February 8, 2022
Dear Parishioners and Friends of Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish,
Greetings and blessings!
This week we celebrate the Feast of Saint Josephine Bakhita on Tuesday February 8, our parish patroness along with Saint James and Saint Elizabeth Seton. I truly believe we have been blessed by her patronage and example of faith lived. Please consider celebrating the Novena for Saint Josephine Bakhita for the end of human trafficking. A very real moral concern that is right at our doorsteps. Learn more further down in this e-newsletter. Happy Feast Day!! I will be doing the Novena prayers on our Facebook page starting February 8th for nine days ending February 16th at 9:00 a.m. each day.
Archbishop Blair has asked that we save the date for the upcoming March for Life event on March 23, 2022 at the State Capitol. We who are Catholics pride ourselves on being prolife: the protection of ALL life from conception to the natural end of life. If you are interested in doing something concrete for this important set of issues, please consider attending and participating in this event. More details will follow as the date approaches.
Ash Wednesday is less than a month away. This marks the holy season of Lent followed by the Holy Triduum: Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil. Brace yourself for an awesome set of opportunities to explore and enter this sacred time. We are in the process of planning a wide variety of prayer times, spiritual practices, and times for reflection and study. Make the Lenten season a time of deep conversion and joyful discovery.
Peace and blessings,
Fr. George Couturier
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Feast of Saint Josephine Bakhita |
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Feast Day Mass
Tuesday, February 8
8 AM - St. James & livestreamed
Join us in person or online for Mass in honor of our patron saint!
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Novena To End Human Trafficking
The International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking is observed annually on February 8, on the Feast of St. Josephine Bakhita, the patroness of survivors of human trafficking. The Office for Catholic Social Justice Ministry (OCSJM) invites all of us to invoke her intercession for an end to human trafficking.
Beginning February 8, 2022, a link to the novena and daily prayer will be posted on OCSJM’s Facebook Page, OCSJM's Website, and the Archdiocesan YouTube Channel. Father George will also pray it daily at 9:00AM on our parish Facebook page.
Printed copies of the Novena will be available in the foyers of St. James and St. Elizabeth Seton. A written copy of the novena is also available for download HERE. Learn more about Human Trafficking, Click Here.
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We Sing for Freedom
The song “We Sing for Freedom” was inspired by the life of Saint Josephine Bakhita. Her strong faith carried her through slavery and beyond. The entire journey of her life is a remarkable witness to faith.
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Let the Oppressed Go Free - Part One
A sculpture depicting Saint Josephine Bakhita releasing people from human traficking was exhibited in St. Peter's Square during Sunday Angelus on Feb. 6, 2022.
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Let the Oppressed Go Free - Part Two
Learn more about the artistic process from the Canadian artist, Timothy Schmalz, who created the sculpture, "Let the Oppressed Go Free" featuring Saint Josephine Bakhita.
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Sixth Sunday
in Ordinary Time
February 13, 2022
4 PM Vigil - St. James
9 AM - St. Elizabeth Seton & livestreamed
11 AM - St. James & livestreamed
*Masks are required in our worship spaces!*
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February Faith Activity
All members of the Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish community are invited to join in the faith activity for the month of February. Engage in a service project to help people in our local community. By engaging in service, children and adults alike live out the teachings of Jesus to love and serve one another, especially those most in need of our help. To learn more, Click Here. Please share a description and/or pictures of your service activity to the Faith Formation Office at reo@sjbrh.org.
“We must restore hope to young people, help the old, be open to the future, spread love, be poor among the poor. We need to include the excluded and preach peace.”
-Pope Francis
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Lent Reflection Series
The Spirituality of Fasting:
Rediscovering a Christian Practice
Rediscover fasting this Lent!!! Deacon Michael will be leading an ONLINE 4-part book discussion series on the recovering of the christian spiritual discipline of fasting starting Wednesday March 9th.
- Session 1: Loss and Recovery of the Tradition of Fasting
- Session 2: Fasting And Our Relationship With God; What The Ancients Have To Teach Us
- Session 3: The Christian Notion Of The Body And Fasting; Fasting And Our Relationship With Others
- Session 4: Fasting Prayer and Charity as Practical Program; the Spirituality of Fasting
Registration deadline February 23, 2022. To learn more and register, Click Here.
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Saint Josephine Bakhita Confirmation Candidates Proudly Sponsor the 2022 Souper Bowl of Caring
February 12-13, 2022
In 1990, Souper Bowl of Caring began with a simple prayer from a single youth group:
“Lord, even as we enjoy the Super Bowl football game, help us be mindful of those without a bowl of soup to eat.”
Since then, more than $150 million has been generated for local charities across the country through participation in the Souper Bowl of Caring. It has become a powerful movement that transforms the time around the Big Game from one where 30 second commercials cost over 5 million dollars and a single ticket to the game costs over $3,000 to one of celebration of giving and caring.
Our Confirmation Preparation Program has a long standing tradition of participating in the Souper Bowl of Caring. You can get in the game and share God’s love by dropping a $1 or more in the Soup Pots as you leave church on Saturday, February 12 & Sunday, February 13. 100% of every dollar goes directly to ImmaCare Homeless Shelter meals.
GO TEAM BAKHITA!
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Winter Glove Collection
Our Friends at ImmaCare, Inc. are in great need of extra warm winter gloves for the homeless community they serve in Hartford. Together we can help! Donations of warm winter gloves can be dropped off at either church location between now and February 14.
Label donations - "For Carl Bach."
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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:
St. James Church: Father Shea Hall, Mon - Fri (9:00 AM - 1:00 PM) or before the masses at 4:00 or 11:00.
St. Elizabeth Seton Church: Bins located near the kitchen, Mon - Fri (9:00 AM - 1:00 PM) or before the Sunday mass at 9:00.
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Winter Clothing
Collection
The Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish Winter Clothing Collection continues through the coming weeks. 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). Unfortunately we are no longer able to accept household goods.
St. James Church: Father Shea Hall, Mon - Fri (9:00 AM - 1:00 PM) or before the masses at 4:00 or 11:00.
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Blood Donors Needed
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, February 10 from 1PM-6PM. Go to www.redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS to register to give.
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Children waiting at the entrance gates.
During the month of February we will be highlighting Our Haitian Promise. Our parish established a "twinned" relationship with the parish of Saint Anne in Saintard, Haiti in March, 2001. Saint Anne Church, established in 1958, is a parish of over 3000 people, located on the coast just north of Port-au-Prince. Our next segment comes from longtime parishioner, Jack Tomasiello.
Every place that we visited in Haiti was vastly different from the world that we know. One such visit was to a home for handicapped children, run by Ruth Zimmerman. As we arrived mid-morning on a typical hot sunny day, we were greeted by a worker with a big smile. As with all the places we visited in Haiti, local people gathered around the entrance gates, looking for work, food, or just out of curiosity. Inside, a boy about 5 years old met us and showed us what a good ‘helper’ he was by washing breakfast dishes, and getting soaked in the process! Going upstairs, we met more boys and girls in open air wards. There were all levels of physical, emotional, and mentally challenged kids. Most were joyous to meet us, touch us, and show us what they knew of our language, counting, and the alphabet. Other kids were not as lucky and sat in old converted child car seats, unable to move much, or speak.
One little boy in particular caught my eye. He spoke no words, nor did he make any gestures, but his eyes spoke to me, communicating the message of every child - he just wanted to feel loved. I spend the rest of my time with this boy, talking, using hand gestures, and rubbing his back. I saw God’s presence in this little boy, and felt this was just where I needed to be that day. I tried many ways to get him to smile, but his expression never changed. The boy’s shirt displayed a rocket ship with the words, “Mission to the final frontier.” What irony. As with the many contrasts that we encountered in Haiti, I saw love in the eyes of this beautiful little boy, a certain happiness despite his sad situation, and peace in his chaotic world.
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Join Us For The
Men's Retreat Weekend
The opportunity go on retreat is back. Our scheduled men’s weekend, February 25-27, 2022 is coming up fast. Typically around 15 men from our parish attend. Please join us!
This year at Holy Family, the theme will explore the Spirit of Trust. The retreat begins with a buffet dinner at 6PM Friday evening and concludes Sunday with Mass followed by brunch.
For everyone’s peace of mind, protocols are in place. Vaccination card and temperature checks as your arrive on Friday and mandatory indoor masks are required. Approximately 50 people attend each weekend retreat, allowing for plenty of room for social distancing. Individual rooms, spaced out dining or “takeout” to your room is also provided.
There are 7 other dates available this spring. To learn more and register, Click Here.
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Poland Pilgrimage 2022
*** Rescheduled ***
Our pilgrimage to Poland hosted by Deacon Michael and Krystyna Ward has been successfully rescheduled for September 12-21, 2022 and registration is open.
We will visit Warsaw and Krakow, the modern and ancient capitals of Poland with their historic Old Towns, places associated with Saint Maximilian Kolbe and Saint John Paul II, Jasna Gora Monastery to see the Black Madonna icon, the solemn Auschwitz Holocaust memorial site and museum and a day trip to the beautiful alpine village of Zakopane.
This promises to be a rich and surprising experience of discovery. If you are itching to travel once again and this has been on your “To-Do” or “Bucket” list for years this is your moment, whether you are of Polish heritage or just curious! Friends and family are very welcome to join us!!!
The 10-day pilgrimage starts at $3,318 including airfare, hotel, breakfast and dinner daily, deluxe motorcoach, guide and all transfers.
E-mail Deacon Michael at saintjmdeacon@gmail.com of call him at 860-836-8218 with any questions and for further information about registration.
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Daily Mass Schedule
Monday: 8:30am-St. Elizabeth Seton
Tuesday: 8:00am-St. James
Thursday: 8:00am-St. James
Friday: 8:30am-St. Elizabeth Seton
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Reconciliation
Fr. George welcomes all to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Monday evenings at 6:00 PM at St. Elizabeth Seton.
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Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish
767 Elm Street
Rocky Hill, CT 06067
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