November 5, 2024

Fall Happenings at Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish

November 5, 2024

Dear Parishioners and Friends of Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish,

Where does love come from? That is the same question that seems to be posed by two stories from scripture this weekend: one widow gave her last bit of food to a total stranger (1 Kings 17:10-16), while another dropped her last penny in the poor box (Mark 12: 38-44). Where does that kind of love come from? It comes from being loved—and knowing it. For with that knowing comes a thankfulness that draws us forward to complete the circle of love.

Take the time to receive the signs of love that surround us every day. Let them touch our hearts, minds and souls, and fill us with wonder, and propel us to complete the circle of love again and again—never counting, always giving thanks.

In the shadow of our recent national elections, may our souls be at rest and our hearts be filled with hope of peace and blessings. May our nation and its elected officials be a bright shining light of the authentic Christian message that calls us to the kind of love that we witness in the two widows of the scriptures.

Peace and blessings!

Fr. George Couturier

Join Us for the 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

November 10, 2024

4:00 PM Vigil at St. James

9:00 AM at St. Elizabeth Seton

and livestreamed

11:00 AM at St. James

Join Us for Our Annual Memorial Mass

Memorial Mass

Thursday, November 7

7:00 PM at St. James

and livestreamed

We will be celebrating our annual Memorial Mass for those who have had funerals at Saint Josephine Bakhita since November 2023. All are welcome to pray and support those who are mourning, or be strengthened in the face of their own mourning by joining us in person or online. During the candlelit service, we will be announcing the names of those who had funerals at Saint Josephine Bakhita in the past year.

Join Us for the Rocky Hill Thanksgiving Service

Tuesday, November 26

7:00 PM at Rocky Hill

Congregational Church

805 Old Main Street

Join Us Thanksgiving Day

Thursday, November 28

8:00 AM at St. James

and livestreamed

Our Faith Formation Program is well underway with exciting things happening at all grade levels. Our Early Childhood Program participants enjoyed a fun first session discovering the intersection between faith and pumpkins! The lesson is called the "The Pumpkin Parable." Children learn that we are the pumpkins and God is the Gardener. God creates us, cares for us and chooses us. Like pumpkins, we all have "icky goo" inside (sin) that God cleans from us by forgiving us. By carving a face, God makes us a new creation. When a candle is added to the pumpkin, we are letting God's light shine for others to see! A message we can all relate to!

Click Here: Register to Attend and Volunteer to Help

Other Fun Tidbits

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 23-24.

Donate gift certificates to local grocery stores to compliment the Food Baskets and enable families to buy turkeys and perishable foods.

Please indicate your intention to donate a basket by signing up in either Church Foyer. Learn all about where to donate and how to build your basket, Click Here.

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 How To Register Here

Annual Holiday Fair

Bake Sale & Cookie Walk

Donations of baked goods and cookies are needed for our annual Holiday Fair. We have many talented bakers in our parish and each year they donate delicious homemade baked goods for our very popular Holiday Fair Bake Sale & Cookie Walk. We can never have too much! Every last crumb sells! Please sign up to donate one or more items.

Click Here to Volunteer to Bake for the Cookie Walk

Click Here to Volunteer to Bake for the Bake Sale

Volunteers Needed!

Planning for our annual Holiday Fair is well underway. We need lots of volunteers to help make it all happen! Click the button below or scan the QR Code to sign up to help! If you prefer to talk to someone about volunteering, call Kathy Alexander at 860-563-5859.

Click Here to Volunteer at the Holiday Fair

Hang a Flyer About the Holiday Fair Where You Live, Work or Gather! Download & Print Flyer By Clicking Here.

Advent Opportunities

Contemplative Dialogue Advent Series

Come and join fellow parishioners for this 5-week series that will be held on Monday evenings in person at the St. James Rectory from 6:30 – 8:00 PM from November 11 - December 9.

We will be reading ‘Bridges to Contemplative Living' with Thomas Merton. Each week participants will read a chapter and reflect on it 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 without comment.

If you would like to participate, please register via email to mca0711@sbcglobal.net by November 7, 2024.

Please contact Fran Mastro at 860-810-2403 or Fmed6@icloud.com with any questions.

Advent Bible Study

This Advent, Deacon Michael will be leading a three session Bible Study called: Advent Anticipation - Meditating on the Gospel Christmas Story. The focus will be on the Gospels that tell the story of the Angel Gabriel’s Annunciation to Mary, the Visitation of Mary with Elizabeth, and the Birth of the Lord. We will be reading through these accounts together and consider their meaning to us today.

There is no text or fee for this series. Registration is required for:

reproduction of materials for our meetings together
forwarding of reading materials for each session and
access to the on-line option described below.

The series runs on Wednesdays: December 4, 11, 18. Two identical sessions are offered each week at 10:00 AM at Saint James Parish Center and then again at 7:00 PM at St. Elizabeth Seton Church. It will be possible to join the 7:00 PM evening session online as well, via Google Meet (please indicate interest at registration to help us plan).

Consider joining others in person or online for this three week reflection on the deeper Christian meaning of the Nativity. To register please email Deacon Michael at saintjmdeacon@gmail.com.