February 13, 2024

Welcome to Lent at Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish

February 13, 2024

Dear Parishioners and Friends of Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish,

Our season of Lent begins tomorrow, on Ash Wednesday, and will conclude at sundown on Holy Thursday, the beginning of the Sacred Paschal Triduum. Uniquely in 2024, Ash Wednesday coincides with St. Valentine's, a day we customarily celebrate love in a variety of ways. There is much to appreciate about the coming together of these two days!

The entire season of Lent is like a lengthy, persistent love letter from God. The daily and Sunday Scriptures echo God's longing to be in relationship with us. These scriptural invitations move from gentle calls to fervent supplications. The opening lines from our Ash Wednesday Scriptures set the theme for the entire season: “Return to me with your whole heart” (Joel 2:12). And so, I invite you to be alert, and listen for these repeated Scriptural invitations to turn your heart toward God.

Lent offers us numerous pathways to respond to God’s invitation to love. Some of these pathways are traditional, such as attending daily mass, seeking the Sacrament of Reconciliation, committing to fasting, praying the Stations of the Cross, etc. Other pathways are more personal, such as trying a new form of daily prayer, working to heal a broken relationship, committing to a specific work of mercy, or avoiding an unhealthy habit. When these Lenten practices are lived with intention and commitment, they bring us closer to God and transform our hearts along the way. We can think of them as gestures of love and adoration for our ever-loving God.

These few days between Ash Wednesday and the First Sunday of Lent offer us time to prayerfully consider how we will respond to God's invitation to return with our whole hearts. Even in 2024, an invitation begs a response.

Our parish will be offering a myriad of spiritual opportunities to support your journey through Lent. We hope you will receive our offerings as invitations of love. Read on to learn all about them!

Wishing you a blessed Lent!

Lisa M. Orchen, M.Div.

Communications Coordinator

Lent starts February 14 - Click Here to See All We Have Planned

February 14, 2024

8:00 AM Mass & Ashes

Saint Elizabeth Seton

& livestreamed

Noon Prayer Service & Ashes

Saint James

7:00 PM Mass & Ashes

Saint James

February 18, 2024

4:00 PM at Saint James

9:00 AM at Saint Elizabeth Seton

& livestreamed

11:00 AM at Saint James

Lent Prayer & Devotions

Create a Prayer Space for Lent at Home

All members of the Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish community are invited to set up a special place for prayer time during the Lenten Season. Use the color purple, a sign of reflection and conversion, on a table or shelf. Include a simple cross and a Bible.

Pray the Stations of the Cross

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:

Attend the Stations of the Cross

Friday Evenings

5:30PM at St. James

7:00pm at St. Elizabeth Seton

Pray The Stations of the Cross

with Fr. George Virtually

Available anytime on YouTube

Make a Retreat this Lent

Members of Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish and Friends are invited to join us on our annual weekend retreats in 2024. The retreat theme this year, Only Say the Word…, is based on the belief that God can – and will – heal us, and all of creation. Our faith prompts us to ask for and receive that healing in many ways.

The retreat center is located in West Hartford, Connecticut. The weekend begins with a buffet dinner from 6-7:30 PM on Friday evening and concludes Sunday with the celebration of Mass at 10:45 AM followed by a hot brunch at noon.

Offering: $350, more if you can, less if you can't. Please do no allow finances to prevent your decision to attend. Scholarships are available. See Fr. George to inquire.

Men's Retreat Weekend: February 23-25, 2024

Women's Retreat Weekend: March 1-3, 2024

rescheduled due to the January snowstorm

Learn More and Register for Your Weekend Retreat Here

Lent Reflection Series

Wednesdays

February 21, 28

March 6, 13, 20

10:00AM at St. James

7:00 PM St. Elizabeth Seton

Led by Deacon Michael

Learn More About Deacon Michael's Lenten Program Here

Lent Little Black Reflection Books

In this season of prayer, fasting and almsgiving, reflect on Christ's life based on the Passion narrative in the book of Luke. The Little Black Book has daily Lenten reflections begin February 14, 2024. Pick one up to use as part of your Lenten daily prayer in either church foyer.

Lent Taizé Prayer Service

Sunday, February 25

7:00 PM at St. James

& livestreamed

Learn More Here

Daily Mass

Mon-8:30AM @ Seton

Tues-8:00AM @ St. James

Thur-8:00AM @ St. James

Fri-8:30AM @ Seton

Evening Prayer

Fr. George leads evening prayer Monday - Friday at 5:00 PM on our parish Facebook Page. All are welcome!

Reconciliation

Fr. George welcomes all to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Monday evenings at 6:00 PM at St. Elizabeth Seton.

Lent Almsgiving

Last year our Parish took up the challenge between the Parishioners and the Faith Formation students to see who could fill more rich bowls with change & bills. And fill they did to the tune of collecting enough money to feed 40,000 people.

This year the challenge is to collect enough to feed 50,000 people!

Please take home a CRS Rice Bowl located in the vestibules of both churches starting the first weekend in Lent February 17 & 18.

Please bring back your rice bowl when churches are open for weekend masses. Kindly return them no later than the weekend after Easter (April 6 & 7). There will be greeters to accept your rice bowl donations.

Thank you for changing lives this Lent!

Other Fun Tidbits

Help The Knights of Columbus Support Special Olympics CT!

Join the Knights of Columbus in our fundraising in support of Special Olympics Connecticut! There are two ways to join in on our fun: join our team, helps us to raise funds, and plunge with us in person! Or you can join our team, help our team to raise funds, and "plunge with us" virtually!

Sponsor Us Here

Palm Crosses for Sale

The Knights of Columbus will be taking orders for Palm Crosses after every Mass at the St. James & St. Elizabeth Seton campuses starting on Saturday, February 17 through Sunday, March 10. Palm crosses will be available for pick up after every mass on Palm Sunday. The cost of the palm crosses is $13. Please contact David Mikol at (860) 726-3585 with any questions.

Inviting Altar Servers

Our parish is bringing back the ministry of the Altar Server which was halted during the pandemic. Girls and Boys who are in, or above, grade 4, and have received their first Eucharist are invited to become a part of this important ministry. In addition to children, we invite teens and adults to join our ministry. Those who serve at Mass learn about the liturgy firsthand and assist in the action during the Mass. Most importantly, being an altar server teaches children from a young age to love, revere and praise God. Please contact Joy@sjbrh.org for more information or to sign up at either or both campuses.