Our Parish Journey Through Advent:
A Season of Hope
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December 2, 2020
Dear Parishioners and Friends of Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish,
Well Advent has begun! The season of preparation for the Birth of Christ. A time for us to allow ourselves the space and the time to explore the meaning of that birth for each of us. The first week of Advent may very well be called “Wake Up Time.” For Jesus asks us to watch and be alert (Mk 13:33-37)
We have been living with ourselves for quite some time now and have an abundance of personal facts at our fingertips: our weight, height, date of birth, show size, food preferences, favorite colors, bank balance and more. But with all that information, we may still be lacking in self-knowledge. That is why Jesus is so stern when he says in the Gospel: “Wake up!” Explore your depth, your beauty and your potential!
To help know ourselves better I offer a few probing questions: What do you value most? What is your deepest fear? What is your greatest gift? What is your primary flaw? How good a friend are you? Etc.
Take the time, this week, to get to know yourself better and deeper! It is not narcissistic to do that a bit. Go back to those questions and look for the big patterns. That is where the truth lies. Seek out people to help you do this probing. Seek out those who really love you and have your best spiritual self in mind and can tell you the truth.
This Advent draw near to Jesus and, with open eyes and a trusting heart, take this journey with Jesus one day at a time. There is nothing to fear: his love has no limits. You will only come to know more profoundly what the birth of Christ is for you!
Peace,
Fr. George Couturier
Please note: Due to the precautions about the COVID-19 virus, the Archbishop has suspended the obligation for all Sunday and Holy Day Masses until Ash Wednesday. This includes The Immaculate Conception, Christmas and New Year’s Day: Mary, the Mother of God. Our parish will continue to livestream Masses on all these days to both the Parish Facebook Page and the Parish Website. Plan to join our community in prayer and worship virtually during these sacred days.
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Second Sunday of Advent
Sunday, December 6, 2020
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 for for the First Sunday of Advent Mass online!
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Join us Virtually for the Immaculate Conception
of the Blessed Virgin Mary
December 8 at 8:00 a.m.
Join us for the Solemnity of The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary with our livestream Mass at 8:00 a.m. Participate through Facebook or the Parish website at 8:00 a.m. and throughout the rest of the day.
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Bless Your Home Nativity Set |
The practice of setting up a nativity scene begins in Advent and continues through the Twelve Days of Christmas until the Celebration of the Epiphany on January 6. Saint Francis of Assisi began the custom of the nativity scenes when he celebrated Christmas with his brothers at Greccio in 1223 with a Bethlehem scene which included live animals. This tradition quickly spread and people began to construct their own nativity scenes in their homes, churches, schools and public spaces. You might set up your entire scene at the beginning of Advent, leaving the crib empty for the Christ Child to arrive on Christmas Eve. Or set up the scene slowly, placing the figures far from the scene and moving them closer day by day. The three kings arrive on Epiphany bearing gifts for the child Jesus. For a simple blessing of your nativity scene, Click Here.
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Pray Every Day Virtually With Fr. George |
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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.
On Wednesday evenings at 5:30 p.m. during Advent, Fr. George will lead us virtually through livestream in the Joyous Mysteries of the Rosary. By meditating on the Joyful Mysteries we accompany Mary and Joseph as they learn that Mary will bring the Son of God into the world, and we journey with them through Christ’s birth and into his childhood.
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Virtual Journey Together in Faith
December Activity: The Christmas Manger
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All members of the Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish community are invited to join in the faith activity for the month of December called The Christmas Manger. To learn more, Click Here. Email pictures of your Christmas Manger to the Faith Formation Office at reo@sjbrh.org.
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Join Dynamic Catholic for
The Best Advent Ever
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The need to stay home and take care this Advent opens the door to the possibility of a spiritually rich time of growth for each of us. Receive inspiring, hope-filled spiritual nourishment in your inbox every morning during Advent from Dynamic Catholic. Matthew Kelly will call you daily to Let Your Soul Shine and invigorate your heart with daily reflections. To sign up for this free email program that will help you rediscover the beauty and joy of the Gospels and pray daily through Advent,
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Join Our Advent Bible Study
Finding Hope This Christmas
2020 has been quite a year. Our time to meet and pray together has been seriously impacted and limited by the COVID 19 pandemic. Not being able to be together for Eucharist on Sunday regularly has called for adjustments in the way we maintain our spiritual lives as well as our connections to each other and the Lord. This will be particularly true about Christmas this year!!
Christmas is one of the high points of the Church year when we remember the very start of the Lord’s sojourn among us “for us and our salvation”...the start of the earthly story that gives us so much to hope for in this life and beyond.
Preparing together for it in a more deliberate and personal way this year is a chance to connect to each other and prepare more deeply for the great Nativity of the Lord at Christmas!
Consider joining others online for a three week reflection series on “Hope” on Monday evenings December 7, 14, 21 at 7:00 p.m.
Further details on the parish website, Click Here.
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Enjoy this beautiful sung piece by members of our music ministry as a form of prayer and meditation during the Season of Advent.
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Advent Giving Opportunities |
Help Our Annual Advent Giving Project
Our annual Advent Giving Project will look different this year due to COVID restrictions. We will forego gift tags and wrapping but the following items are greatly needed:
Men's socks, t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, gloves and toiletries (shampoo, soap, deodorant, disposable razors, shaving cream, lip balm, toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss, etc.)
Items 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.
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Support Our Candy / Sock Collection
Sweet Feet Project for the Homeless
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For Christmas this year our Confirmation Candidates are collecting socks & candy for our Sweet Feet project. The candidates will fill new warm socks with candy to be given out at Christmas to those in need.
We hope to fill at least 500 pairs of socks and need your help. Contributions of any kind of candy and socks for men, women, or children may be put in the plastic bin outside the front of St. James Church or placed in the boxes in the front & back entrance of St. James, open daily until 1:00 p.m.
Thank you for helping make this Christmas a little “sweeter” for others!
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Fill Our Local
Food 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:
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. Contact Sandy Ambrose amb321@cox.net or Carl Bach abcb1922@yahoo.com
with any questions. As always, thank you for kindness and generosity!
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Here We Go a Caroling….
Socially Distant Caroling (that is)
Join us on Friday, December 11 at 6:00 p.m. at St. James Church parking lot to spread some Christmas cheer through our beloved holiday carols. Groups of 5-6 socially distant, masked, people will be sent out to sing 3-4 carols for the homebound of our parish. Family groups are encouraged! This a great community service opportunity & memory-making event for the carolers and for homebound. Email Joy@sjbrh.org to sign up. If you know someone who would appreciate a visit from our merry band of carolers, please email Joy. There is a limited number of people we can visit based upon the number of carolers we have, so get your requests in early. Snow date is December 18.
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Blessed Father Michael J. McGivney founded the Knights of Columbus in 1882 at St. Mary’s Church in New Haven, Connecticut. The organization was committed to unity as a Catholic lay organization. Formed for Charity for those in need and Fraternity with fellow brother Knights. Since the founding, the organization has grown to over 2 million members, who along with their families remain true to the founding principles. The members of St. James Council #10651 are proud to contribute to the legacy of Blessed Father McGivney. Since the Council’s establishment in 1992, the members have worked to care for the homeless and help our neighbors, who find themselves in need of assistance. Becoming a Knight of Columbus can enhance your life. The Knights provide you with the opportunity to support your parish, grow your faith and enrich our community. Want to learn more about joining a network of men dedicated to the ideals of Blessed Father Michael McGivney?
Email your contact information to:
or text 860-638-8654
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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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