September 24, 2024

September 24, 2024 Our annual parish picnic was a HUGE success! We are so thankful for the planning committee and the leadership of Danielle Hollister and Jennifer Hussey. A million thanks to the many volunteers who worked so hard to bring us a flawless fun time…. from soup to nuts. Tom Dzimian captured the picnic in photos for all of us to enjoy. Click below to see the full gallery on our website. All the leftover food as well as the donations brought for the special food collection were shared with The Amazing Grace Food Pantry. The beneficiaries of our sharing thanked our parish profusely! Enjoy a Gallery of Picnic Pictures Here The sixth annual Golf Outing was a HUGE success! We are so thankful for the leadership of Knights Mike DiBattisto and Mike Lombardo for organzing this wonderful event and fundraiser. Thank you to the many volunteers who worked so hard to though out the day. Antonella DiBattisto captured photos for all of us to enjoy. Click below to see the full gallery on our website. Enjoy a Gallery of Golf Pictures Here Sunday, September 29, 2024 is Priesthood Sunday Happy Priesthood Sunday to Fr. George and all priest. Thank you for being our shepherds! Gracious and loving God, we thank you for the gift of our priests. Through them, we experience your presence in the sacraments. Help our priests to be strong in their vocation. Set their souls on fire with love for your people. Grant them the wisdom, understanding, and strength they need to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. Inspire them with the vision of your Kingdom. Give them the words they need to spread the Gospel. Allow them to experience joy in their ministry. Help them to become instruments of your divine grace. We ask this through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns as our Eternal Priest. Amen. Join Us for the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time September 29, 2024 4:00 PM Vigil at St. James 9:00 AM at St. Elizabeth Seton and livestreamed 11:00 AM at St. James Faith Formation classes for all of our registered students in grades Pre-K through Confirmation will be starting soon. Please see below for the starting date for your child’s grade level: Pre-K and Kindergarten: Sunday, October 20, 2024, 8:45-9:45 AM, St. Elizabeth Seton Grade 1: Sunday, September 29, 2024, 8:45-9:45 AM, St. Elizabeth Seton Grades 2 & 3: Sunday, September 29, 2024, 4:00-5:00 PM & Monday, September 30, 2024, 5:00-6:00 PM, St. Elizabeth Seton Grades 4-7: Sunday, September 29, 2024, 4:15-5:15 PM & Monday, September 30, 2024, 4:30-5:30 PM & 5:45-6:45 PM, St. James Grade 8: Sunday, October 6, 2024, 5:30-7:00 PM, St. James Confirmation Year 1: Sunday, September 29, 2024, 5:45-8:00 PM, St. James Parish Center Confirmation Year 2: Sunday, September 22, 2024, 5:45-8:00 PM, St James Parish Center Families will be receiving individual class assignments and calendar for the year via email.  Please keep all of our children and their families in your prayers as we begin another Faith Formation year learning about Jesus and sharing His love with one another! Please direct any questions to Director of Faith Formation, Monica Piombino at REO@sjbrh.org. Did You Miss Confirmation the First Time Around? We Can Help With That It’s never too late. Even if you are way “past the age” or even a little ;-) ...and not yet Confirmed...you can be. You certainly are not alone. It happens for a variety of reasons. We’re here to help you get “caught up”! So..If you have not yet received the Sacrament of Confirmation and would like to, contact Deacon Michael at dcnmichael@sjbrh.org (best) or by phone at 860-563-5151. Leave a message and we’ll get back to you. Other Fun Tidbits Blessing of Animals Feast of St. Francis Friday, October 4 6:00 PM St. James Patio between Church and Parish Center All are welcome!   Seeking musical, dance, comedic acts for the First Annual St. Josephine Bakhita Parish Variety Show Friday, October 4, 2024 at 7:00 PM Parish Center at St. James For more info email: Joy@sjbrh.org or call 860-529-8655 x17. Join the St. Elizabeth Seton Music Ministry Youth Choir: This choir meets weekly on Wednesday afternoons after school from 4:30 to 5:30 PM and is a ministry for singers in grades 2 through middle school. This choir sings at occasional 9:00 masses and special liturgies. Our goals are: 1. experience the joy of singing our church songs at mass; 2. develop good singing and music reading skills; 3. earn more about our faith and traditions of our liturgies; 4. work as a team in a music/spiritual setting. Young people also learn to play hand chimes which requires and develops concentration. Children like this experience – like learning to play in an orchestra or band. Rehearsals begin on September 25 and requires registration. Adult Choir: This choir sings weekly at the 9:00 AM Mass, rehearsing 40 minutes prior to the start of mass. Occasional rehearsals are head following the 9:00 AM Mass to prepare new music. Holiday Choirs: Weekly rehearsals are held 6-8 weeks before Christmas and Easter to prepare for these special liturgies. Instrumentalists: Presently, we have two accomplished high school string players and a fine percussionist, also in high school, plus our regular guitarists and a percussion section leader. For a long time, our ministry has nurtured and been gifted by young instrumentalists who’ve gone on to participate in music at their college liturgies. Students and adults with good instrumental and music reading skills are invited to audition. Contact Director of Music at St. Elizabeth Seton, Elizabeth Husmer, by speaking with her after the 9:00 AM Mass or emailing elizabeth@sjbrh.org. 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 also 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 4 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. Give Blood The American Red Cross has launched a Severe Blood Shortage Appeal. All eligible donors are encouraged to schedule appointments now. The next drive hosted at our Parish Center at St. James Church is scheduled for Thursday, October 10, 2024 from 1PM-6PM. Call 1-800-RED-CROSS or go to www.redcrossblood.org to register to give. Hospitality Bakers & Servers Needed Be one of the reasons we are a welcoming community! Prepare food for special Masses and monthly hospitality after the first Sunday of the month masses. Email joy at Joy@sjbrh.org or call 860-529-8655 x17 or sign up in the foyer of either Church. Many hands make light work (and good food!) 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. Click Here to Download the Awakening Retreat Registration Form 2025 Mass Intention Scheduling It is time to schedule your Mass Intentions! This year will be just like 2024 with two additional ways to remember your loved ones. 1.) Lighting of a special 5-day Vigil candle and 2.) 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 1, OCTOBER 2, OCTOBER 3, OCTOBER 8, OCTOBER 9 OR OCTOBER 10 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 Read the Parish Bulletin Visit our Website 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. Stay Connected Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish l The Catholic Community of Rocky Hill

Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish | 767 Elm Street | Rocky Hill, CT 06067 US Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice