September 5, 2023

September 5, 2023 Dear Parishioners and Friends of Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish, This weekend we are blessed to gather as a parish for our annual parish picnic. It is a wonderful opportunity to pray together and socialize with old friends and make new friends. The annual event would never have happened without the generosity of many volunteers: our coordinators Danielle Hollister and Jennifer Hussey, our planning committee and the myriad of volunteers doing the tasks that make this a fun and special day. It is my honor to speak on behalf of the entire parish and express words of gratitude. I want to express my gratitude to the entire parish for your warm and generous welcome and support of our Missionary Priest Father Suresh. Your response of approximately $7000 is living proof of your overwhelming concern and generosity for those who work and minister in Missionary Territories around the world. Father wanted me to express his sincerest words of gratitude for your hospitality. Recently, I was able to take a bit of vacation time on the Coast of Maine. I had the opportunity to attend Mass on a Saturday evening at a Parish that has three churches (and in the summer months has two islands as well). Prior to attending the 6:00 p.m. Mass I did what many vacationers do…check out the parish website. There was an outstanding write-up about their new pastor Fr. Anthanasius who hails from Cameroon. He along with the other assistant priest Fr. Divine (from another African nation) have a special arrangement to serve in the Portland, Maine Diocese. They are called “Fidei Donum” priests in Latin means “the Gift of Faith.” This is the name of the 1957 encyclical by Pope Pius XII, which looked at the missionary work of the “New Church” in Africa in renewing the faith of the “Ancient Church” in other parts of the world, in particular Europe, Central and North America, where numbers of faithful were and are dwindling. I discovered (shockingly) that the Diocese of Portland is now considered a mission territory. In Northern Maine where my parents come from, it was originally a huge seedbed for vocations. Actually, there was a Marist High School/College Seminary in my folk’s hometown of Van Buren, so many were the vocations. Now the parish church has an occasional Mass and no resident priest. Now there are 86 mission dioceses from Alaska to the Gulf Coast that serve 15 million Catholics—that is one in five Catholics in America. Mission dioceses lack financial, personnel (clergy, religious and trained laity) and other vital resources. Fr. Suresh told me that his religious missionary community of Pallottine Fathers recently sent three priests to the “mission” territory of Maine. Let us pray and reflect on what this all means for us…let us pray for vocations…let us pray for the Church in the United States. Peace and blessings! Fr. George Couturier   The 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time September 10, 2023 4:00 PM at Saint James 9 AM at Saint Elizabeth Seton  11:00 AM Outdoor Mass behind Saint James Parish Center   Click Here to RSVP for the Parish Picnic Click Here To Volunteer Help Make Our Annual Parish Picnic Fun for Everyone! We need bakers, food servers, greeters, activity leaders and more. Check out all the opportunities to work a shift for our annual parish picnic. Many hands make light work! Fifth Annual Golf Outing Friday, September 22, 2023 Timberlin Golf Club 330 Southington Road, Berlin CT Lunch/Registration at 11:00AM Scramble Format Shotgun Start at 12:30 PM Dinner to follow $150 per golfer includes 18 holes of golf w/cart, use of driving range, sleeve of golf balls, lunch and buffet dinner. Cash prizes for first and second place. 50/50 cash raffle. Prizes for closest to the pin and longest drive. Click Here for Golf Outing Brochure & Registration Form Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi Film Night Wednesday October 4 7:00 PM St. James Parish Center St. Francis of Assisi is among the best known and most readily recognizable saints of the Catholic faith. Join Deacon Michael on the Feast Day of Saint Francis to view a one hour film on the life and significance of Saint Francis. A discussion of the film will follow. All are welcome! Learn More Here Surrounded by Love Teachings of St. Francis of Assisi Study Series Wednesdays October 4 (Parish Film) October 11, 18, 25 & Nov 8 St. James Parish Center at 10:00 AM or Online via Google Meet at 7:00 PM Deacon Michael will be leading a 4 part series on the teachings of Francis, considering just how they might challenge us today in living our own faith here and now. To frame our consideration we will be reading through and discussing the short book “Surrounded by Love: Seven Teachings from Saint Francis” by Murray Bodo, OFM. This accessible and lyrical book will help us connect with Francis in a way that can help us live our faith with deeper authenticity and joy. Email Deacon Michael at saintjmdeacon@gmail.com to register.  Scan the QR Code or Click Here to Learn More Charismatic Prayer Group Our Charismatic Prayer Group gives praise, honor, thanks and love to Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Our gatherings include Christian music, charismatic prayer, discussion of biblical readings and sharing prayer petitions. We meet on the first Tuesday of the month from 7:00-8:30 PM online. Contact Kristie Witherspoon to learn more: kblicharz@gmail.com. Faith Formation registration is now closed for this year. If you have not yet registered, you must contact the Faith Formation office directly to request a space for your child. Students are now being assigned to classes for all grades. Families will be receiving notification shortly as to what class date and time you have been assigned. Students in grades K-8 will receive a schedule that will begin the week of September 24, 2023. Confirmation Year Two (Grade 10 ) will begin on Sunday, September 17, 2023. Families will receive the completed calendar for the year at the parent orientation meetings to be held later this month. If you have any questions, please contact the Faith Formation office, 860-529-1274. We look forward to a wonderful year of growing in faith with all the members of our Faith Formation families! May God bless you all as we begin a new and exciting year of learning and living our Catholic faith! For an inspiring read on infusing our school year with holiness, check out this article! Monica Piombino Director of Faith Formation   Annual Holiday Fair Planning for our annual Holiday Fair is well underway. We are seeking a volunteer to take on the role of Advertising Assistant this year. We have loads of other volunteer opportunities as well. Volunteer by clicking HERE or contact Holiday Fair Chairperson, Jo-Ellen Vendetti at SJBholidayfair@gmail.com..m. Learn About All The Ways You Can Help At Our Holiday Fair Learn More About the Pilgrimage Here Daily Mass Mon-8:30AM @ Seton Tues-8:00AM @ St. James Thur-8:00AM @ St. James Fri-8:30AM @ Seton   Evening Prayer Fr. George leads evening prayer Monday - Friday at 5:00 PM on our parish Facebook Page. All are welcome! Rosary Tues & Thurs 8:30AM @ St. James Saturdays 3:20PM @ St. James Join the St. James Music Ministry Our Adult Choir meets every Wednesday at 7:00 PM in the small chapel at St. James Church. It is for anyone, including high school kids, who enjoys singing and spreading the Good News through song. We usually sing at the 11:00 AM Mass, but once a month we sing at the Saturday Vigil Mass. The Adult Choir sings at all holidays and at the Advent/Christmas Concert. This is a very relaxed and fun-filled group. You don’t need to be able to read music, but must be able to sing on pitch. Don’t know what that is? Ask Joy. First rehearsal and social is Wednesday, September 6 at 7:00 PM at St. James. Instrumentalists enhance all liturgies and play at any Mass that they choose. Rehearsals are by appointment. We have a special need for Violinists. The Youth Choir sings at the 11:00 AM Mass on the first Sunday of the month and Christmas and Easter Masses. Children must be able to read. This is one of the best things you can do to help your children learn. Singing in a group gets all cylinders firing. Reading lyrics and notes, rhythms, intonation, listening to others, dynamics. We’ve got it all. Friends of the Music Ministry help with projects including putting together major programs, filing, publicity. Contact Joy for more information or help in determining where you fit in the ministry at 860-529-8655 x17 or joy@sjbrh.org. Join the St. Elizabeth Seton Music Ministry The Youth Choir meets on Thursday’s from 4:30 - 5:30 PM. Our singers are in grades 2 through 5.  Our goals are to experience the joy of singing our church songs at mass in a ministry for children, developing good singing and music/hymn reading skills, learning more about their faith and becoming good team members in a musical/church setting. The Choir also learns to play hand chimes which requires and develops concentration! Rehearsals begin on Thursday, September 21, at 4:30 PM. See Elizabeth Husmer, Music Director at St. Elizabeth Seton with questions and registration – at the piano after the 9:00 AM masses OR call 860-529-3222 and leave a message. Adult Singers: We continue to work in small rotating teams, still cautious about new variants of COVID in our small space. We do welcome new singers, however,  so see Elizabeth or any music minister if interested.  Holiday choirs are formed and rehearse 6-8 weeks before Easter and Christmas.   Instrumentalists: We are delighted to have added two string players to our 9:00 AM instrumental team. The two sisters, one in high school and the other in 8th grade, play cello and violin. Our ministry has helped develop young instrumentalists for many years and we welcome new young players. Now in college, Katie Shattuck has played flute for us while in high school and joins us when she is home from school. See Elizabeth for more information. Drivers Needed Our Amazing Grace Cereal Drive Committee is seeking additional drivers. Teams of 3-4 people are needed to deliver boxes of cereal to Amazing Grace Food Pantry in Middletown. Each team will make 2 - 3 trips a year. Please contact Denise Mazzamurro at neeceemae@sbcglobal.net if you have any questions and to volunteer. Give Blood Give Blood! The American Red Cross needs you! The next blood drive hosted at our Parish Center at St. James Church is scheduled for Thursday, September 7 from 1:00 PM - 6:00 PM. Go to www.redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS to register to give. 2024 Mass Intention Scheduling Its time to schedule your Mass Intentions! This year we are making updates and changes to our scheduling process and adding 2 new ways to remember your loved ones. We are excited to introduce to our parish another avenue of intention by the lighting of a special 5-day Vigil candle. Also, we will be bringing back the ringing of our beautiful carillon bells at St. James with an option of a song (list provided), toll (in memory of) or peal (in honor of). Due to Mass Intentions being so popular we need to limit each household to 2 Mass intentions for the year so that everyone in our parish community has an opportunity to reserve a mass. MOTHER’S AND FATHER’S DAY MASS INTENTIONS: Due to the popularity of these dates we will no longer schedule individual names but together as a parish will celebrate All of our Mothers and Fathers together as one. HERE’S WHAT YO U NEED TO DO: Call the office anytime NOW between 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM and we will make a phone/office appointment for you on one of the following dates: OCTOBER 3RD, OCTOBER 4TH, OCTOBER 5TH, OCTOBER 10TH, OCTOBER 11TH OR OCTOBER 12TH SCHEDULED TIMES WILL BE BETWEEN 10:00 AM & 2:00 PM On your scheduled day and time YOU may call the office or stop by the Rectory Office at Saint James and we will put your request in the calendar book. Limit 2 per family. Payment will be due within 2 weeks of your appointment to hold your dates. If you call in a reservation, you can mail a check to the office or leave your payment in an envelope by using the slot in the Rectory office door. Make checks payable to Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish. The Office Phone is 860-529-8655. Thank you, Carrie & Pam Parish Administrative Assistants Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish Rectory Office on the campus of St. James Church 767 Elm Street, Rocky Hill 860-529-8655 Monday - Friday: 9:00 AM - 2:30 PM Read the Parish Bulletin Visit our Website Stay Connected Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish l The Catholic Community of Rocky Hill

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