Saint Josephine
Bakhita Parish
Fall 2021
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October 12, 2021
Dear Parishioners and Friends of Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish,
Greetings and blessings!
Autumn is my favorite season of the year. Why? Because of the New England weather, colors and festive activities and celebrations of this season. And so, I pick this season to make my annual retreat. Yes, for a priest, we are required to make an annual retreat. But I never have seen it as a “requirement” if I especially make this retreat in the Autumn.
This week I will be away on retreat at Glastonbury Abbey in Hingham Massachusetts (South Shore of Boston). A small but very vibrant community of Benedictine Monks that specializes in spiritual retreats and hospitality. It is a very quiet time away, but an opportunity for much reflection, reading, prayer, reconciliation, and rest. I especially find this time not only favorable because of the Autumn season but because of the proximity to the Advent Season. It gives me time to spiritually prepare and reflect on the Advent and Christmas seasons to come. A time that will benefit me personally…but you as well. For I hope to return to you with heart, mind and soul refreshed and filled with enthusiasm and peace…that will benefit you as well.
Many folks these days criticize the work and ministry of an Abbey or Monastery. Complaining that the monks or nuns are just running away from life. On the contrary, in my pea picking mind, I find their ministry a spiritual powerhouse that offers the fundamental solutions to a rat race world that can be filled with incivility, inhospitality, and the shunning of spiritual and religious values. Of course, the monastics are not perfect, but they are, nonetheless, offering a focus on the values we hold dear as Christians. Reminding me/us that things can be different in our world. For me, they offer a bright light of hope and inspiration.
So be assured of my prayers for each of you, the entire parish, and Archdiocese of Hartford. It is certainly a privilege to take this time away when so many are not able to take this kind of time away. So be assured that I will use this time wisely and prudently.
Peace and Blessings,
Fr. George Couturier
Pastor
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Twenty-Ninth Sunday
in Ordinary Time
October 16-17, 2021
4 PM Vigil, 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM
*Masks are 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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Faith Formation Started October 3rd!
Faith formation classes have begun and we are looking forward to a wonderful year sharing and teaching the faith to all the children and families in our parish. We will meet in person as well as continue to share resources and family activities on our faith formation website. We are so blessed to have dedicated catechists who have volunteered their time and talent to share the joy of the gospel with our children. Please pray for our faith formation program as we begin our classes this week. F or more information, please contact the Faith Formation office at reo@sjbrh.org or 860-529-1274.
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Maybe You Want To Become A Catholic….
Times such as those we are living through now often prompt people to examine what we believe, how we make sense of the world and examine just what we live by, and why, and where “all this seems to be going."
The Catholic Christian faith relates directly to these questions and explores these realities with a wisdom of nearly 2,000 years. If you desire to explore becoming a Catholic, we are certainly happy and eager to help.
Maybe you know someone who may be interested as well. We’re glad to help them out too.
If so…contact Deacon Michael at dcnmichael@sjbrh.org (best) or by phone at 860-529-3222 Ext 14 and leave a message and we’ll get back to you.
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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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Save The Date!
Saint Josephine Bakhita
Holiday Fair
Saturday, November 20, 2021
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saint James Parish Center
Silent Auction & Teacup Auction
Crafts & Homemade Ornaments
Cookie Walk & Bake Sale
Fun Foods to Buy & Enjoy
We need bakers!
Sign up in either church foyer
or email what you will bake to
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Knit, Crochet and Sew Good Works will again have Irish Knit sweaters, quilts, baby items, home décor items and more at the Holiday Fair. To pre-order, preview, pricing, or to customize a fall/holiday table runner, contact Vivian Orsini at vorsini24@aol.com
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Support our Local Pantries
Food & Cereal Donations
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:
St. James Church: Father Shea Hall, Mon - Fri (9:00 AM - 1:00 PM) or before the masses at 4:00 or 11:00.
St. Elizabeth Seton Church: Bins located near the kitchen, Mon - Fri (9:00 AM - 1:00 PM) or before the Sunday mass at 9:00.
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Have you seen Saint Josephine Bakhita's new Online Giving Platform? If there are any questions or concerns, please feel free to call Gisele Reyngoudt, Parish Business Manager, at 860-529-8655 or email her at gisele@sjbrh.org.
To find out more about Online Giving and how it benefits our church, Click here.
To receive offering envelopes, email or call Gisele.
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Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish
767 Elm Street
Rocky Hill, CT 06067
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