August 20, 2020
Dear Parishioners and Friends of Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish,
I do hope everyone is well and finding some peace and renewed hope in these trying times. I would like to use this note as an opportunity to present some parish odds and ends that you need to know about. But the first item I need to communicate is neither an “odds” or an “ends”.
It is a word of gratitude. As you know Deacon Michael Shelto and family has been a fixture in the Town of Rocky Hill and both St. James and St. Elizabeth Seton Churches. With the pandemic confronting us all with some challenges, Michael thought it would be an appropriate time to officially retire from his assigned ministries here at the parish. He has generously served our faith community by his preaching, baptizing, marrying, etc. and as a very generous leader in a multitude of parish programs, committees, and events. Michael and his beloved wife Peggy quietly go about the business of reaching out to many folks in need…. truly they are inspiring. When I first came to town four years ago, I relied greatly on Mike’s knowledge of the town, the issues at hand and the people of the parish. He is a wealth of experience and wisdom. I especially will miss his down to earth, story-filled, and practical homilies. He and Peggy will remain in the parish and will rejoin us all when the safety guidelines for church are lightened. We wish them God’s blessings and heart-felt gratitude!!
Also, a word of gratitude to the many volunteers who have helped us cautiously and safely reopen three of our Masses on the weekends. Without the generous help of greeters, cleaners, technicians for our livestreaming of Mass, musicians, etc. we would not have been able to reopen. We can still use help in these tasks and ministries. If you are able to help, please contact me at frgeorge@sjbrh.org.
The Parish Pastoral Council and Communications Committee have recommended that we expand our efforts at livestreaming weekend Masses. Starting mid-September, we hope to expand our efforts and not only live stream at 9:00 a.m., at St. Elizabeth Seton but also the 11:00 a.m. at St. James each weekend. We anticipate the possibility that we may need to livestream for several more months (or longer) as the virus situation continues to limit our capacity for attendance at face-to-face Masses. However, our ability to make this happen requires more help from volunteers to produce the Facebook broadcast. We still need more volunteers. It does not require an abundance of technical skills. The equipment and procedures have been pretty well adapted and are simple to use. Again, contact me to volunteer for this important ministry at frgeorge@sjbrh.org.
In the face of the pandemic challenges we are adapting in many areas of our parish life. For example, we are doing more and more meetings, events, and educational opportunities on-line with platforms such as Zoom. We are discovering amazing technology that helps us stay in contact. We are presently looking to establish an on-line program for Adult Confirmation preparation. If there are adults in our parish that would need preparation for the reception of Confirmation, please contact Deacon Michael Ward dcnmichael@sjbrh.org. We are forming a class at this very moment. It is a painless opportunity to learn more about the church, our faith journey and life in the parish.
This past Spring, we discovered that the Air Conditioning unit in our Parish Center on Elm Street needed replacement. After years of constant repairs and Band-Aids, the system was beyond hope. In consultation with and approval by our Parish Finance Council and the Archdiocese of Hartford, we proceeded in obtaining three bids with reputable contractors. The process was slowed to a halt for a few months as the pandemic struck. This past week the work was completed, and our Parish Center is back to full function. As you can imagine the cost for such a project is substantial, $41,000. Gratefully, we had the necessary funds for such an urgent project. Also, because of your generosity in continuing to financially support our parish over these past few months of lock-down. Thank you.
Concerning ongoing parish financial support. In the past few weeks, we have been hearing news about the timely delivery of mail in the next few months. As you know, our support envelope company, Our Sunday Visitor, periodically mails out packets of offering envelopes to your home. Therefore, there may be some delays in delivery. We recommend that 1) you can still send us your regular offering by mail or drop off at our office with a plain white envelope with your name and envelope number or 2) sign up for the safe, simple and secure on-line giving program that so many are starting to use. You can easily sign up at www.osvonlinegiving.com.
Finally, about church attendance guidelines. Presently, we have three weekend Masses with combined capacity for 210 people (80 each at 4:00 p.m. and 11:00 a.m. at St. James and 50 at 9:00 a.m. at St. Elizabeth Seton) With weekly on-line and/or call-in reservations we are averaging 100 total attendance. So, there is still some room (especially at St. James Masses) for people to attend safely within the guidelines set by the CDC, the State of CT, and the Archdiocese. If there are any questions about the safety guidelines, please see them posted below in the newsletter, on our parish website or call the office.
Blessings!
Fr. George Couturier
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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
Reservations are 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.
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The Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time
August 23, 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 "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, click on the image of the mass to watch the recording.
Exciting News: We will begin livestreaming the 11:00 AM Mass starting September 13, 2020!
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Our Haitian Promise
A Message from St. Anne in Saintard, Haiti
As we continue to consider our connections with our sisters and brothers here, around our nation and the world, we particularly pray for St. Anne, our twin parish in Haiti. While we are unable to visit our companions this year, we recently received an email from Saintard sharing their end of school award winners and the mass honoring St. Anne on her feast day, July 26. This is a mutually-beneficial relationship where we continue our monthly support through financial and prayerful aid. Like us, the community of St. Anne work to safeguard the children and honor their patron saint. From St. Anne's pastor, Father Vil Johnson:
How is everything? I think you are well, thanks be to God. School, which reopened, will finish in October for the Academic Year 2019-2020 with a lot of precautions: masks, hand washing, having the children respect the Hygiene Rules. The Academic Year 2020-2021 will start in October. Thank you very much to St Josephine Bakhita Parish, who despite the difficult situation, always help us. May God bless you, bless all the Outreach staff and everyone who helps Haiti.
If you'd like to learn more about Our Haitian Promise, please get in touch with Barbara Wysocki at (860) 563-9015 or wysockb@aol.com.
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We have been blessed in the last month to celebrate the sacraments of Reconciliation, First Communion and Confirmation. Now we are ready to launch registration for our 2020-2021 Faith Formation Program. While things will look different, at least for the first half of our year, we are excited for the chance to bring new ideas and share our faith together! There is a well-known quote that says, "Don't be afraid of change. You may lose something good, but you may gain something better." That is our hope for our program this year!
What will the program look like?
The safety of all our children and catechists is our top priority, so we will only gather when we feel it is safe to do so. We will begin in October with an online platform. We are putting resources and videos together to design an online learning experience that will be enhanced by simple, fun activities that our children and our families can do together to strengthen our faith at home. Our catechists will reach out to you and your children and stay in contact with you through this new online platform. When we are able to, we hope to meet in small groups. If this does happen, you will always have the option to stay with the online platform if you are more comfortable.
How do I sign my children up?
Click on this link and it will take you to our online form. Fill it out and submit. Contact us with any questions. We can be reached at reo@sjbrh.org or 860-529-1274.
Your Faith Formation Team
Monica, Beth, Carol, and Linda
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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.
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Not Confirmed?
Want To Be?
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. Leave a message and we’ll get back to you.
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Fall Bible
Reading & Reflection
Starting in October
“Living for a Just Society”
Matters of “social justice” have certainly been in the news and in the air in our nation with a particular intensity over the past few months. “What do you mean by that?” is a common question that arises in response and the ensuing discussion can often be difficult. Some find the idea too abstract to be useful. Others see it as an invitation to an argument.
On Wednesdays this fall Saint Josephine Bakhita Adult Bible Study will be offering a 6-part read and reflect series on “Living for a Just Society,” exploring what Sacred Scripture has to offer to guide us when engaging and responding to these important matters. The series begins on Wednesday October 7 and 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 that you might have at saintjmdeacon@gmail.com.
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Faith and Racial Equity:
New Read, Reflect, and Discuss
Convening at St. Josephine Bakhita This Fall
In recent months matters of racial have resurfaced as a particular major public concern in our country. Many are challenged about how to think through and do something about this reality.
Starting on Tuesday evenings, Saint Josephine Bakhita will be offering a 8 session read/reflect/discuss series on racial equity. Developed by JustFaith Ministries, this series looks at this issue through the lens of Christian faith. This particular series will explore issues of power and privilege in our society and their implications for matters of racism, inequality and justice in important areas of our national life.
The series, facilitated by Saint Josephine Bakhita parishioners, begins on Tuesday, October 6 and will be convened ONLINE in light of the current precautions appropriate to control the spread of COVID-19. Check out the Saint Josephine Bakhita Adult faith Formation page at the parish website https://www.saintjosephinebakhita.org/adult-faith-formation- for details about how to participate.
Questions can be addressed to Deacon Michael at saintjmdeacon@gmail.com or by phone at 860-529-3222 Ext. 14 and leave a message.
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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.
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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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