October 18, 2022
Dear Parishioners and Friends of Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish,
Greetings and blessings!
There is always something special about going to church…now you probably would expect a priest to say such a thing. I suspect we would all say it is something we ought to do, and we are better off for doing it. We come to church for as many reasons as there are people in the pews on any given weekend. Some come because they recognize church attending as a duty. Others come because of habit, some because they have been invited by a family member or friend and still others because they have a real need. And the majority come because they simply just love the Lord. Whatever the reason, it is good for us to be together in prayer bringing the ups and downs of the week: the joy of the birth of new baby, the surprise of a reunion with a lost long friend, the worry of relatives in Ukraine, the grief of the murders of two police officers in Bristol, the celebration of a major wedding anniversary, the upset over a family or neighbor squabble, etc., etc., etc.
More times than we realize in this very church, people have found new hope and new courage to go on living. Lives have been transformed. Sin has been forgiven. Heavy burdens have been lifted a bit and sadness turned into joy. People have accepted responsibilities to family, community, friends, church life and their God. Hearts have been renewed to continue giving loving service to our church, to our community and to one another. These are all worthwhile experiences, and they could happen to anyone of us here in our church.
And so, we remember, we are God’s people and we have come to his temple to pray, to be nourished by word and sacrament, to participate wholeheartedly, to be transformed into the likeness of our creator and to be bonded together as brother and sister into the Body of Christ. We not only come to give to the Lord our very selves…but, also, to receive God’s loving kindness, mercy, compassion, forgiveness, encouragement, and challenge to become more and more the Lord’s disciple. And so, in freedom we truly become God’s holy people as we gather in our church week after week. Thank you for coming and may we be blessed.
I wish you and yours continued Blessings!!
Fr. George
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The 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time
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October 23, 2022
4 PM Vigil - St. James
*Masks are strongly encouraged in our worship spaces!*
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Fall Faith Activity
The Thankful Pumpkin
Try a faith tradition that focuses on thankfulness. Every night leading up to Thanksgiving, gather as a household and add a message, passage, name, or prayer on your Thankful Pumpkin! It can be a real pumpkin, a personal hand-crafted pumpkin, or non-perishable store bought pumpkin.
You can do this as a household of one or with everyone (mom, dad, aunt, uncle, grandparents, cousins, god-parents and grown-ups)! Be creative and have fun!
You will have a beautiful, thoughtful Thanksgiving decoration!
Please send pictures of your Thankful Pumpkin to the Faith Formation Office so that we can share them. Our Office is located on the Saint James Campus, 767 Elm Street, Rocky Hill or email them directly to reo@sjbrh.org.
Enjoy pictures of parish pumpkins from prior years here.
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Adult Spirituality Opportunities |
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Annual Women's Retreat Weekend
Women of Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish and Friends: You are invited to join us on our annual weekend retreat, January 6-8, 2023. Let us find, together, "A Missing Peace" for which we all long. Through our prayer together, presentations, and shared discussions, we can come closer to understanding how to achieve the peace that Jesus meant for us to have, and equally important, the peace that is meant for us to share in our families and in our world.
The retreat center is located in West Hartford, Connecticut. The weekend begins with a buffet dinner from 6-7:30 PM on Friday evening and concludes Sunday with the celebration of Mass at 10:45 AM followed by a hot brunch at noon.
Offering:$350, more if you can, less if you can't. Please do no allow finances to prevent your decision to attend. Scholarships are available. See Fr. George to inquire.
Registration forms can be found in the foyers of both churches or sign up online: Click Here.
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All Saints Day Mass
*** Holy Day of Obligation ***
Tuesday, November 1
7 AM - St. James
7 PM - St. Elizabeth Seton
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All Souls Day Memorial Mass
We Remember
Our Deceased Loved Ones
at Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish
Wednesday, November 2
We will be celebrating our annual Memorial Mass for those who have had funerals at Saint Josephine Bakhita since November 2021. 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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Music Ministry Opportunities |
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Youth Choir Opportunities
At the Saint Elizabeth Seton Campus, Director of Music Elizabeth Husmer is ready to recruit boys and girls in grades 2 through 5 to sing at the 4 PM Christmas Eve Mass on December 24th. Children learn to sing the traditional, cherished songs about the birth of Christ, experience their church in a new way as ministers of music and learn teamwork through singing together.
Rehearsals are held on Thursdays after school for one hour – from 4:30 – 5:30 PM. Singers should be good readers. Weekly rehearsals run Thursday, October 27 thru December 22, except on Thanksgiving Day. See Elizabeth Husmer for more information or email: Elizabeth@sjbrh.org
At the Saint James Campus,Director of Music Joy O'Sullivan has already begun choir rehearsals. The St. James Children’s Choir sings on the first Sunday of the month and on holidays. This is an ongoing choir where children continue to build singing skills and participate in the sacred rituals of the church as choir and cantor. Rehearsals are after the 11 AM Mass in the small chapel at St. James. See Joy O’Sullivan for more information or email: Joy@sjbrh.org
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Food & Cereal
For Our Local Pantries
Households who struggle with hunger need our help even more in the summer time. 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 more here.
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ABC Women’s Center
“Baby Bottle Drive”
October 15~30
ABC Women’s Center, located in both Middletown and New Britain, is a faith-based pregnancy resource center. The “Baby Bottle Drive” is an annual fund-raising event and 100% of the donations go directly to ensure the availability and growth of programs and services offered to all their clients free of charge. Since they do not receive any state or government assistance and are solely funded by private donations from individuals, businesses and churches, this event is vital to their ongoing ministry. They offer a variety of life-affirming pregnancy, parenting, and post-abortive support for both women and men. On the weekend of October 15 & 16, we will have baby bottles available for parishioners to take home to fill with their donations (checks are made payable to “ABC Women’s Center). Return the bottle no later than the weekend of October 29 & 30. Our Parish is supporting this event as one more way to participate in the “40 Days of Life” Campaign of the Archdiocese of Hartford.
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Travel-Size Toiletries
We collect unused travel-size toiletries at both St. James and St. Elizabeth Seton to donate to the shelters and agencies we support. Save the toiletries from your hotel stays and travels and drop them off to be shared!
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Saint Josephine Bakhita
Holiday Fair
Saturday, November 19
8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Saint James Parish Center
Silent Auction & Teacup Auction
Crafts & Homemade Ornaments
Cookie Walk & Bake Sale
Fun Foods to Buy & Enjoy
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Knights of Columbus Receive
Star Council Award
Our Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish Knights of Columbus Council 10651 has received the distinction of Star Council, the international organization’s top award for local councils. The Star Council Award recognizes overall excellence in the areas of membership, sponsorship of faith formation programs and service-orientated activities. Our local Council supported the following activities this past year:
Donated $500 to each of three seminarians
Donated $500 to Laboure Society for religious vocation tuition
Donated 50 rosaries to the Confirmation candidates
Provided ~2,400 sandwiches to St Vincent DePaul Soup Kitchen
Managed the kitchen for the Holiday Fair
Sold 108 Palm Crosses for cemetery remembrance
Donated $504 for 24 new coats for children in need
Provided 600 bags of assorted candies and word puzzles for the Prison Ministry
Provided 120 dinners to St Vincent DePaul Soup Kitchen (Lasagna / Green Beans / Salad / Garlic Bread / Ice Cream)
Donated $1100 to homeless shelters
Donated $1800 to Greater Middletown Special Olympics
Donated $200 to A Better Choice Women’s Pregnancy Center
Donated $1000 to Ukraine Family Relief
Provided ~200 Brian bags (~4800 toiletry items at $900 cost) for people with special needs
The money to fund these services came from the fundraising we do and our own personal donations.
If you are interested in joining us at the Knights of Columbus, we welcome you. Please contact David Mikol by phone at (860) 726-3585 or email at irene.mikol@comcast.net
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Parish Visitors
Our Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion are available to bring Holy Communion to our homebound parishioners and those recuperating from surgery or illness. Please contact the parish office to request a visit: 860-529-8655.
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Parish Pastoral Council
The Parish Pastoral Council welcomes your feedback, questions and concerns and will respond as appropriate. Please contact the Council via email by sending a message to parishcouncil@sjbrh.org. Learn more, Click here.
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Daily Mass Schedule
Monday: 8:30am-St. Elizabeth Seton
Tuesday: 8:00am-St. James
Thursday: 8:00am-St. James
Friday: 8:30am-St. Elizabeth Seton
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Evening Prayer
Fr. George leads evening prayer Monday - Friday at 5:00 PM on our parish Facebook Page. All are welcome!
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Great news, we can text now!
Help us to stay connected and keep you up to date with the information you need to know about Faith Formation and Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish.
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Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish
767 Elm Street
Rocky Hill, CT 06067
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