Saint Josephine
Bakhita Parish
November 2, 2021
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Dear Parishioners and Friends of Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish,
Greetings and blessings!
Monday, we celebrated the Feast of All Saints....the folks who have graced our own lives with their holiness. And I believe we have all known saints, men and women who lived the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12) …the gospel we read for the Feast Day…. that may not be on the official list of the 10,000 canonized saints. And so let us reflect a bit on the Beatitudes as a way of reflecting on those saints from the past and who live among us now:
With gratitude, we honor this All Saints Day “the poor in spirit,” those who taught us that the important things in life are the things of God: compassion, gratitude, mercy, and generosity.
We honor those who “mourned,” who inspired us by their courage in dealing with illness and loss and who comforted us in our sorrows.
We give thanks for the “meek” in our lives, who did so much good for us and others by the humble but joyful simplicity of their lives.
We remember those who taught us to seek justice and mercy for all.
We count among God’s saints the “pure of heart,” those who showed us how to pray not only in words but in actions, who taught us by the example of their lives how to become the sacrament we receive at the Lord’s table.
And we seek the continued help and wisdom of the “peacemakers” we have known, who always brought comfort, solace and unity to our families, church, and communities.
This All Saints Day is the time to realize the continued presence of these holy men and women in our lives: to give thanks to God for these saints who, in our memories of them, continue to bless and grace our lives with the lights of God’s compassion and peace as we struggle to become, like them, people of the Beatitudes.
Two questions: Of the many canonized saints…who inspires you the most? Of the people in the circle of your present day lives…who (the uncanonized) inspires you the most?
Peace and Blessings,
Fr. George Couturier
Pastor
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Memorial Mass
We Remember
Our Deceased Loved Ones
at Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish
Tuesday, November 2
7:00 PM
Saint James Church
and Livestreamed on Saint Josephine Bakhita Facebook Page
We will be celebrating our annual Memorial Mass for those who have had funerals at Saint Josephine Bakhita since November 2020. All are welcome to pray and support those who are mourning, or be strengthened in the face of their own mourning by watching Mass online. In-person attendance is reserved for those who have received an invitation. During the candlelit service, we will be announcing the names of those who had funerals at Saint Josephine Bakhita in the past year. However, Facebook offers the ability to comment in real time and add your own loved one’s name and picture in the comment section during the Mass.
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Thirty-Second Sunday
in Ordinary Time
November 6-7, 2021
4 PM Vigil, 9 AM, 11 AM
*Masks strongly encouraged!*
Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish will livestream the 9:00 AM & 11:00 AM Sunday Mass using Facebook Live. The livestream of the Mass can also be viewed on the front page of our website. The recordings remain available on the Parish Facebook page.
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All members of the Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish community are invited to join in the faith activity for the months of October & November called The Thankful Pumpkin. To learn more, Click Here. Email pictures of your Thankful Pumpkin to the Faith Formation Office at reo@sjbrh.org.
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Sweet Feet Repeat
Last year our Confirmation classes collected candy and new socks as part of their Sweet Feet Project. They filled men, women and children’s socks with candy and delivered them to numerous agencies as a special gift for Christmas. The project was huge success, and we would like to “repeat” it again this year but need lots of donated candy and socks.
Now is the perfect time to donate spare Halloween Candy. From now until the beginning of December, drop new socks and candy in the boxes labeled Sweet Feet Project located in the foyers of both churches. Thank you for making Christmas a little “sweeter” for others.
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Thanksgiving Food Baskets &
Grocery Store Gift Certificates
Create a Thanksgiving Food Basket for a household of 4-6 people to donate to Rocky Hill Human Services and deliver to either church the weekend of November 20-21.
OR
Donate gift certificates to local grocery stores to compliment the Food Baskets and enable families to buy turkeys and perishable foods.
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Winter Clothing
Collection
The Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish Winter Clothing Collection will open Monday, November 8. We accept Winter Clothing in clean, good to excellent condition. Place donations in the collection bin in the front foyer of Saint James Church. Please note, we are no longer able to accept household goods.
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Holiday Fair Bakers Needed
We need bakers! Please give some thought to signing up to help with this delicious fund raiser for our parish. Safe handling as always with gloves provided and masks required for all at the Cookie Walk.
Contact: MaryAnne DiPasquale 860-529-2304 or Lynda Regina 860-563-9550
Sign up in either church foyer
or email what you will bake to
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Holiday Fair Silent Auction Preview
The Silent Auction Committee has assembled an amazing assortment of items for bidding. Here is just a partial list:
Gift Certificates: DeNovellis Restaurant, West Side Market, Amazon, Sam's Club, Rudy's Little Italy, Ocean State Job Lot, Bob's Discount Furniture, Little Theater of Manchester, Big Y, Panizzo, Stew Leonards, Saybrook Fish House, Gilbert Farm, Chuck's Steakhouse, Mark Twain House, Essex Steam Train, Hartford Yard Goats, New Britain Museum of American Art, Wadsworth Atheneum, Tennis and Fitness Center of Rocky Hill, Boston Red Sox, Connecticut Sun, Mt. Southington, and more!
Grand Prize: One week stay at the Narragansett vacation home of parishioners Joe and Pat Klinger (valued at $3000). Well maintained, updated, 3-story, 3000 sq. ft., 5 bedroom, sleeps 12, within minutes of Roger Wheeler and Scarborough State Beaches. Bidding for vacation home will start at $1300. Questions, call Joy at 860-529-8655.
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Holiday Fair Homemade Crafts Preview
Knit, Crochet and Sew Good Works will again have Irish Knit sweaters, quilts, baby items, home décor items and more at the Holiday Fair. Enjoy a preview of these beautiful, handmade items: Click Here.
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To pre-order, preview, pricing, or to customize a fall/holiday table runner, contact Vivian Orsini at vorsini24@aol.com or text 860-906-7433.
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It's Not Too Early To Start Thinking About Advent |
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Advent Bible Study
Prepare For Christmas With Mary
Few people have impacted the world of Christian spirituality theology and history as Mary, the Mother of the Lord. Join us for three sessions online on December Monday evenings 12/6,12/13 and 12/20 as we wait with her for the birth of Christ by considering the key events in her life that helped set the course of salvation history. No experience with Scripture necessary…newcomers, family and friends most welcome.
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Contemplative Dialogue Advent Series
Come and join fellow parishioners for this 5-week series that will be held on Mondays from 7:15-8:30PM beginning on November 29th. First time participants are asked to arrive 15 minutes early (7:00) for a brief orientation.
We will be reading Bridges to Contemplative Living with Thomas Merton. Each week, there are selected passages that participants read and reflect on in silence. There is then a sharing period when members may choose to share how certain parts of the readings were meaningful and relevant in their lives. Everyone is asked to listen to each other’s sharing respectfully. To listen deeply is to cultivate inner silence.
These sessions will be hybrid - both in person in Classroom G at Saint Elizabeth Seton and on Zoom. If you would like to participate, please sign up on the sheets located in the foyers of St. Elizabeth Seton or St. James by November 7th to allow sufficient time to order and receive books before our initial session. Please contact Maryann Lonergan (at 860-635-7726 or mca0711@sbcglobal.net) with any questions or for more information.
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Join the Women of
Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish
Women's Retreat Weekend
January 7-9, 2022
Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center
Our retreat theme, In the Spirit of Trust, will explore the notion of trust and how it is gained, as well as lost. We will share our personal faith experiences of trusting in God’s providence and help one another to build a foundation for lasting trust in the one who created us and loves us. And in the process, we hope to become more trustworthy Christian people on the journey of faith, bringing about a world of justice and peace as members of the Body of Christ. To register visit holyfamilyretreat.org, call us at 860.760.9705 or find the registration forms in the back of the church. Cost is $325. Please join the women of our parish on this inspiring retreat!
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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 Friday, November 12 from 9am-2pm. Go to www.redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS to register to give.
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Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish
Rectory Office
on the campus of St. James Church
767 Elm Street, Rocky Hill
860-529-8655
Monday - Friday: 9:00AM - 2:30PM
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Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish
767 Elm Street
Rocky Hill, CT 06067
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