Dear Parishioners and Friends of Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish,
 
My friends, we are now in the midst of the holiest week of the year. And I know that many of us want to jump ahead to Easter (especially this year), jump ahead to the end of the story, jump ahead to the fulfillment of God’s promises for each of us. I want the same!
 
And yet, we all know that it cannot be that way. The story of the passion of Jesus shows us that clearly. We are invited to wait. We are invited to trust. We are invited to take Jesus’ hand through the entire story.
 
And so, we are invited to walk with Jesus wherever he leads. Even if it means we walk with him into the holy city. Even if it means we walk with him into the upper room and into the garden. Even if it means we stand hand-in-hand with him before Pilate.
 
Even if it means we climb that hill with him…. not in fear and despair, but in hope. A hope that says tomorrow can be better than today…we can be better than we are. Put simply, we can be beautiful people God created us to be and Jesus died to make possible. Who or what we were yesterday does not matter. Who we want to be today, and tomorrow is what matters. But it is up to us, by the grace of God, of course.
 
And it starts with a single step. Not alone, but with Jesus. Let us make that sacred walk together this week!!

Peace and Blessings,

Fr. George Couturier
Our music ministry prepared a special prayer experience for this holiest week of the year: A Lenten Prayer Service: Reflections on the Passion of Christ in Word and Song is available on demand anytime. Please watch, pray, reflect and sing as we journey through Holy Week.
Holy Week Schedule
  

Holy Thursday – April 1

7:00 p.m. Mass of the Lord’s Supper at St. James (capacity 100) and livestreamed
Remember your bells for the singing of the Gloria
Registration Full - Join Us Virtually

Adoration for one hour after Mass in St. James Church
No Registration Required


Good Friday – April 2

3:00 p.m. Celebration of Our Lord’s Passion at St. James (capacity 100)
3:00 p.m. Celebration of Our Lord’s Passion at St. Elizabeth Seton (capacity 60)
and livestreamed
Registration Full - Join Us Virtually

7:00 p.m. Stations of the Cross with our Confirmation Program
Virtual only on our parish Facebook Page & YouTube Channel

 
Holy Saturday – April 3

12:00 noon Blessing of Easter Foods at St. James
No Registration Required

8:00 p.m. Easter Vigil at St. James (capacity 100) and livestreamed
Remember your bells for the singing of the Gloria
Registration Full - Join Us Virtually


Easter Sunday – April 4

9:00 a.m. Easter Mass at St. James (capacity 100)
9:00 a.m. Easter Mass at St. Elizabeth (capacity 60) and livestreamed
11:00 a.m. Easter Mass at St. James (capacity 100) and livestreamed
Registration Full - Join Us Virtually
Pray The Stations of the Cross this Holy Week
The Stations of the Cross invite us to use all our senses as we reflect prayerfully and walk intentionally with Jesus through his suffering, death on the cross and resurrection. Here are some of the ways available:
  
Pray the Stations of the Cross with our Confirmation Program
Good Friday at 7:00 PM
Join us Good Friday virtually on FaceBook & YouTube

Pray The Stations of the Cross with Fr. George Virtually
Available anytime on FaceBook & YouTube

Pray the Stations of the Cross for Children & Families
Available anytime on FaceBook & YouTube

Sorrowful Mysteries
of the Rosary
Pray the Rosary with Fr. George anytime on FaceBook & YouTube.
Reconciliation
Celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation Monday, March 29 & Tuesday, March 30 at 6:00pm at St. Elizabeth Seton Church.
Easter Bible Reading & Reflection
“God to the Rescue - The Story of Exodus”
The Book of Exodus, the story of God’s liberation of the Israelites from bondage in slavery and their deliverance is a foundational story of Judaism...and Christianity as well. The drama, suspense, heroism and power speaks to us in surprising ways today as a story of faith and the deliverance of a people that speaks to us in our uncertain and turbulent times as well.

On Wednesdays during the Easter season Saint Josephine Bakhita Adult Bible Study will offer a 6-part read and reflect series on the Book of Exodus. Through contemplating the experience of bondage, liberation, wandering and arrival under God’s care we can learn important lessons for our own lives and Christian faith here and now.

The series begins on Wednesday April 21, 2021 at 7:00 PM on ZOOM.

All are welcome. No special knowledge of Scripture is required. Pre-registration is requested by midnight Tuesday April 6th. For further details and information on how to participate, Click Here.
Retrieving Women’s Voices
Discover the Women Doctors of the Church
Come and encounter four of the most remarkable women in the history of the Church: Teresa of Avila, Catherine of Siena, Therese of Lisieux and Hildegard of Bingen. Despite living in different countries, centuries, and cultural contexts these women continue to inspire us with their wisdom and faith. Join us to see how each woman’s powerful insights and wisdom can guide our own lives as they model holy, intelligent and passionate lives for us.

On Thursdays during the Easter season Saint Josephine Bakhita Adult Faith Formation will offer a 6-part series examining the legacy of these remarkable Christian women. Our guide for this exploration will be Dr. Elizabeth A. Dreyer Professor Emerita at Fairfield University. The format for this series is video lecture supported watch, discuss and learn. A study guide is available at very nominal cost. 

The series begins on Thursday April 22, 2021 at 7:00-8:30 PM at the Saint James Parish Hall, 767 Elm Street in Rocky Hill. It will meet each Thursday for six weeks. This will be an in-person event and remote online access and participation will not be available. 

All are welcome. No special knowledge is required. Pre-registration is required as space will be limited to COVID-19 limitations on in-person gatherings. Distancing and face masks will be required, no exceptions. 
 
To register email Deacon Michael at saintjmdeacon@gmail.com or call 860-529-3222 Ext 14 and leave a message.

For more information, Click Here.
All members of the Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish community are invited to join in the faith activity for the month of April called "Creating a Paschal Candle." To learn more, Click Here. Email pictures of your Paschal Candle to the Faith Formation Office at reo@sjbrh.org.
Support Michael Ribera's Annual Blood Drive
Michael Ribera is a 16-year-old member of the Saint Josephine Bakhita community from Cromwell who was born with an extremely rare immune disorder. In order to maintain his health, Michael receives monthly immunoglobulin infusions, each of which requires about 2,000 donors. Over the course of Michael's last eight years of infusions, he has had to rely on over 161,000 donors to keep him alive and healthy. Please consider donating blood in Michael's honor. The 5th Annual Blood Drive for Michael will take place at Cromwell Middle School on Saturday April 17, 2021 from 8:00a.m. - 1:00p.m. Appointments are required. To schedule an appointment please contact 1-800-733-2767 or visit redcrossblood.org - code IGIBEAR. Learn more here.
Thank you to the parish families who have made a gift or pledge commitment to the 2021 Archbishop’s Annual Appeal. If you have not yet had the opportunity, please consider prayerfully supporting the many “Good Works” of the Archdiocese. Every gift will be gratefully received and sincerely appreciated. Learn more here.
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St. Josephine Bakhita Parish
767 Elm Street
Rocky Hill, CT 06067