May 30, 2023

News From Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish

May 30, 2023

Dear Parishioners and Friends of Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish,

Our 90 day journey from Ash Wednesday to Pentecost Sunday has come to an end and the Church now enters the longer season of Ordinary Time. The liturgical color for the season is green and the natural world is awash with new growth on trees and in gardens. There is nothing ‘ordinary’ about Ordinary Time. It is named for ‘ordered’ or counted time. The Church is now officially in the Ninth Week of Ordinary Time. Another term for Ordinary Time is ‘The Growing Time.’ Change your prayer space colors to green and reflect on how you hope to grow spiritually in the not so ordinary weeks ahead.

This coming Sunday our Church commemorates the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. The Trinity is a perfect reminder that God desires to be close to us. God’s ecstatic love for the world overflows in the gift of the Son and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. We explicitly unite ourselves with the mystery of the Holy Trinity every time we mark our bodies with the Sign of the Cross. Try to make the Sign of the Cross with more intentionality. Allow this gesture that we repeat so often be a poignant reminder of our unbreakable unity with God. May your faith journey through Ordinary Time be abundantly blessed.

The Most Holy Trinity

June 4, 2023

4:00 PM at Saint James

9 AM at Saint Elizabeth Seton

11:00 AM at Saint James

Stay for coffee and treats after

the 9 & 11 AM Masses!

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

We are excited to announce the introduction of a brand new ministry for children at our parish! Beginning this Fall, the Children's Liturgy of the Word (CLW) will be held on the first Sunday of every month at 11:00 a.m. Mass on the St. James campus, with a pilot CLW being launched this coming Sunday, June 4.

CLW invites children from Kindergarten age to Grade 5 to be called from the main assembly at Mass during the Liturgy of the Word to hear and reflect upon the readings and Gospel at their developmentally appropriate age level.

The liturgy matches that of the main assembly using the Lectionary for Children. A "reflection" is given by the presider (Minister of the Word) in place of the homily. The children then return to the main assembly prior to the start of the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

As with any new ministry, your help is needed! Please consider becoming a Presider (Minister of the Word) or help with "gatekeeping." We will provide you with both the necessary resources and training. Your commitment could be as little as twice a year! Please call (860-529-1274) or email the Faith Formation Office (reo@sjbrh.org) if you are interested in serving in any capacity! It is such a rewarding ministry.

Thank you and see you all on Sunday, June 4! Blessings to all.

Filomena Marinelli, Children's Liturgy of the Word Coordinator

Monica Piombino, Directory of Faith Formation

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

Emergency Cereal Drive

Amazing Grace food Pantry sent out a plea for help. They are in great need of cereal. There are drop-off boxes at both church locations. Learn more, Click Here.

Give Blood

The American Red Cross will hold a Blood Drive in our Parish Center at St. James Church on Thursday, June 15, from 1PM-6PM.

Visit www.redcrossblood.org to register to give.

Upcoming Meals at ImmaCare Shelter &

St. Vincent dePaul Soup Kitchen

Donations Needed for June 17 & June 25

Members of the Saturday Night Food Group at Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish will be providing meals to the residents at ImmaCare Shelter on Saturday June 17, following the 4:00 PM mass and Sunday evening, June 24, at the St Vincent DePaul soup kitchen. We are in need of your assistance. 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 or questions please contact Carl Bach at 860-882-9174 or email: abcb1922@yahoo.com.

Rosary

Tues & Thurs

8:30AM @ St. James

Saturdays

3:20PM @ St. James

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.

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.