June 13, 2023

We Have A Lot To Be Grateful For!

June 13, 2023

Dear Parishioners and Friends of Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish,

On May 31, 2023, I received a letter from Archbishop Leonard Blair reappointing me to another six years as the Pastor of Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish. As I told our staff members: “If the mandatory retirement age remains at 75, this reappointment will take me right to the threshold of retirement.” By the grace of God, decent health and the assistance and understanding of parish members…I should be able to maintain a modicum of competence.

With this reappointment it has led me to various levels of reflection: 1. My gratitude for the blessing to be part of this vibrant faith community. 2. My gratitude for the decades of ministry as a priest. 3. My gratitude for the awesome staff and volunteers that make life a bit less stressful. 5. My gratitude for the mercy and encouragement that folks willingly give when I really mess up. 4. My gratitude for allowing me to share my faith with so many…the ability to drop a seed of hope here and there.

Talk about dropping a seed…this week marks the end of the school year for most school children and their teachers. It is a bittersweet experience for the teachers, I would suspect. On the one hand, they are delighted to have vacation time. But on the other hand, they will probably not see these children again. They have spent a whole year teaching them so many things and now they are gone. They may not see the fruit of their labor...the seed they have dropped.

But each year these same teachers go back to their careers with the same enthusiasm and energy. May they continue to impart all the knowledge they can, knowing, with faith, that their efforts are deeply appreciated, and their efforts will bear much fruit, albeit unseen for now. Thank you, all educators!

Peace and blessings!

Fr. George Couturier

A great time was had by all at the Hartford Yard Goats game last Friday night. What a fun way to celebrate and enjoy parish community life. Thank you to Ken & Lori Gosselin for organizing this fun outing!

Enjoy a Gallery of Pictures Here

The Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

June 18, 2023

4:00 PM at Saint James

9 AM at Saint Elizabeth Seton

11:00 AM at Saint James

Congratulations to our

First Eucharist Candidates

We congratulate and ask God's blessings on the children who received the Eucharist for the first time on May 13. We pray that Jesus, the Bread of Life and Cup of Eternal Salvation, will always nourish your faith and you grow in your knowledge and love of him. God bless you all!

Enjoy this Gallery of Pictures from our First Eucharist Celebrations

Congratulations to all our High School and College Graduates!

This is a very important milestone in your life’s journey and your parish community of Saint Josephine Bakhita wishes to celebrate with you.

You are invited to celebrate your accomplishment by joining us in a special liturgy on Sunday, June 25. You may attend either the 9:00 AM Mass at St. Elizabeth Seton or the 11:00 AM Mass at St. James. Fr George will be offering a special blessing at this Mass to carry with you as you continue your journey.

Whatever you plan to do after high school or college, remember that the Holy Spirit is with you wherever you go, always guiding you. Use your gifts to bless and change the world! Remember how amazing you are and how much you are loved! As a parish community, we will continue to pray for you and welcome you always!

Please RSVP to this invitation by email, reo@sjbrh.org or call 860-529-1274 and let us know what Mass you will be attending.

The Faith Formation Team,

Monica, Beth, Carol, Linda, and Lori

Children's Liturgy of the Word

On Sunday, June 4 at the 11 AM Mass, we celebrated the Children's Liturgy of the Word! Children gathered at the front of the church at the beginning of the Liturgy of the Word to receive a special blessing by Father George and then processed down the main aisle to the back of the church where they gathered together to hear and experience the Sunday readings from Scripture in language that they could understand.

We were blessed to have 30 children participate in this, our first celebration of the Children's Liturgy of the Word at our parish, under the leadership of Filomena Martinelli. We then celebrated together at the end of Mass with coffee and other refreshments with all the members of our parish family.

We look forward to continuing this ministry in the Fall on the first Sunday of every month at 11 AM Mass. Thank you to all who celebrated with us!

Bakhita Bible Camp

Cathletics Vacation Bible School

Become a Champion

for Christ

July 17-21, 2023

9:00 AM - Noon

St. James Campus

Children in Grades 1 - 5 for the fall of 2023.

Bible stories, skits, music, games, crafts, snacks and more!

For more information, contact the Faith Formation Office at reo@sjbrh.org or 860-529-1274.

Learn More and Register Here

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 2024.

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 (best) or by phone at 860-529-3222, x14.

Learn More Here

Emergency Cereal Drive

Amazing Grace food Pantry sent out a plea for help. They are in great need of cereal and non-perishable groceries. There are drop-off boxes at both church locations.

Learn More Here

Serving Meals at ImmaCare Shelter & St. Vincent dePaul Soup Kitchen

Donations Needed for June 17 & June 25

We are in need of help! Sign-up sheets will be posted in the lobbies of each church. Please bring donations to the kitchen in Fr. Shea Hall a day or two in advance of each serving date. For more information contact Carl Bach: at 860-882-9174 or abcb1922@yahoo.com.

Inviting all Sewers, Knitters & Crocheters

The Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish Knit, Crochet, Sew & Pray Ministries serve our community in generous ways.

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. Learn more here.

Daily Mass

Mon-8:30AM @ Seton

Tues-8:00AM @ St. James

Thur-8:00AM @ St. James

Fri-8:30AM @ Seton

Adoration

First Thursdays

8:30AM @ St. James

Every Thursday

3:00PM @ St. James

Reconciliation

Fr. George welcomes all to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Monday evenings at 6:00 PM at St. Elizabeth Seton.

It is important that when you give to any charitable organization, you are confident that the funds received are being used wisely. Be assured that your gift to the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal supports the ministries and programs indicated in the 2023 Appeal literature! Please visit the Appeal website to learn more and make your gift today.

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.