May 31, 2022

Wear Red for Pentecost, Pray for Our Confirmation Candidates, Join us for Community Sunday and more...

May 31, 2022

Dear Parishioners and Friends of Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish,

Greetings and blessings!

As I get older, I find myself taking more and more deep dives into the pool of memories, lessons learned (or not), wisdom and insights gained. And so, from my earliest childhood, God has been trying to explain life to me, whispering to me through the experiences of life, the beauty of the earth, through the loves God has given to warm my heart, and through the goodness and even heroism that God energizes within me.

And yet, I often miss God’s message and give in to an agonizing fear or denial that life has no meaning…especially when horror or tragedy strikes. I realize as a priest for 40 years that when this happens to some folks, some people just walk away from their faith, while others go through the motions, but without heart or hope. That is what the apostles did after the Ascension. They hid in the upper room, sad and bitterly certain that they had been abandoned. But, as we all know, they got it all wrong.

What we celebrate on Pentecost this weekend is that they finally got it right. They finally took in what God had been telling them since the first day God met them: God loves us deeply and God wants us in the “family” forever! When the apostles finally got that, they caught fire and carried the Good News to the ends of the earth.

Now it is our turn to lay hold of that vision and let it set us on fire: God is in us, around us, above us and below us. God is totally beyond us and yet is, at every moment, our partner and mentor, our comforter and guide.

This Pentecost, receive God more deeply into your lives and you will never be at a loss. God will be your today, your tomorrow and your forever!!

This weekend consider wearing something that is red…a sign of your receiving the fire of God’s love and presence in your life.

I wish you and yours continued Blessings!!

Fr George

Pentecost Sunday

June 5, 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!*

Watch on Facebook

Watch on Our Website

Join in Prayer for Our Confirmation Candidates

Our Confirmation Candidates will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation on Pentecost Sunday, June 5, 2022, at the Cathedral of Saint Joseph. Let us lift our young people, their sponsors and families up in prayer this week as they prepare for this very special day.

Come, Holy Spirit,

fill the hearts of your faithful.

And kindle in them the fire

of your love.

Send forth your Spirit

and they shall be created.

And you will renew

the face of the earth.

Here are some suggestions and strategies for helping children cope with violence and tragedy and ideas for talking with them about violence in their schools: Click Here.

Enjoy These First Eucharist Pictures

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!

Singers Needed!

Saint Josephine Bakhita Music Ministry is planning a summer concert on June 26 at 2:00 PM on the St. James lawn. Those who can sing on pitch and attend our Wednesday rehearsals can sing in this fun concert of sacred and secular music.

St. James Choir (a very friendly and fun group of singers) is looking for a few singers (especially sopranos & men) to sing at the 11:00 AM Mass. Summer Choir gathers Sunday mornings at 10:15 AM in the choir loft prior to rehearse.

Contact Joy at 860-529-8655 X10 or joy@sjbrh.org for more information about singing or just to talk music.

Summer Clothing Collection

The Saint Josephine Bakhita 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

Hospitality Sunday is Back!

First Sunday of the Month

Coffee, treats, visiting with friends - old and new - will return on the first Sunday of the month, starting June 5, Pentecost. 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.

Please Donate to the

Archbishop's Annual Appeal

The Archbishop’s Annual Appeal changes lives through service to the Lord. Your gift helps to support those cultivating a vocation to the priesthood. Your gift to the Annual Appeal is an investment in the future of our Church and our Faith.

All donations 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.