Dear Parishioners and Friends of Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish,
Greetings and blessings on all who read these remarks. Just a few items of interest for your information and consideration:
It is so very hard to imagine that the great national holiday of Thanksgiving is upon us. For me, despite the challenges of the last 10 months, I am trying to be grateful each day for the blessings of people and situations that positively impact my life. Of course our traditional celebrations of this feast day will be dramatically changed. Even our annual parish wide Thanksgiving Food Basket drive for the office of human services here in Rocky Hill will need to change. We will not be able to collect food baskets. However, there are two options that you may want to consider in support of the efforts of the Human Services Office: 1.) You can directly contact Rocky Hill Human Services at 699 Old Main Street, Rocky Hill, CT 06067 and send a gift card for groceries or a monetary gift; or 2.) Send or drop off gift cards or monetary gifts at the parish office at 767 Elm St. and we will forward the cards to the town.
The Feast of Christ the King on November 22nd marks the end of the liturgical church year and begins the New Year and the beginning of the Advent Season. We are hoping to provide several family oriented and virtual opportunities for your spiritual enrichment during this holy season prior to Christmas. Traditionally, we have provided the wonderful daily meditation books “Blue Books” to assist you on your daily journey through Advent. 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 at the following address: littlebooks.org.
During the Advent season there will be other opportunities as well: Bible study with Deacon Michael Ward, a modified Giving Tree program, some outreach through our Faith Formation Program, spiritual nourishment through our e-newsletter and bulletin, and a weekly Facebook livestream of the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary on Wednesday Evenings with Fr. George.
A few years ago we offered a simple Advent spiritual activity called the Gratitude Journal. We would encourage your participating in this once again. More than ever, we need to focus our attention on the daily blessings that we need to be grateful. It is simple: buy a notebook and dedicate 5 minutes a day to reflect on the blessings of the day and jot them in the journal. At the end of Advent review the journal and discover the beauty that emerges. The last time we offered this exercise to the parish many folks remarked on the awesome revelations of gratitude that emerged.
Recently Archbishop Blair announced to all the priests that the dispensation for the obligation to attend weekend Masses and Holy Days of Obligation (Immaculate Conception, Christmas and New Year’s/Mary, the Mother of God) has been extended to February 16, 2021. As the virus seems to be raising its head once again, it is with an abundance of caution and respect for your safety that we continue to take seriously the recommendations of the State Health Department and the CDC. For your information, we are planning a modified Christmas schedule that will include more opportunities to view the Masses of Christmas virtually from the safety of your homes. As we get more information, we will try to inform every household, by mail, and all our other means 0f communication, of the potential Mass schedule and the restrictions that will probably still be in place.
I write with gratitude as we approach Thanksgiving for your ongoing support and send blessings to you, your family and friends.
Fr. George Couturier
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Thirty-third Sunday
in Ordinary Time
Sunday, November 15, 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 Sunday Mass online!
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Virtual Journey Together in Faith |
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November Theme:
Praise, Thanksgiving & Gratitude
All members of the Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish community are invited to join in the faith activity for the month of November called The Thankful Pumpkin. To learn more, Click Here. Email pictures of your Thankful Pumpkin to the Faith Formation Office at [email protected].
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Thanksgiving Day Mass
Join us to give praise and thanks to God on Thanksgiving morning with our livestream of Mass at 8:00 a.m. Participate through Facebook or the front page of our website. Use the comments to share what you are grateful for during mass. For the Thanksgiving Mass Worship Aid, Click Here.
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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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Retrouvaille January 15-17, 2021 Weekend Announced
Life can be difficult, and so can the challenges you face in marriage. Retrouvaille can help and offers hope for a better relationship by teaching tools of healthy communication. Learn how to (re)build trust, resolve conflicts fairly and rediscover why you fell in love. The next local Retrouvaille Weekend is January 15-17, 2021. For information, call 1-800-470-2230, email [email protected], or visit www.helpourmarriage.com for information & registration.
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VIRTUAL “ABCs OF ANNULMENT”
Sponsored by the Metropolitan Tribunal, Bloomfield
Father Nicholas P. Melo, Pastor of Christ the King Parish, Wethersfield, in collaboration with Father George Mukuka, the Judicial Vicar from the Metropolitan Tribunal in Bloomfield, will host the first Virtual “The ABCs of Annulment” on Saturday of December 5, from 10-11 AM on Zoom. An updating of the process initiated by Pope Francis as well as updates made in the Archdiocese of Hartford will be discussed by Br. Larry Lussier CSC and Jim Tottenham, the Annulment Team. Included will be a complete review of the Archdiocesan Application Form or Petition.
The “ABCs of Annulment” event is open to all. Registration is required so that we can email the details of the meeting. To RSVP and Register, Click here.
After the workshop, participants can sign up for one-on-one virtual assistance at their convenience with Br. Larry Lussier, at 475-221-8464, or James Tottenham, at 203-859-4195.
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Wanted: Digital Film Editor |
We are looking for a Digital Film Editor for small video projects at St. Josephine Bakhita. Students are welcome to put into action techniques they may have learned and add this to their resumes. Call Joy at 860-529-8655 X17 or email [email protected] for more information about our vision and to learn how you can help.
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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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Food & Cereal Donations
Food & Cereal Donations from parishioners have continued through the summer and the folks at Amazing Grace Food Pantry are very thankful. As a reminder, the following is a listing of their daily needs: peanut butter, beans, pasta sauce, canned fruit, soup, cereal, tuna, rice, canned vegetables, juice, ramen noodles. Donations can be dropped off at Father Shea Hall during the Church's open hours. Please contact
with any questions. As always, thank you for kindness and generosity!
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St. Josephine Bakhita Parish
767 Elm Street
Rocky Hill, CT 06067
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