March 7, 2023

Throughout Lent, God Summons Us With Love

March 7, 2023

Dear Parishioners and Friends of Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish,

The Third Sunday of Lent marks the midpoint on our journey from Ash Wednesday to Holy Week. Day by day the invitations to turn our hearts toward God and receive his gifts of mercy and love intensify. The midday encounter between Jesus and the woman of Samaria at Jacob’s well amplifies the invitation extended on Ash Wednesday to “return to me with your whole heart” (Joel 2:12).

We can imagine Jesus approaching each new encounter seeking to intuit, “What does their heart need from me?” Jesus immediately perceived the deepest needs of the woman’s heart and pivoted the conversation from physical thirst to spiritual thirst. His willingness to ignore the social norms of the time and speak to her with frank familiarity reminds us that God’s invitation to relationship is for everyone, no matter our past, our gender, our ancestry, our place in life.

Jesus reveals his divine purpose to this outcast woman and offers her the hope of eternal life. Our second reading, from the Letter of St. Paul to the Romans, echoes this remarkable promise, “Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has been given to us” (5:5).

Throughout Lent, God summons us unceasingly. The woman at Jacob’s well represents every one of us. When God looks deeply into your heart this Lent, what spiritual thirst needs to be quenched?

Our parish continues to offer a myriad of Lenten spiritual opportunities. We hope you will receive these offerings as invitations of love. Read on to learn more.

Image - Woman at the Well by Glenda Stevens.

Click Here to See All We Have Planned for Lent

March 12, 2023

4:00 PM at Saint James

9 AM at Saint Elizabeth Seton

11:00 AM at Saint James

Lenten Family Activity: The Fasting Cup

As a family, think of things that have separated you from God and the times when you have turned your attention elsewhere. Talk together about what you can replace in your lives with time spent considering your faith and how to live it. St. Ignatius of Loyola encouraged his company of Jesuits to “cultivate indifference.” Adults may find The Ignatian Workout: Daily Spiritual Exercises for a Healthy Faith (Loyola Press) a useful tool in learning the discipline of fasting.

Decide with your family members 10 things from which you can fast on certain days during Lent. Suggestions might be television, computer games, or desserts. Write your family’s ideas and activities on 10 paper strips. Decorate a cup or small bowl with religious stickers or colored faith symbols and write the words “Family Fasting Cup" on your cup or bowl. Put the 10 strips (unfolded) into the cup. Each day, each member of the family will take one strip out of the cup and follow the fasting idea written on it. At the end of the day, put the strip back in the cup. Continue the next day by taking a different strip.

Please take a picture of your fasting cup and your fasting strips and send to reo@sjbrh.org so we can share it on social media.

Why Do We Fast? Fasting, defined as partial or full abstinence from food and drink, has been part of nearly every religious tradition. For Christians, fasting is the setting aside of earthly concerns so that we can focus on faith. It is a recognition that we ultimately depend on God and not on material goods to sustain and enrich our lives.

Learn more, Click Here.

Lifting Up Intercessory Prayer in Our Churches

Prayer Walls

This Lent our parish Faith Formation Program has placed “Prayer Walls” in both of our churches. All are welcome to write a prayer intention on small strips of provided construction paper and tie them with a ribbon on the wire “wall.”

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.

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.

8 Ways to Pray During Lent

Lent Prayer & Devotions

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.

Friday Evenings

5:30PM at St. James

7:00pm at St. Elizabeth Seton

Women of SJB: Make a Retreat this Lent

Women of Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish are invited to join us this coming weekend, March 10-12, on retreat at Our Lady of Calvary Retreat Center in Farmington, CT. The retreat begins at 7:00 PM on Friday (there is a Soup Supper from 5:30 to 6:30 for those who prefer to arrive earlier) and ends at 12:30 PM on Sunday after Mass and brunch. Financial assistance is available for those who find themselves in need. For more information, contact Pat Meskill at (860) 613-2288 or patmeskill@aol.com.

To register, contact Our Lady of Calvary at (860) 677-8519 or Click Here.

Learn more & sign up here

Lent Evening of Reflection for Couples

Tuesday

March 21

7:00 PM at St. Elizabeth Seton

Navigating a Deeper Relationship

Presented by Lil & Rick Baruffi

Learn more & sign up 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

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 Wednesday, March 8, from 1PM-6PM. Call 1-800-RED-CROSS visit www.redcrossblood.org to register to give.

Food & Cereal

For Our Local Pantries

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, 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 1-2 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 1 or Sunday morning, April 2. 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 1-2 and place them in the collection basket.

Other Fun Tidbits

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 18

4:00 - 7:00 PM

Saint James Parish Center

Tickets on sale Feb. 18 - Mar. 12.

Learn more here.

Palm Crosses for Sale

The Knights of Columbus will be taking orders for palm crosses after every mass at the St. James and St. Elizabeth campuses for the following dates: February 25 - March 19. 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.

The 2023 Archbishop’s Annual Appeal is now underway in our parish. Your support of this year’s Appeal ensures that essential charitable, educational, and pastoral ministries of the Archdiocese of Hartford are carried forward.

Since 1997, Archbishop’s Annual Appeal Vicariate Outreach Program has been able to provide nearly $20 million in funding to community-based local charities throughout Hartford, New Haven and Litchfield Counties to assist them in their important work of serving the needs of God’s people. In 2022, we were able to provide nearly $900,000 to various organizations, nominated by pastors, across 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.