October 29, 2024

Welcome to Fall at Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish

October 29, 2024

Dear Parishioners and Friends of Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish,

Here is a very thoughtful prayer in light of our national election written by Father James Martin, SJ:

“God, I know that I don’t have to get angry.

I don’t have to get worked up.

I don’t have to get depressed.

I just have to use my conscience and vote.

So help me to remember what Jesus taught in the Gospels,

And what our church teaches,

Especially about the unborn, the poor,

The refugee, the migrant,

The sick, the homeless,

The disabled, the hungry,

The elderly and the lonely.

Help me to remember the “least” among us,

And help me to ponder in my heart how to cast my vote for the good of all.

God, I know that no candidate is perfect,

Because I am not perfect either, the last time I checked.

So free me of the burden of having to

Vote for someone who satisfies all my desires for a candidate.

My candidate will be imperfect, like me.

Help me to be grateful for the ability to vote,

Because not everyone has that privilege.

Help me to be at peace after I vote, too.

And when I meet people voting for someone else,

Help me to take a deep breath and

Give them the benefit of the doubt,

Because they are following their consciences, too.

Help me to remember that even though they sometimes drive me nuts,

I don’t have to argue with them,

I don’t have to convince them,

I don’t have to hate them,

And I don’t have to demonize them.

Then, after the election, help me work for unity.

Because I know that’s what you want.

Amen!!!

Peace and blessings!

Fr. George Couturier

News from Haiti

Our sisters and brothers at Saint Anne’s in Saintard have just welcomed Fr. Franckel Genelus as their new pastor. We will miss Fr. Vil Johnson and wish him well in his new ministry with the Haitian community in Evansville. Indiana. We send prayers that both priests continue to be blessed as we all share and serve in God’s generous love. Hopefully one day we will be able to meet Fr. Genelus here or in Haiti. Our faithful bond remains strong.

Join Us for the 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time

November 3, 2024

4:00 PM Vigil at St. James

9:00 AM at St. Elizabeth Seton

and livestreamed

11:00 AM at St. James

***Stay for coffee and conversation after the Sunday Morning Masses***

Join Us for All Saints Day

Friday, November 1

*** Holy Day of Obligation ***

8:00 AM at St. James

and livestreamed

Noon at St. James

7:00 PM at St. Elizabeth Seton

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.

Other Fun Tidbits

STORE CLOSES NOVEMBER 1! SHOP TODAY!

Our parish apparel store is open through November 1, 2024 to give everyone the opportunity to purchase winter weather swag. The fall sale will offer long sleeved t-shirts, sweatshirts, and 3/4 zip pullovers all boasting our beautiful parish logo!

Click Here to Order Today

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.

BAKERS NEEDED!

Holiday Fair Cookie Walk & Bake Sale

Our Cookie Walk and Bake Sale are a huge part of our annual Holiday Fair. Please sign up to bake and let us know what you plan to make!

Click Here to Bake for the Bake Sale

Click Here to Bake for the Cookie Walk

Annual Holiday Fair

Ornament Collection

We are seeking new or gently used holiday ornaments for the Holiday Fair. Collection Bins will be placed at the entrances of both Churches. Any questions, feel free to call Kathy Alexander at 860-563-5859.

Early Access to Holiday Fair Items Starts NOW!

Knit, crochet and Sew Good Works has Holiday Fair items available again this year for early purchase, or to order. Returning items include Irish knit sweaters, table runners, quilts and more. (Some items are limited and may not be available by the fair.) Great Gift ideas! For more information or to make an appointment, contact Vivian Orsini at vorsini24@aol.com, or text 860-906-7433 and leave a message.

Click Here for a List of Pre-Sale Items

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

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.