July 12, 2022
Dear Parishioners and Friends of Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish,
Greetings and blessings!
This weekend’s Gospel (Luke 10:38-42) has a potential theme of hospitality. This theme sparks a memory of a moment of hospitality offered to me when I first came to Rocky Hill six years ago. Fr. David Baranowski, who passed away suddenly and peacefully, June 25th was one of the very first to welcome me to town and offered hospitality and encouragement. He was pastor at St. James, and I was pastor at St. Elizabeth Seton (prior to the merger). We met several times and broke bread and shared wonderful stories of past shared experiences and future hopes and dreams. The rest is history.
As we all well know, hospitality is tricky. There is a lot more to it than pouring a good wine and grilling a rare steak. It is about the heart and relationships, which Jesus’ old friends Martha and Mary learned from Jesus in this Gospel story.
Jesus showed them and us the way it is done. He brought a listening heart to everyone he met and made himself so completely present that each one felt specially chosen and drawn into the circle of his love. His love was life changing because his heart was fully engaged.
Let us not allow our hearts go astray. Walk with Jesus and learn how to build and maintain a welcoming heart with room in it for all of God’s people. Step by step, we will find our way to the joy and peace of God’s family which will be our home for all eternity.
I am so very grateful that my lingering and special memory of Fr. David is his hospitality and warm welcome. He will be missed. May he rest in the all-embracing mercy and grace of our God.
I wish you and yours continued Blessings!!
Fr. George
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The 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time
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July 17, 2022
4 PM Vigil - St. James
*Masks are strongly encouraged in our worship spaces!*
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Faith Formation
Early Registration Deadline This Friday
Before everyone gets caught up in the busy summer ahead, please take time to register your children for faith formation classes. Register before July 15 to take advantage of a special discounted fee of $80. This is a $20 savings off our standard fee of $100.
If you volunteer as a catechist, the registration fee is waived for your entire family.
Contact Monica at monica@sjbrh.org for more information on this important ministry opportunity.
Use the link below to register and have a wonderful summer!
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Interested in Becoming Catholic? We Can Help!
Times such as those we are living through now often prompt people to examine what we believe, how we make sense of the world and examine just what we live by, and why, and where “this all seems to be going.” Christian faith as offered in and through the Catholic Church brings 20 centuries of belief and wisdom to bear on these very questions.
Entering the Catholic Church through Baptism at Easter after exploration and instruction in the faith is the typical path for those entering the Catholic Church as adults. We are presently planning the process for those who may wish to enter the Church at Easter in the spring of 2023.
If you (or someone you know) are interested in exploring this possibility with us, we are certainly happy and eager to help. Anyone interested should contact Deacon Michael at dcnmichael@sjbrh.org or by phone at 860-529-3222, x14.
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Parish Picnic
We Need YOU!
Sunday, September 11th
Many hands make light work!
Planning for our annual Parish Picnic is well underway. The date has been set for Sunday, September 11, 2022. It will be a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our 5th Anniversary as Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish - the Catholic Community of Rocky Hill.
The Picnic is organized ahead of time by a group of “Team Captains” who coordinate groups of volunteers on the weekend of the picnic. Soon we will be inviting volunteers for the day but first we are looking for a few new "Team Captains." Please consider taking on a leadership role for one aspect of the Parish Picnic. You will be mentored by folks who have led before. Here is a list of the open positions:
Lunch Coordinator: Coordinate with West Side Market on the food order. Pick up supplemental food supplies at Sam’s or Costco the week before. Organize a group of volunteers the morning of the picnic to pack & label the lunch bags. Organize a group of volunteers to set out and distribute the lunch bags. Organize a few volunteers to prepare alternative lunches for those with dietary restrictions. Deliver leftover food to a local shelter at the end of the day.
Dessert Coordinator: Organize a group of volunteers to bake easy to serve desserts. Organize a group of volunteers to set up and distribute dessert after lunch. Package leftover dessert to be delivered to a local shelter at the end of the day.
Drink Coordinator: Shop for water, soda, soda alternatives to be served at the Picnic. Organize a group of volunteers to pick up ice the morning of the Picnic, chill all drinks with ice in coolers, set up drink stations and keep refreshed throughout the Picnic.
Trash & Recycle Coordinator: Set up and label trash and recycle receptacles the day of the Picnic. Circulate during the picnic & remove filled receptacles as needed. Organize delivery of recyclable containers.
Parking, Safety and Security Coordinator: Coordinate volunteers to direct cars in the parking lot prior to the Picnic. Set up caution tape around parts of the lawn that present trip hazards. Have a first aid kit on hand as needed.
Set up & Break Down Coordinator: Coordinate a group of volunteers to set up chairs and tables according to a pre-set diagram the day before and the morning of the Picnic. Coordinate volunteers to break down and put away tables and chairs at the end of the Picnic.
Children & Family Activities Coordinator: Work with a group of volunteers to plan, set up, supervise/facilitate child-friendly picnic games and activities.
If one of these leadership positions appeals to you, please email Bob Murray at bobm52664@gmail.com.
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Giving Garden Summer Update
Thanks to all who supported the Plant sale as we now have replenished our budget for next year’s needs (like compost and fertilizer). A special thank you to all the parishioners who planted those plants from seed and nurtured them for 3 months before the sale. We have been picking peas for the last 3 weeks. We already have green tomatoes and have harvested much of our spinach for the Saint Vincent de Paul Soup Kitchen in Middletown. Green beans are growing well and we had a donation of cabbage and pepper plants from two parishioners that have been planted in the garden as well.
We manage our garden with 3 teams: 1.) The seed planters are done for the year; 2.) the weekly maintenance team who plants new crops, weeds, fertilizes, etc.; 3.) and the picking and delivering team. We can always use new volunteers to help with the work and we also need volunteers who can fill in when our picker/deliverers go on vacation.
Some like to donate produce from their own gardens and that is appreciated as well.
Finally, we always dream of what else would make the garden special. So here is our wish list:
- A bench old or new…where we could place the tools or harvested vegetables while we are working. It also would be a great place to come, sit, meditate and pray. We have already seen our first swallowtail butterfly and you can hear the bees buzzing.
- A couple of parsley plants for our herb garden.
- Flowers to attract the pollinators (annuals or perennials).
- Gravel…we need to keep the weeds down outside the garden so we will lay cardboard around the exterior of the garden and then but gravel on top
- A bigger ask…we want to expand the garden so we can plant some crops like asparagus. We need someone to manage the project; figure out the best design, find where we can get materials and get cost estimates on fencing, poles, etc. Once approved, purchase all and then get a work team together for installation.
To volunteer for any of the above, contact Claire Dalidowitz at 860-518-7435.
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Food & Cereal
For Our Local Pantries
Households who struggle with hunger need our help even more in the summer time. 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.
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 are near the kitchen, Mon - Fri (9:00 AM - 1:00 PM) or before the Sunday mass at 9:00.
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Summer Clothing Collection
Our Parish Summer Clothing Collection continues through the coming weeks. We accept warm weather 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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Volunteers Needed
The cereal delivery teams are looking for volunteers to assist in transporting the monthly cereal collection to Amazing Grace Food Pantry in Middletown.
The 3rd Wednesday of every month, the cereal is picked up at both churches and delivered to the Food Pantry.
Volunteers will be assigned to a team of 2-3 people. Currently each team is scheduled 2-3 times a year.
If you feel you might be able to assist with the cereal delivery or for more information, please contact Dennis Mazzamurro at neeceemae@sbcglobal.net.
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Calling all Sewers, Knitters & Crocheters
The Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish Knit, Crochet, Sew & Pray Ministries have resumed in person gatherings.
The Knit, Crochet & Sew Good Works Ministry meets every Wednesday in Fr. Shea Hall at St. James Church from 1pm – 4pm.
Contact: Sandy Rokosz at sandyrokosz7@hotmail.com
The Morning Prayer Shawl Ministry meets the forth Monday of each month at St. Elizabeth Seton Church at 9am.
Contact: Betty Catelli at catellib64@gmail.com
The Evening Prayer Shawl Ministry meets the first Monday of each month at St. Elizabeth Seton Church at 6:45pm.
Contact: Laura Pentland at lbpent57@gmail.com
We are open to anyone who has the skills to sew, knit or crochet or who would like to learn how. Whether you knit or crochet quickly or slowly, your help is welcome to fulfill the mission of spreading God’s love through our craft. It is our hope that those who receive our crafts will feel the love that goes into making each and every one of them. Our time together begins and ends with prayer and all creations are prayed over and blessed prior to being gifted.
Need a prayer shawl or lap blanket for yourself or someone else? Please contact Laura Pentland, Betty Catelli or Sandy Rokosz.
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The Archbishop’s Annual Appeal helps provide the critical funding needed to feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, counsel those in despair, offer much-needed assistance to the unemployed, and make medical care available to those without health insurance. Your gift to the 2022 Appeal will help to continue these and other vital ministries, services, and programs that reach out to so many in need. All funds contributed to the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal are used exclusively for the purposes outlined in the Appeal literature, which can be found here. No Appeal funds are ever used for legal fees or settlements.
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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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