January 30, 2024

January 30, 2024 Dear Parishioners and Friends of Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish, As we read in this weekend’s Gospel passage (Matthew 1:29-39) one day, as often happened, Jesus walked into a crowd of people who were trapped in their troubles, as we are so often. And he offered healing and freedom to every one of them. It was a joyful event, it seems. But for some, the joy did not last, because they did not take Jesus into their hearts where the real problems were. Sooner or later new troubles would strike them, and they would be back to square one, this time without Jesus there to help. But there were many others present that day for whom the encounter with Jesus was life-altering. They understood that he was offering more than just a feel-good escape from the troubles of the moment. He was offering inner healing and real freedom for the long haul, because it was rooted in the Lord whom they had taken to their hearts. Jesus, I believe offers every one of us that same healing and freedom: 1. Whenever we hear his Good News; 2. Whenever we share his Eucharist; 3. Whenever we calm our hearts to listen to God’s Spirit within us; 4. Whenever we encounter others (family, friends, strangers, parishioners, etc.) who share their experience and support and generosity. Proving that actually Jesus is always with us!! In that context, our hurts and troubles may persist, BUT they will lose their power to define and shape our lives. As we walk with Jesus day by day, we will learn how to find purpose in our trouble instead of just railing against them. We won’t be trapped in them. Every day and in every way the Lord is holding out a hand and offering us healing and freedom. Take him to your heart once and for all. Peace and blessings! Fr. George Couturier Evening Prayer for Candlemas & Blessing of Throats Friday, February 2 7:00 PM at Saint Elizabeth Seton & livestreamed Candlemas is a lesser known Feast of the Church. As was the custom, the infant Jesus was brought to the temple by Mary and Joseph - the Presentation of the Lord. According to Mosaic law, mothers must also appear for a purification rite 40 days after childbirth. This Feast celebrates both. The day after is the Feast of Saint Blaise, so our liturgy on February 2 will end with the Blessing of Throats. Bring a candle that is designated as a Christ Candle for your home that will be blessed during the service. The Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time February 4, 2024 4:00 PM Vigil at Saint James 9:00 AM at Saint Elizabeth Seton & livestreamed 11:00 AM at Saint James Stay for coffee & conversation after the Sunday morning masses! Have you recently had your child baptized? Do you know parents with very young children who would benefit from connecting with other new parents? Learn More About Nurturing Seedlings Here Looks like it’s a rematch of Super Bowl 54 as the Kansas City Chiefs vs. San Francisco 49ers are teamed up to play in this year’s Super Bowl. On that day over 100 million Americans will tune it to the see the big Game, consume tons of chicken wings and watch clever commercials that last year cost close to 7 million dollars per 30 second commercial. But bigger than Super Bowl will be the Souper Bowl of Caring event that our Confirmation candidates and their families will participate in that Sunday morning. The first year and second year students will have a friendly competition to see who can bring in the most food items to feed those in need.   You can get in the game too! Won’t you help them score a touchdown by dropping a $1.00 or more in the soup pots the students will be holding as you leave mass Super Bowl weekend Feb. 10 & 11. Thank you for helping us tackle hunger. 100% of your donations will be used to stock food pantries and feed the homeless. “Lord, as we enjoy the Super Bowl football game, help us to be mindful of those without even a bowl of soup to eat. This Lent, Deacon Michael will be leading a series for adults called: Wisdom for Everyday: How to Help Faith and Life Come Together What we profess on Sunday is for the life we face on Monday and the rest of the week. This connection is central to living our faith. Our faith has its demands, as does everyday life. Bringing them together with focus and balance can be a challenge. In our Catholic tradition those living in monasteries and cloisters have been living this challenge for over 15 centuries. They can offer us some wisdom that can make faith and life come together more fruitfully. Their lives may look different, but the challenges are familiar ones, and their thinking has much to offer us today. Deacon Michael will be offering a five session Lenten series of reading and reflection on how the practical wisdom of our monastic brothers and sisters can help us to live our faith each day…looking into matters such as nature of authority, our attitudes, prayer life, commitments and possessions, serving others and being “religious.” The series will meet on Wednesdays from February 21 through March 20. Sessions will meet in person at 10:00 AM at Saint James Parish Center and at 7:00 PM in Classrooms A&B at St. Elizabeth Seton Church. Remote online access to the evening sessions may be available…tell Deacon Michael if you are interested. There is a fee of $15 to cover printed materials to be distributed at the initial session on February 21. Deacon Michael has a supply of materials directly available on a first come basis. Registration required by email to Deacon Michael at saintjmdeacon@gmail.com or by calling the Office at 860-529-8655. Learn More Here Giving Garden Ministry 2023 Year End Summary We have completed our eighth year running the Giving Garden Ministry where we grow vegetables and deliver to St. Vincent de Paul Soup Kitchen in Middletown. This past year our yield was 451 lbs of produce. With the constant rain, it was a more difficult year to grow crops and to prevent pests. Our tomato yield was significantly less but the cucumbers loved it and we picked 159 lbs of cucumbers.  It is rewarding to provide food to those who are food insecure but also it is a great opportunity to meet and work with other parishioners We have a dedicated team of about 20 church members. Our work is divided into teams so that volunteers can focus on one activity or many. The teams are seed starters (starting seedlings in your home), planters, hard structure maintenance (fencing, etc); weekly maintenance volunteers, harvesters and those who deliver to Middletown. This year we will be running the garden with team leaders. if you are interested in joining us as either a team leader or volunteer, there is contact info below. We thank you for those who supported our tomato plant sale in May and we will have another sale this year. We are also grateful for those who donated items that are needed in the garden. Here is a list of what we need this year : Gallon plastic bags with zip locks Quart plastic bags with zip locks Liquid Fish fertilizer (organic) ; or 5-10-10 organic dry fertilizer Gravel so we can finish laying this around the outside perimeter of the garden to keep weeds down A soil thermometer A sign entitled “Saint Josephine Bakhita Giving Garden” to place at the entrance to the garden A bench for people to sit on, pray and enjoy the garden or for the harvesters to place the bags while picking Thank you again for your generosity over the past year. Come join us. We welcome new parishioners to this ministry. Please email Bob Manzi at manzirj@sbcglobal.net if you are interested in joining the Giving Garden Ministry. If you are suffering from an abortion, experience the healing love of Jesus Christ on a Rachel's Vineyard Retreat weekend March 8-10, 2024 in Litchfield, CT. The weekend healing process includes discussions, Living Scriptures with meditations, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, a Memorial Service and Mass of Entrustment. Participation is totally confidential and offers a beautiful opportunity to experience God's love, forgiveness and compassion. Both women and men have participated in past retreats and have ranged in age from teens to mid-eighties. The fee for the weekend is $175.00 for meals, private room and all retreat materials. Scholarships are available for financial assistance. For more information contact Marie at 203-631-9030, e-mail her at mlaffin@prolifeministry.org, or visit our website at www.rachelsvineyard.org. Help The Knights of Columbus Support Special Olympics Connecticut! We’re FREEZIN' FOR A REASON!  Special Olympics Connecticut provides opportunities to more than 10,000 athletes and Unified Sports® partners to train and compete in 27 Olympic-type sports and participate in four annual state games.  Join the Knights of Columbus in our fundraising efforts to support the mission 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! Learn More About the Knights of Columbus Plunge Here Take Time For A Retreat this Winter! 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. Women's Retreat Weekend: March 1-3, 2024 rescheduled due to the January snowstorm Couple's Retreat Weekend: February 9-11, 2024 Men's Retreat Weekend: February 23-25, 2024 Learn more and sign up online:  Click 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. Weather Cancellation of Daily Mass Daily Mass at St. Josephine Bakhita Parish is cancelled if the Rocky Hill School System cancels or has a delayed opening due to inclement weather. If the weather is questionable, please check Channel 3 for the most up to date information about mass cancellation. It is sometimes necessary to cancel mass even if Rocky Hill Schools are in session because of delays in getting our parking lots plowed and sidewalks cleared. Read the Parish Bulletin Visit our Website Stay Connected Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish l The Catholic Community of Rocky Hill

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