March 29, 2022

Evening of Reflection, Holy Week Preview, Easter Food Basket Collection and so much more...
March 29, 2022

Dear Parishioners and Friends of Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish,
 
Greetings and blessings!

This weekend’s Gospel story (John 8:1-11) is a classic story of where judging another person has gone awry. The religious leaders of Jesus’ day were quick to point out the faults of the woman caught in adultery but failed to see their own faults. It is a perfect example of when we point our finger at someone, we often fail to see the three other fingers pointing back ourselves.
 
In a clever manner Jesus wisely makes the point about judging others by doing some mysterious drawing in the sand. By this drawing in the sand, some scholars suggest that Jesus may have been slowly pointing out, one by one, the sins of the religious leaders. One by one the religious leaders walk away from their judgement for they now see their own sin in the sand.
 
A story is told about King Solomon. We know from scripture that he was a wise judge. Year in and year out he sat in judgement on people. But it seems that as the years went by, he gradually became hard and insensitive. In fact, he became harsh and cold in his judgements.
 
One day as he sat on his throne before starting a judging session, the crown he was wearing slid down over his eyes. He straightened it up immediately, only for the same thing to happen again…eight times. Finally, he said to the crown, “Why do you keep falling down over my eyes?” and the crown replied, “I must. When power loses compassion, I must show what such a condition looks like.” In other words, it is blind.
 
Solomon grasped the truth at once. And to his credit he knelt and asked forgiveness from God. The crown immediately centered itself on his head. Even the wisdom of Solomon can go blind sometimes.
 
Lent is an awesome time of reflection that can help go deep and help us adjust the crown on our heads, once again. Read about the opportunities for spiritual renewal this Lent below in this newsletter, on our new website, on our social media platforms, in our bulletin and the Lent takeaways we have set out for you in the foyers of our Churches.

Peace and Blessings in the Holy Season of Lent,

Fr. George Couturier
Fifth Sunday of Lent
April 3, 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!*
Lent Evening of Reflection
Tuesday, April 5, 2022
7:00 PM
Saint Elizabeth Seton Church

Ignation Pause
Please join us for an hour long evening program first learning about and then praying St. Ignatius of Loyola’s Examen. This is a powerful prayer tool for discernment and to help us grow closer to God by pausing to examine the contours of our daily lives. Our session will be led by Laura Marcucio, a Spanish teacher at East Catholic High School in Manchester. Trained in spiritual direction and in Ignatian spirituality, Laura made the Spiritual Exercises for the first time as a student at the College of the Holy Cross. She has a Masters in Theology from Weston Jesuit School of Theology. For more information, Click Here.
Pray The Stations of the Cross
The Stations of the Cross invite us to use all our senses as we reflect prayerfully and walk intentionally with Jesus through his suffering, death on the cross and resurrection. Here are some of the ways available:
 
Attend Stations of the Cross
Fridays during Lent
5:30pm at St. James
7:00pm at St. Elizabeth Seton
 
Attend Stations of the Cross
Good Friday, April 15
7:0pm at St. James - Confirmation Program
7:00pm at St. Elizabeth Seton

Pray The Stations of the Cross with Fr. George Virtually
Available anytime on YouTube
 
Pray the Stations of the Cross for
Children, Families & Everyone Virtually
Available anytime on YouTube
Bakhita Bible Camp - Click Here
March Faith Activity
All members of the Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish community are invited to join in the faith activity for the month of March: Fill your Catholic Relief Services Rice Bowl. Rice Bowls are available in both church foyers and contain information on this project. Fill them with your Lenten monetary donations and return them at Easter time. Our faith formation students in 4th-8th grade along with our Confirmation students will be involved in a fun competition to see which class can raise the most money for this wonderful cause. All our collected donations will be sent to Catholic Relief services which includes relief to our brothers and sisters in the Ukraine. To learn more, visit www.crsricebowl.org.

Lent Almsgiving
The Lenten Practice of Fasting & Abstinence
The Lenten practice of fasting is modeled on Jesus' forty days of fasting in the desert, the Gospel story always proclaimed on the First Sunday of Lent. Like Jesus, we fast during Lent as a reminder of our dependence on God. Through fasting on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, we also align ourselves more closely with the needs of the hungry throughout our world. The tradition of abstaining from meat on Ash Wednesday and Lenten Fridays allows us to walk in the shoes of the poor who can seldom afford meat for meals. As a gesture of solidarity, plan very simple, home cooked meals and set aside the money normally spent for food and drink on Fridays to give as alms. For creative suggestions for Lenten fasting, Click here.
Easter Food Baskets
Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish will be collecting Easter food “baskets” for families within our community on the weekend of April 9-10 so that they can be delivered before Easter. Rocky Hill Human Services is asking for "generic" baskets for families of four to six people. If your family or group would like to donate a basket, please sign up on the sheet located in the Foyer of either church so we know how many to plan for. If we get enough, some will also be donated to Catholic Worker in Hartford.

Please bring your basket (any container is acceptable as long as it looks nice) to the Rectory garage at Saint Elizabeth Seton or Father Shea Hall at Saint James on Saturday afternoon, April 9 or Sunday morning, April 10. A list of suggested items is available here. Please do not include perishable foods. People will be given gift certificates to use for their fresh foods.

During this weekend we will also be collecting grocery store gift certificates which Rocky Hill Human Services will add to the baskets when they are distributed. Please bring the gift certificates to Mass April 9-10 and place them in the collection basket.
Lent Special Collection
Our parish collection for the season of Lent will benefit My Sister’s Place, a local agency committed to ending homelessness by empowering women, families and others in Greater Hartford to achieve independence and stability in their community by providing housing and supportive services. Those served by My Sister’s Place are in great need of the following items:
 Toilet paper, Baby wipes, Pull-Ups (size 4T & 5T)
Bars of soap, Body wash, Shampoo & Conditioner
Deodorant, Toothbrushes, Toothpaste
Mouthwash, Feminine products

Our parish Outreach Ministry has offered to coordinate our parish donations on their behalf. Donations 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.
 
Questions? Contact Carl Bach at abcb1922@yahoo.com
Lifting Up Intercessory Prayer in Our Churches
Light a Candle
Along the back wall in St. James Church and in the Reservation Chapel at St. Elizabeth Church there are votive candle stations which represent our “Sacrifice of Praise.” The word “votive” comes from the Latin word "votum," which originally meant “expressing a desire.” So the next time you are in the chapel, feel free to light a votive candle as a sacrificial offering, expressing your desires and petitions to God.

Prayer Intention Books
Along the back wall of St. James and in the foyer of St. Elizabeth Seton, you can also find prayer intention books. These intentions are then prayed for during the celebration of Mass, and the rosary offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays following daily mass.

Prayer Walls
Additionally, during Lent, our parish Faith Formation Program has placed “Prayer Walls” in both of our churches. You are welcome to tie a ribbon on the wire “wall” to pray for family, friends, peace, or the church community. Ribbons are in the cups surrounding the “wall.” 

Read more about prayer during Lent, Click Here.
Holy Week Schedule 2022
 
Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion
April 10, 2022
 4PM ~ St. James
9AM ~ St. Elizabeth Seton (livestreamed)
11AM ~ St. James (livestreamed)
 
Holy Thursday
April 14, 2022
 Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper
7PM ~ St James (livestreamed)
 
Good Friday
April 15, 2022

 Celebration of Our Lord’s Passion
3PM ~ St. James (livestreamed)
3PM ~ St. Elizabeth Seton
 
Stations of the Cross & Veneration
7PM ~ St. James (Confirmation Program & livestreamed)
7PM ~ St. Elizabeth Seton
 
Holy Saturday
April 16, 2022
 Easter Vigil
8PM ~ St. Elizabeth Seton (livestreamed)
 
Easter Sunday
April 17, 2022
9AM ~ St. Elizabeth Seton (livestreamed)
9AM ~ St. James
11AM ~ St. James (livestreamed)

More details can be found here.
Easter Season Bible Study

Jesus: A Man of Prayer
This Easter Season, Deacon Michael
will be leading a Bible Study
on “Jesus: A Man of Prayer.”

This six-session series will be
held in-person and online.
Jesus and prayer—two topics that are of immense interest to Christians and that are inextricably linked together.
 
On Wednesdays starting April 27th Saint Josephine Bakhita Adult Bible Study will be offering a 6-part read and reflect series on praying with Jesus Christ. In this convening of Jesus: Man of Prayer, we will consider prayer by studying the way Jesus prayed as offered in Scripture. We will gain greater understanding of Jesus—and prayer—as we work our way through this helpful and practical Bible study.

The series begins on Wednesday April 27th. Two identical sessions are offered each week, one at 10:00 AM at 7:00 PM at St. James Church Parish Center, and one at 7:00 PM ONLINE via Google Meet.

Registration and participation details can be found here.

All are welcome. No special knowledge of Scripture is required. Preregistration is requested by Tuesday April 12th. $8 fee for materials. Please register by signing up via email at saintjmdeacon@gmail.com or by calling and leaving a message at 860-529-3222 Ext. 14.
Lenten Rosary
Pray the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary with Fr. George anytime on YouTube.
Prayer time: 20 minutes.
Adoration
Join our community for Adoration this Lent every Thursday at St. James Church from 8:30 - 9:30 AM immediately following the daily mass.
Lent Daily Prayer
Fr. George and our parish Directors of Music Ministry will lead Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer online through Lent.
Morning Prayer: Streamed on Facebook at 5:00 AM and available after
Evening Prayer: Streamed on Facebook at 5:00 PM and available after
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.
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 2022 Appeal literature! Organizations in our own community received funding from the Appeal’s Vicariate Outreach Program, making a difference in the lives of our local neighbors.

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.
Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish
767 Elm Street
Rocky Hill, CT 06067

Lisa Orchen