Happy Easter!

 *** Fr. George's email account associated with the Archdiocese of Hartford was hacked this week and strange emails requesting help are being sent out under his name. Please immediately delete these emails if you receive one. He would never send emails with strange personal requests. His email account ending in sjbrh.org is stable. ***

Dear Parishioners and Friends of Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish,

Over the past two months I, along with many of you I suspect, have dangerously been sucked into the vortex of social media. While there is much to gain by being connected to friends and family, being inspired by spiritual posts, and informed with solid news coverage….there is, also, a wealth of garbage, insult and meanness that can poison one’s mind and soul.

Fortunately, I receive an abundance of funny and yet insightful posts. I find humor to be a necessary ingredient for healing and hope. The other day I stumbled on this simple posting: “most useless purchase of 2019: A 2020 planner.” Besides being very funny, it was catalyst for some reflection on time and what time means.

It brought me back to my old philosophy classes when we once had lectures on the meaning of time. The Greeks made a very clear distinction about time. The first use of the word “time” in Greek was chronos. It refers to clock time—time that can be measured. Time that goes and can’t be retrieved. The other Greek word for time is Kairos, which measures moments, not seconds. It refers to the “right” time, the opportune time, the perfect time, living in the moment…God’s time.

I have always understood both meanings of time. I, like the rest of the world, tend to be sucked into the vacuum of measured, calendar, planner time. All necessary of course…but often at the cost of Kairos time…God time. Those contemplative moments so needed for a rich spiritual and religious life. The past two months have rekindled an appreciation for the Kairos portion of life. And yet, I long for chronos time too. When some real order and planning can be renewed, where meaningful encounters, events and gatherings can be planned once again. But it is the Kairos time…time with and in the sacred, that makes all the difference and is the heart of our calendar time. Let us use our time well!! I invite you to reflect on the passage from the Book of Ecclesiastes Chapter 3: 1-15 as a meditation on Kairos time—the spiritual side of life and time.

Blessings and prayers for one and all!

Fr. George Couturier  

Do you find yourself in need of a compassionate ear for your grief due to a loss of a loved one from the coronavirus? Send your name, email address and phone number to me via email and I will connect you to a local bereavement minister from the parish: frgeorge@sjbrh.org
Greetings from the Faith Formation Team

Greetings and Blessings from all of us in the Faith Formation Office at Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish - Beth, Linda, Carol, & Monica!

We wanted to connect with all of you and assure you of our prayers as we navigate these difficult times together. Words cannot express how much we miss being 'with' our community and seeing you at Mass, in classes and other parish events. May and June are big months for us as we should be celebrating First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, Confirmation, Mothers Day, May Crowning, graduations, and so many other wonderful faith milestones together.

We have been trying to do what we can to stay in touch with all of our faith formation families by reaching out and offering faith resources so catechesis can continue in your home settings along with any other support we can offer. Towards the end of Lent and Holy Week, we offered resources for our families to be able to celebrate the Easter Triduum at home. We continue to encourage everyone to participate in the wonderful live streamed Mass that is celebrated every Sunday at 9:00 AM and continue to send home the Gospel weekly curriculum to prepare for the Sunday liturgy.

This past Sunday, we remembered all the children who were to celebrate their First Holy Communion on May 2 nd with a special blessing and asked them to participate in the livestreamed Mass with their baptismal candle, dressed in their First Communion attire. Families were invited to send pictures and all of these precious pictures will be displayed on our parish Facebook page.

We are planning to celebrate our Confirmation students and our graduates as well at our livestreamed Mass and with other types of remembrance during the upcoming months.

Many of our catechists have continued their ministry by staying in touch with their students, doing service and acts of kindness in the community. This Sunday, May 10, the early childhood catechists and children are organizing a car parade to drive by the nursing homes in the area with their cars decorated with signs wishing everyone a Happy Mothers Day. This is just one example of how our wonderful catechists continue to stay in touch with their students even after in-person classes have ended.

Many of these catechists have been with their students through the years starting in early childhood through Confirmation. We did not have a chance to officially thank them since our classes ended so abruptly. During this Teacher Appreciation week, we want them to know how much we appreciate all they do for our children and teens. We thank them for their patience and generous gift of time to make this ministry a priority in their busy lives. We sincerely appreciate all they have done and continue to do to bring the love of Christ to our children through their example and witness of faith. 

We will work through these next few months to prepare as best we can for Faith Formation in the fall and we know with everyone’s passion and dedication together we will find a way to continue to share the Good News. Please continue to pray for us as we strive to find new and innovative ways to share the love of Christ with all of our faith formation families.

Please contact Director of Faith Formation Monica Piombino at monica@sjbrh.org with any comments, questions, or other areas where we can assist you in the coming months. We are so grateful for out present catechists who continue to serve in our faith formation program and enthusiastically welcome others who would like to serve our children in this important ministry. Please contact Monica if you  would like to continue as a catechist in the Fall or discuss becoming a new catechist for our grades pre k through 10th grade.

Monica, Carol, Linda & Beth
Updated Sacramental Directives
from the Archdiocese of Hartford - April 15, 2020

  1. All public masses, liturgical celebrations, church gatherings are suspended until May 20, 2020. This date could be extended further.
  2. All opportunities for the Sacrament of Reconciliation (confession) have been suspended until further notice.
  3. Saint James Church and Saint Elizabeth Seton Church will be open Monday - Friday from 9:00 AM - Noon for private prayer. Please observe all social distancing guidance.
Sunday Mass, May 10, 2020
We will livestream the 9:00 AM Sunday Mass using Facebook Live. The recording will also be available afterward on the Parish Facebook page at the link below. You do not have to have a Facebook account to watch. You can click 'not now' when invited to join Facebook. Click on "Videos" on the left hand side of the Facebook page. On the "Videos" Page, click on the red "live" button to watch the livestream starting at 9:00 AM Sunday. If you visit the "Videos" Page after the mass is over, you can click on the image of the mass to watch the recording.


For a helpful guide to participating in Mass at home and partaking in Spiritual Communion , Click Here .

To join in the singing of the mass hymns view or print the music, Click Here .
Join Father George for Daily Prayer
Fr. George will livestream Evening Prayer on Monday-Friday at 5:00 PM using Facebook Live. The recording will also be available afterward on the Parish Facebook page at the link below. You do not have to have a Facebook account to watch. You can click 'not now' when invited to join Facebook. Click on "Videos" on the left hand side of the Facebook page. On the "Videos" Page, click on the red "live" button to watch the livestream starting at 5:00 PM. If you visit the "Videos" Page after short prayer time is over, you can click on the most recent image of Fr. George to watch the recording.


To follow the Evening Prayer along with Fr. George starting Friday, Click Here .
MAY 2020
Free digital access to daily and Sunday readings for May, click the images below.
Opportunities To Give
Now more than ever, the shelters and food pantries that our parish supports need our help. Food or gift certificates can be ordered online (Amazon, Target, Walmart, etc.) and shipped directly to the organizations. To learn what items are most needed and the mailing addresses, Click Here .
Easter Season Bible Study
On Wednesday evenings during Easter Season Deacon Michael is leading a live online read-through and discussion of the following Sunday's Mass readings. 
All are welcome. Join at any time. No prior experience necessary!!! 
For further details email Deacon Michael at saintjmdeacon@gmail.com
Watch Daily Mass Online
Car Caravan to Home Bound Members of St. Josephine Bakhita Parish
On May 16 at 10:00 AM, the Parish Visiting Team will be leading a car caravan to visit home bound members of our community. The visiting team regularly brings the Eucharist to parishioners who are not able to attend Mass. We are currently unable to enter these homes, so we will be stopping in front of the homes to wave and bring them cards and flowers from our community. If you are able to join our caravan, email Joy@sjbrh.org , and be in your decorated car with inspirational signs at the St. James Elm St. parking area on May 16 at 10:00 AM. If you are unable to join our caravan, make inspirational cards and drop them off in a basket in the St. James foyer (open Mon - Fri from 9-12 AM), and pray for our home bound friends.
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St. Josephine Bakhita Parish
767 Elm Street
Rocky Hill, CT 06067