July 14, 2026

July 14, 2026

Dear Friends,

When priests retire parishioners and friends often offer monetary gifts in gratitude for their service and dedication and to help with the priest’s transition to retirement. Unsurprisingly, when Fr. George Couturier retired last year many asked how they might offer such gifts to him.

With characteristic generosity Fr. George waved off these offers. Instead he urged people to instead offer what they would have given to him to the young people of the parish who were going on to further their education after graduating from high school. 

Specifically Fr. George requested that such gifts to him be offered as donations to a scholarship fund established at Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish in memory of his parents Fernand and Yvette Couturier. To date we have received gifts of over $40,000 dollars to provide such scholarships.

Fr. George requested the scholarships to be given to young people going on to further their education in whatever way they chose after high school. In awarding these scholarships focus was primarily on what the Catholic faith has evidently meant to the applicants based on their own words, life and activities among us as a parish community, especially through their presence in worship and service. 

On Sunday June 28, 2026, $2,000 scholarships were awarded to three young people from our parish community who will be furthering their education this coming fall. They are:

Sandra Carminati…who is graduated from Berlin High School and is attending the Rochester Institute of Technology in the fall pursuing her interest in biomedical engineering

Isabella DiBattisto…who graduated from Rocky Hill High School and will attend Bryant University in the fall to pursue Health Sciences

Ann Wheeler Harding…who graduated from Mercy High School and will attend Eastern Connecticut State University to pursue her interest in the field of education and special education.

Congratulations to all and may God’s Blessing and our good wishes go with them!

Thanks to all those who by their generous support made these awards and similar future awards possible!

Yours in Christ,

Deacon Michael Ward

Photos by Tom Dzimian

Join Us For The Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Other Fun Tidbits

Eighth Annual Knights of Columbus

Golf Outing

Friday, September 25, 2026

Timberlin Golf Club, Berlin CT

Lunch/Registration at 11:00AM

Scramble Format ~ Shotgun Start at 12:00 PM ~ Buffet Dinner to follow

$175 per golfer includes 18 holes of golf w/cart, lunch and buffet dinner, cash prizes, raffle prizes.



$35 dinner only

For more information, contact Mike DiBattisto (860-713-9070) or Mike Lombardo (860-869-2231).

The Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish Picnic Committee Needs You!

We’re building our Parish Picnic Planning Committee and looking for a few good people to help make this beloved community tradition a success! We’re currently seeking volunteers for three key roles:

• Set-Up Coordinator – Help develop the set-up plan and direct set up of tables and chairs on picnic day.
• Children & Family Activities Team Lead – Plan the fun for our youngest parishioners and their families!

Committee members attend monthly meetings beginning in May and play a hands-on role directing volunteers on the day of the picnic — Sunday, September 13, 2026. Interested? Reach out to Danielle Hollister at danie7@cox.net or Jennifer Hussey at thehusseys95@att.net for more details. We’d love to have you on the team!

Ongoing Food Collection

Support our ongoing food and cereal collections 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.

Saint Elizabeth Seton Campus Garden

Update & Request for Help

Before I retired in March as Music Director at the Saint Elizabeth Seton Campus, I was fortunate to find a great team to care for one of my responsibilities: the interior liturgical environment and plants.

Mick Cooney, the assistant custodian at Saint Elizabeth’s and I have prepared and cared for the exterior gardens and flowerpots for several years. We would like to continue to do this work while training teams to care for specific areas going forward. Our lawn service does not provide that service at either campus. Consider giving a little time occasionally to keep our church looking good until winter comes. 

Pick a small area to consider tending: 



1.The Marion Garden: Weed occasionally, trim dead flowers and shrub overgrowth. Some of these are not yearly jobs. The statue of Mary may need cleaning from time to time. [Checking every 2 weeks to a month is all that is needed. More if you love it!] 

2.The Gazebo: Weed occasionally, cut grasses in Spring, dead head spent flowers. [ Once a month – more if you love it!] 

3.Upper Porch: Plant any flowers you wish and dead head as needed to keep them looking good! Annuals need more attention. Keep them hydrated!! Choose someone to share the job and the time with.] 

4.Patio: Same as porch care. A few people sharing this ministry will make it easy and a pleasure. Give them attention and water. 

The only criteria: Love of plants, trees, flowers, creation! If guidance is needed, I am ready to help. We have received lovely comments about our gardens – let’s keep it going. 

Contact information: Elizabeth V. Husmer – elizabeth@sbjrh.org 

Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish

Rectory Office

on the campus of St. James Church

767 Elm Street, Rocky Hill

860-529-8655

Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 2:30 PM

Stay Connected

Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish l The Catholic Community of Rocky Hill