June 21, 2022

Summer Concert this Sunday, Congratulations Graduates, Save the Date for our Picnic and Golf Tournament, and more...
June 21, 2022

Dear Parishioners and Friends of Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish,

Greetings and blessings!
 
The last several weeks my social media feeds, such as Facebook, have been busting at the seams with mementos, photos, and announcements about the multitude of graduations from nursery school to graduate schools. It is a glorious witness to the awesome joy that pours out from parents, siblings, grandparents, and friends for the newly graduated. All of this is an antidote to the oftentimes sad news of the day.
 
When I ponder the deeper meaning of graduation, I am often drawn to the search for real wisdom that is so often spoken of in the scriptures:
 
“Wisdom is bright and does not grow dim. By those who love her she is readily seen and found by those who look for her. She herself walks about looking for those who are worthy of her and graciously shows herself to them as they go.” (Wisdom 6:12,16)
 
May this blessing touch each graduates heart, mind, and spirit in their search for real and lasting wisdom:
 
God of life and growth, you have created us in your image. We ask you to generously bless these young people and remain with them as a Guide in their lives. May they always be pleasing in your sight. May their lives be filled with every blessing. May they be lights to the world, sharing your good news and wisdom wherever they go. We ask this through Christ and the Spirit who lives and reign with you for ever and ever. Amen!
 
I wish you and yours continued Blessings!!
 
Fr. George
The 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time
June 26, 2022

4 PM Vigil - St. James
9 AM - St. Elizabeth Seton & livestreamed
11 AM - St. James & livestreamed

*Masks are strongly encouraged in our worship spaces!*
Congratulations Graduates!
Our parish community celebrates the students in our parish who are high school and college graduates. Congratulations on all your accomplishments up to this point in your lives and may God continue to bless you all as you continue on your journey through life! Remember you will always be welcomed and loved here at your parish of Saint Josephine Bakhita. We have included a graduation prayer for you to bless you on your way.

Dear Lord,
As I look toward the future
Bright hope conducts this prayer,
For I know the plans You have for me
Were wrought with divine care.

Holy Spirit, lead me.
Let me run at Your command,
Yet be still and know that You are God
When trouble is close at hand.

Your Word will be a lamp for me,
A guide to light my way,
A solid place to set my feet,
A compass when I stray.

May I live my life to praise You,
Not for fortune, nor for fame,
May everything I say and do
Bring glory to Your name.

May my eyes stay fixed upon You
As I seek the way that's pure,
Tasting Your love and goodness
Sleeping and rising secure.

Planted by Your living streams
I'll delight in all Your ways,
Hidden by Your sheltering wings
With new mercies for each day.

Even in a dangerous land
When storms threaten to destroy,
At the cross I'll stand upon the Rock
My Strength, my Hope, my Joy.

Dear Lord, show me Your favor,
At all times keep me blessed,
May Your face ever shine upon me,
With peace and perfect rest.
- Mary Fairchild
Faith Formation Registration
for 2022-2023 is Now Open
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. Please 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!
Outdoor Places to Pray
at Saint Josephine Bakhita
Since the beginning of Lent, our parish has been exploring different forms of prayer. These were presented by speakers in evenings of reflection, through our social media platforms, in homilies and will be continued during the year.

Now that the warm weather has arrived, consider taking your preferred prayer style to a quiet place on the grounds of either church campus.

Saint James campus offers several outdoor spots: the Labyrinth behind the church/next to the parish center as well as the benches between the two buildings. Other prayerful spots include the statue of Christ behind the center as well as on the tree covered lawns near the church.

At Saint Elizabeth Seton campus, a garden devoted to Mary is a good spot for prayer and lies across from the church with benches (and has a lending library, too!). A sheltered gazebo sits in a shaded spot opposite the rectory. Benches on the church porch during the week offer quiet as well.

Inside or outside of either campus, there are peaceful places to pray. Visit our church properties and spend time with our Lord.

Learn more here.
Saint Josephine Bakhita Music Ministry Presents
Summer Songs
Join us in celebrating the fifth anniversary of Saint Josephine Bakhita parish with a concert on the St. James lawn under the big pine trees. 
Sunday, June 26
5:00 PM
The joint choirs and cantors will be singing some fun spiritual and secular songs we can sing in church. Bring a picnic supper, bag chairs, a blanket, and we will supply dessert!

Parish Picnic
Sunday, September 11th

The annual parish picnic team is seeking new leadership! If you are interested in sharing your talents to help lead an energetic team of volunteers, please consider becoming a chairperson for the parish picnic. In your role as a chairperson, mentored by the current chairpersons, you'll help coordinate the event as we celebrate the 5th anniversary of St. Josephine Bakhita Parish and look forward to next year! The time commitment is reasonable and involves running a few planning meetings with the lead volunteers, working with vendors and parish staff leading up to the picnic, and coordinating resources during the picnic. If this sounds like something you'd enjoy, please contact Bob Murray at bobm52664@gmail.com.
Hospitality Sunday is Back!
First Sunday of the Month
Coffee, treats, visiting with friends - old and new - has returned to the first Sunday of the month. Parishioners who have volunteered to make this possible will serve treats after the 9:00 AM Mass at St. Elizabeth Seton and after the 11:00 AM Mass at St. James. Consider joining this ministry to keep this great social time going. A few teams of parishioners or families taking turns would keep this commitment feasible going forward. Contact Elizabeth@sjbrh.org or Joy@sjbrh.org to find out how you can help.
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.

Questions? Contact Carl Bach at abcb1922@yahoo.com
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.

Questions? Contact Sandy Rokosz at sandyrokosz7@hotmail.com
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.
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
Reconciliation
Fr. George welcomes all to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Monday evenings at 6:00 PM at St. Elizabeth Seton.
The Parish Pastoral Council welcomes your feedback, questions and concerns and will respond as appropriate. Please contact the Council via email by sending a message to parishcouncil@sjbrh.org.
Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish
767 Elm Street
Rocky Hill, CT 06067
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Lisa Orchen