March 4, 2025

Welcome to Lent at Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish

March 4, 2025

Dear Parishioners and Friends of Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish,

Our season of Lent begins tomorrow, on Ash Wednesday, and will conclude at sundown on Holy Thursday, the beginning of the Sacred Paschal Triduum.

This coming weekends’ Gospel (Luke 4:1-13) sparks a thought in my mind…that things do change. A change that is not always really good for us spiritually and morally. Our “yes” becomes a “no” with chilling speed sometimes. Fears about what we may be missing keep us looking for better offers and treating our commitments as short-term parking, instead of a part of our very selves. What an irony, that in a relentless pursuit of more of everything, we could end up as empty shells.

Jesus knew this as he searched his soul in those 40 days in the desert. He had exceptional people skills, and he was ever so perceptive. As a carpenter’s son his career options were probably pretty bountiful. But instead of comfort and relative wealth and power, he chose a lifetime commitment to being our brother and helping us grow whole.

Faithfulness like that can endure storms, plagues, corruption, and famines and still stand firm. If we ever hope to find peace and contentment in our world, nation and lives, that is where we must look: giving our hearts away and never taking them back. It is the work of a lifetime, but Jesus showed us the way, one step at a time.

This Lent look upon the cross of Jesus. Take time to probe the depth of his commitment to us. His cross is where you will find the courage to make large commitments that last and will confront evil, corruption and hate. And as we try to live these commitments (by the grace of God), they will enlarge our souls, and we will become a blessing to all whose lives we touch.

Our parish will be offering a myriad of spiritual opportunities to support your journey through Lent. We hope you will receive our offerings as invitations of love. Read on to learn all about them!

Wishing you a blessed Lent!

Fr. George Couturier

Ash Wednesday Visits to

Recuperating or Homebound Parishioners

Our Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion are available to visit on Ash Wednesday, March 5, to anoint with ashes our homebound parishioners and to those who are recuperating from recent surgery or illness. If interested, please contact Judy Sartucci, Home Visit Ministry Coordinator, at 860-690-5869 so that arrangements may be made.

Lent starts March 5 - Click Here to See All We Have Planned

March 5, 2025

8:00 AM Mass & Ashes

Saint Elizabeth Seton

& livestreamed

Noon Prayer Service & Ashes

Saint James

7:00 PM Mass & Ashes

Saint James

March 9, 2025

4:00 PM at Saint James

9:00 AM at Saint Elizabeth Seton

& livestreamed

11:00 AM at Saint James

Lent Prayer & Devotions

Create a Prayer Space for Lent at Home

All members of the Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish community are invited to set up a special place for prayer time during the Lenten Season. Use the color purple, a sign of reflection and conversion, on a table or shelf. Include a simple cross and a Bible.

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 the Stations of the Cross

Friday Evenings

5:30PM at St. James

7:00pm at St. Elizabeth Seton

Lent Bible Study

Wednesdays

March 12 - April 16

10:00AM at St. James

7:00 PM St. Elizabeth Seton

Led by Deacon Michael

During our Lenten bible study we will look at the passion through the characters who participated in some dramatic way in the suffering and death of the Lord. Well-known characters include Peter, Pilate, and Mary Magdalen; lesser-known include Simon of Cyrene, the daughters of Jerusalem, and the woman who anointed Jesus.

Learn More About Deacon Michael's Lenten Program Here

Lent Little Black Reflection Books

The Little Black Book has daily Lenten reflections that begin March 2, 2025. Pick one up to use as part of your Lenten daily prayer in either church foyer.

Lent Taizé Prayer Service

Sunday, March 23

7:00 PM at St. James

& livestreamed

Learn More Here

Daily Mass

Mon-8:30AM @ Seton

Tues-8:00AM @ St. James

Thur-8:00AM @ St. James

Fri-8:30AM @ Seton

Evening Prayer

Fr. George leads evening prayer Monday - Friday at 5:00 PM on our parish Facebook Page. All are welcome!

Reconciliation

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

Lent Almsgiving

Please take home a CRS Rice Bowl located in the vestibules of both churches starting the first weekend in Lent.

Please bring back your rice bowl when churches are open for weekend masses. Kindly return them no later than the weekend after Easter (April 26 & 27). There will be greeters to accept your rice bowl donations.

Thank you for changing lives this Lent!

Other Fun Tidbits

Mardi Gras Celebration

Tuesday, March 4, 2025

6:00 - 8:00 PM

St. James Parish Center

Join us for games, music, dancing and a potluck dinner to celebrate Mardi Gras! We will provide the traditional pancakes, you bring a potluck dish to share!

Call Joy at 860-529-8655 for more info or to volunteer to help!

There are signup sheets and suggested recipes in both church foyers and on SignUpGenuis.

Click Here To Sign Up To Attend

Celebrate St Patrick's Day With Us!

St Patrick’s Day Dinner

Join the Knights of Columbus for our annual St Patrick’s Day celebration featuring a traditional corned beef dinner with all the fixings and dessert.

Saturday, March 15

4:00 - 7:00 PM

St James Parish Center

Tickets on sale February 15 - March 9. Take out dinners will be available. Adults: $20.00 - Children (under 12): $12.00

Family Special (2 adults & 2 children (under 12): $52.00

Note: NO tickets at the door

For more info call Dave 860-726-3585.

Help The Knights of Columbus Support Special Olympics CT!

Join the Knights of Columbus in our fundraising in support of Special Olympics Connecticut! There are two ways to join in on our fun: join our team, helps us to raise funds, and plunge with us in person! Or you can join our team, help our team to raise funds, and "plunge with us" virtually!

Sponsor Us Here

Palm Crosses for Sale

The Knights of Columbus will be taking orders for Palm Crosses after every Mass at the St. James & St. Elizabeth Seton campuses starting on Saturday, March 8 through Sunday, March 30. Palm crosses will be available for pick up after every mass on Palm Sunday. The cost of the palm crosses is $13. Please contact David Mikol at (860) 726-3585 with any questions.

Give Blood

The American Red Cross has launched a Severe Blood Shortage Appeal. All eligible donors are encouraged to schedule appointments now. The next drive hosted at our Parish Center at St. James Church is scheduled for Thursday, March 6, 2025 from 1PM-6PM. Call 1-800-RED-CROSS or go to www.redcrossblood.org to register to give.

The 2025 Archbishop’s Annual Appeal is now underway in our parish. Our goal is to engage our entire parish family in this year’s Appeal and to pray for the success of the Appeal, both here in our parish and across the three counties of the Archdiocese.

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.

Please respond as generously as your means allow.