Dear
Parishioners and Friends of Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish,
“I can’t breathe!”
These words pack a huge punch! Don’t they?
The words spark the recent memories of the horrific scene with George Floyd. The memories of families struggling with loved ones stricken by covid-19. And the feelings of breathlessness many of us have experienced under the many stresses of recent months.
Yes, over these recent months these words have haunted me. Most especially when spoken by George Floyd. The whole scene brings me to my knees in prayer, reflection, and self-evaluation. It has forced me to take stock and ownership of my own shortcomings about race, respect, and human dignity. It has challenged me to consider my own white privilege. It has coaxed me to admit my sin and to repent and to change. I find myself to be like so many these days, angry, grieving and confounded by the serious ongoing human tragedy and sin of racism. I still have a long way to go.
If you are like me, this may be an opportunity to reexamine the teachings of Jesus and church about human dignity and profound respect as an antidote for the scourge of racism. If that is the case, I invite you to join us in an online discussion which will open up the challenging pastoral letter on racism produced by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops called
“
Open Wide Our Hearts
.”
The online parish presentation and discussion will be on Wednesday July 22 at 7:00 p.m. Deacon Michael Ward will give a summary of the powerful teaching document followed by a moderated discussion with other parishioners. Email Deacon Michael at
dcnmichael@sjbrh.org
for a zoom invitation for this event.
I don’t know about you, but I want to be able to breathe again. I want you to be able to breathe. I want the George Floyds of the world to be able to breathe. I want us to breathe faith, hope, and love. I want us to breathe repentance, forgiveness, and healing. I want us to breathe compassion, justice, and peace.
Don’t you...for yourself, your kids, your grandchildren, our nation, our world?
Fr. George Couturier
|
|
Important Announcements
- The 2020 Mission Cooperative Appeal Collection will be taken the weekend of July 18-19. Because of the pandemic, the missionaries are not able to be with us this year; however, although physically distant, we can be present to them through our spiritual and financial support. The outreach of the Missionaries of LaSalette will benefit from our generosity. Our assistance will help them with outreach to people living with addiction and mental health challenges, feeding programs and educational opportunities for children in poverty, occupational training for women and support of their seminarians. Our sharing in response to Christ’s call that we “love one another” will bring His hope into the lives of many. We ask your generous response. Checks can be made out to The Catholic Mission Aid Office and mailed into our parish office 767 Elm St. Rocky Hill CT 06067 and then forwarded. On their behalf, thank you!
- As many of us know, we have an outreach ministry to bring communion and prayerful support to our homebound and infirm. If you are aware of anyone in need of our outreach, please let us know. Even though we are unable to physically visit due to the virus, we can still reach out in other ways. Call the office with your information at 860-529-8655.
- Finally, just a reminder of some temporary adjustments to our schedules during this period of flux with the virus and its effects on our parish life and the resumption of our parish life. The Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) will be held only on Monday evenings at 6:00 p.m. at St. Elizabeth Seton Church (Saturday Confessions suspended for the foreseeable future). Our Sunday morning 7:30 a.m. Mass at St. Elizabeth Seton Church will be suspended for the foreseeable future until we see greater numbers attending weekend Masses. Rightfully folks are being cautious and, I suspect, will return once there is a perception of safety in gatherings and the State of Connecticut and Health Officials deem it wise to gather in larger indoor groupings.
|
|
Sunday Mass Schedule
Saturday at 4:00 p.m. at St. James
capacity of 80 people
Sunday at 9:00 a.m. at St. Elizabeth Seton
capacity of 50 people
Sunday at 11:00 a.m. at St. James
capacity 80 people
Note: We have suspended the 7:30 a.m. Mass temporarily
Reservations will be
required!
We have a limited seating capacity & we need a written record of attendees for contact tracing.
There are two options for making your reservations:
Online
Sign up online at
www.saintjosephinebakhita.org
for the upcoming weekend starting Tuesday morning.
Reservations will close by Thursday evening or before if we reach capacity. We need to close the reservations by Thursday evening so that we can prepare for the weekend Masses. When you make your reservation, enter the # (quantity) of people attending from each household. We will set up the reservation system one week at a time.
By Phone
If you have no access to internet, call 860-529-8655 and our office staff will assist you with reservations. Please call only on Tuesday or Wednesday between 9 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. You will need to call each week for the upcoming weekend. Do not leave a voicemail, there will be no guarantee to reserve a seat by voicemail.
Read the Guidelines for attending Sunday Mass
-
Click Here
.
|
|
The Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
July 12, 2020
We will continue to 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
.
Join our team of "Digital Disciples."
We are seeking a few volunteers to help run the video and sound equipment utilized to live-stream Mass through Facebook Live. Volunteers will be fully trained, paired with members of the current team and serve on a rotating schedule. Help us extend out flight into the digital world! To learn more, contact Lisa Orchen at
parishcouncil@sjbrh.org
.
|
|
Matters of race have become front and center in public life today.
What wisdom does our Catholic Church offer on racism? Find out…
Join an online parish presentation and discussion on Wednesday July 22, 2020 at 7:00p.m. Deacon Michael will offer a summary of
“Open Wide Our Hearts”
the 2018 pastoral letter on racism offered by the United State Conference of Catholic Bishops, followed by a moderated discussion. Email Deacon Michael at
dcnmichael@sjbrh.org
for a ZOOM invitation for this event.
To see resources to address racism with children at home and in the classroom as well as for all of us,
Click Here.
|
|
So, Maybe You Want To Become A Catholic….
Times such as those we are living through now often prompt people to examine what we believe, how we make sense of the world and examine just what we live by, and why, and where “all all seems to be going."
If you are interested in how Catholic Christian faith may relate to these questions, explore these realities and the possibility of becoming a Catholic, we are certainly happy and eager to help.
Maybe you know someone who may be interested as well. We’re glad to help them out too if we are able.
If so….contact Deacon Michael at
dcnmichael@sjbrh.org
(best) or by phone at 860-529-3222 Ext 14 and leave a message and we’ll get back to you.
|
|
Not Confirmed?
Want To Be?
Well...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. Many, for a variety of reasons, find themselves in this situation. We can help with that!
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 860-529-3222 Ext 14 and leave a message and we’ll get back to you.
|
|
Donate to Our Shelters
& Pantries
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. Please contact
with any questions. As always, thank you for kindness and generosity! To learn what items are most needed and the mailing addresses,
Click Here
.
|
|
Sew Good Works Masks
The Sew Good Works Ministry has begun
to make masks for parishioners of St. Josephine Bakhita. Masks will be available at St. James and St. Elizabeth Seton. For Adult masks, contact
joy@sjbrh.org
for St. James pickup or
elizabeth@sjbrh.org
for St. Elizabeth Seton pickup. A donation to the Rocky Hill Food Bank is appreciated, but not necessary. Thank you to all who have already offered donations in exchange for masks!
Vivian Orsini, mask maker extraordinaire, will make a mask for your children. Email
vorsini24@aol.com
your child's age and gender. You will be contacted when the mask is ready.
|
|
Complete this simple online form to update your contact information for our parish.
|
|
St. Josephine Bakhita Parish
767 Elm Street
Rocky Hill, CT 06067
|
|
Follow Us at Saint Josephine Bakhita Facebook
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
