February 2, 2021
Dear Parishioners and Friends of Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish,
First an update from the Archbishop. Recently Archbishop Blair informed all parishes that the suspension for the obligation for attending weekend Masses and Holy Days is extended until The Feast of Pentecost May 23, 2021. The necessity to continue to follow the guidelines of the State Department of Public Health will continue to be enforced. Therefore, we will continue to require face coverings, social distancing, hand sanitation and reservation for weekend Masses here at St. Josephine Bakhita Parish.
Also, this decision will definitely impact, once again, our celebrations on Ash Wednesday (which, by the way, has never been a holy day of obligation), our Lenten season and the Holy Triduum (Holy Week and Easter). Ashes will have to be distributed in a limited, non-touch, fashion. More information about this in the very near future once we have made appropriate plans.
As you might recall, every Lent we have provided the wonderful daily meditation books “Little Black Books” to assist you on your daily journey through Lent. We have ordered a smaller amount of the books (approximately 200) and will place them at the doorways of both churches. It will be on a first come basis. However, you can order your own personal copy, Click Here.
Despite the challenges of our day, this world of ours is still a very remarkable place, full of breathtaking beauty and goodness, from the tiniest of snowflakes to the tenderness of a parent’s love. But there is, of course, another side to our world, a dark side of selfishness, hurt and hate, which sometimes leaves us on the doorstep of despair, numbed by feelings of powerlessness.
By Jesus’ whole life and by his resurrection, he gave us a very different vision of what our lives can be. Yes, at times we all feel a bit powerless in the face of evil. But despite our feelings, God still offers us his vision of what we can be…God has not left us empty handed.
God has given us the power to think, to strategize, to form a plan and to act. God has given us friends to walk with us and to keep us going. And God has given us the Spirit, always there deep within, nudging us forward as we face what is broken or unfinished in us and in our world.
Do not let evil bully you into despair. Face it, wherever it is, starting with your own heart. Use the power that God has put in our hands but use it always with love. However long it may take, the goodness that is God will prevail.
Peace,
Fr. George Couturier
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Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
February 7, 2021
Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish will livestream the 9:00 AM & 11:00 AM Sunday Mass using Facebook Live. The livestream of the Mass can also be viewed on the front page of our website. The recordings remain available afterward on the Parish Facebook page. Join us!
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Pray Every Day Virtually With Fr. George
Fr. George will livestream Evening Prayer on Monday-Friday at 5:00 PM using Facebook Live and the Parish website. You do not need a Facebook account to watch. The recordings remain available afterward on the Parish Facebook page.
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Create a Family Prayer Table
All members of the Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish community are invited to join in the faith activity for the month of February. Prepare a Family Prayer Center, which is a quiet and special place to pray. To learn more, Click Here. Email pictures of your family prayer table to the Faith Formation Office at reo@sjbrh.org.
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Lent Bible Reading & Reflection:
“When I am Weak, Then I am Strong”
Life often pushes us out of our “comfort zones” where all seems well and good, safe and sound, seeming to shift the ground under our very feet. The past year of pandemic, economic hardship, and social conflict, compounding the universal experiences of illness, death, job loss and other personal challenges highlight this reality even more.
On Wednesdays this Lent, Saint Josephine Bakhita Adult Bible Study will be offering a 6-part read and reflect series entitled “When I am Weak, Then I am Strong." We will explore comfort zone challenges, hardship and setbacks of life in light of Christian faith. Saint Paul will be our guide through the words of his Second Letter to the Corinthians.
The series begins on Ash Wednesday February 17th and will be convened ONLINE in light of the current precautions appropriate to control the spread of COVID-19.
The Registration deadline is midnight Wednesday February 3rd to enable our book order to be placed in time. If you do not register by that date you risk not having the book in time.
All are welcome, including friends and family of parishioners. No special knowledge of Scripture is required. Email Deacon Michael with any questions or concerns at saintjmdeacon@gmail.com.
Check out the important details about registration and participation at the Bible Study page at the parish website for details about how to participate.
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Armchair Pilgrimage to the Holy Land
In November of 2019 members of the Saint Josephine Bakhita community and friends made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Their pilgrimage followed in the footsteps of Jesus from place of the Annunciation of his birth to Mary all the way to his post-resurrection appearance to the disciples on the road to Emmaus.
Some who made that pilgrimage will be meeting online during Lent to recall their experiences as well as share and reflect on how this experience has been important to them...sharing reflections, stories, pictures and prayer.
These online Sessions are open to members of the parish community and offer the opportunity to “travel in place” to the land where our Christian faith was born.
We will be convening on Tuesday nights during Lent from 7-8 PM starting on Tuesday February 16 and continuing through Holy Week and Easter.
The series will be convened ONLINE in light of the current precautions appropriate to control the spread of COVID-19.
All are welcome, including friends and family of parishioners. No special knowledge of Scripture is required. Email Deacon Michael with any questions or concerns at saintjmdeacon@gmail.com.
Check out the Bible Study page at the parish website for details about how to participate.
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Seeking Food Donations for 2021
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:
St James Church: Father Shea Hall, Mon-Fri (9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.) or before the masses at 4:00 or 11:00.
St Elizabeth Seton Church: Bins located in church entry, Mon - Fri (9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.) or before the Sunday mass at 9:00.
We delivered 134 pounds of cereal to Amazing Grace Food Pantry last week! Thank you for your generosity!
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Adopt-A-Client at ImmaCare for Valentine's Day!
As we begin 2021 with a sense of hope and a very hard year behind us, what better time than now to help provide to those who are in need. Since 1981, ImmaCare Inc. has been a lifesaving resource to thousands of homeless individuals. ImmaCare focuses on individuals who are most vulnerable to life on the streets of Hartford, including people with debilitating health issues, such as heart, liver and/or kidney disease, severe substance abuse addictions, and/or mental health issues. The mission of the organization illuminates our work: “ImmaCare Inc. strives to eliminate homelessness in the Hartford region, while building a more vibrant community, by creating safe and affordable housing options and increasing the skills, income and hope of those who struggle with the housing crisis."
Parishioners Carl Bach and Corinne Santos have worked alongside Teresa Wierbicki, Director of Strategic Development at ImmaCare Inc. to come up with the Adopt-a-Client Campaign. There are 86 people in need of items many of us take for granted, so our ask is to show some love to those who need it most!! This Adopt-a-Client Campaign begins February 1st and our hope is that we have adopted all 86 clients by Valentine’s Day, February 14th!
This “Adopt a Client” opportunity is simple, safe, and contactless. You will find a listing of all 86 people who are in need - click here for the spreadsheet. You will note there are various dollar ranges for donations so we hope you are able to provide some support to a local community organization that can certainly use our help!
Once you have selected one (or more) clients to adopt, PLEASE make sure to fill in the applicable columns to the right (columns J through O) which allows us to collect information from you if we need to reach out and also to allow us to see how many clients still need to be adopted.
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The International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking is observed annually on February 8, the Feast of St. Josephine Bakhita, who was kidnapped as a child and sold into slavery in Sudan and Italy. Free online events (Prayer, Survivor Perspectives, Mass) will be offered on Feb. 8 at 10:15 AM by the Coalition of Catholic Organizations against Human Trafficking.
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Complete this simple online form to update your contact information for our parish. |
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St. Josephine Bakhita Parish
767 Elm Street
Rocky Hill, CT 06067
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Follow Us at Saint Josephine Bakhita Facebook |
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