone (860 502-5097) or email at mrjfiles@sbcglobal.net.
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Giving Garden Ministry Update | |
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In 2022, we picked 771 pounds of produce, which was donated to the Saint Vincent de Paul Soup Kitchen in Middletown. It was a great year, thanks to the dedication and generosity of our volunteer team. In November some volunteers on our team helped serve the lunch meal at the soup kitchen. It was wonderful to meet and interact with the guests at St Vincent de Paul. They are truly appreciative of our efforts. We closed the garden on November 2, refreshing the soil with a layer of compost for the winter. In late winter, the cycle will begin again as volunteer start some of the plants from seed.
We welcome new members to this ministry. We have seed growers, planters, weekly maintenance volunteers, pickers and those that deliver to the soup kitchen, You can do a little or a lot.
We also welcome donations which will enhance the garden or meet some of our needs:
- A bench of any kind(old or new) on which to place the harvest while picking or for any parishioner to come and spend some time in the prayerful garden
- Plastic zip lock gallon bags for delivery
- Gravel to help keep the weeds down around the periphery of the garden
- Plants (marigolds or zinnias, old fashioned, single bloom type) that attract pollinators; herbal plants like basil and parsley)
- A sign entitled “Saint Josephine Bakhita Giving Garden” to place at the entrance to the garden
Thank you again for your generosity over the past year. Come join us. For more information contact Claire at 860-518-7435 or ckdalidowitz@snet.net.
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Youth Choir Opportunity
Children in grades 2-5 who would like to sing in our church youth choir are invited to rehearsals on Thursdays after school from 4:30-5:30 PM at Saint Elizabeth Seton Church. Rehearsals start on February 23. See Mrs. Husmer after the 9:00 AM mass or register by email at elizabeth@sjbrh.org.
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Daily Mass
Mon-8:30AM @ Seton
Tues-8:00AM @ St. James
Thur-8:00AM @ St. James
Fri-8:30AM @ Seton
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Adoration
First Thursdays
8:30AM @ St. James
Every Thursday
3:00PM @ St. James
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Rosary
Tues & Thurs
8:30AM @ St. James
Saturdays
3:20PM @ St. James
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Looking for a great read? Check out our selections in our Little Free Libraries located on both our church campuses! Take or leave a book! | |
Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish l The Catholic Community of Rocky Hill | | | | |
