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Dear Parishioners and Friends of Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish,
It is with great joy that we welcome Fr. Shawn Daly as our new pastor of Saint Josephine Bakhita parish this coming weekend! Fr. Shawn is moving to Rocky Hill from Windsor, CT where he has been serving as pastor of St. Damian of Molokai Parish.
Born in Hartford, CT to the late Frank and Ann Daly, Fr. Daly grew up in Enfield along with his siblings Michael and Bridget. He is a proud member of the 1979 graduating class from Northwest Catholic High School. He entered St. Thomas Seminary in 1986, earned his bachelor's degree from CCSU in 1990, and then went on to Mount Saint Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland. He earned his Master of Divinity in 1994 from Mount Saint Mary's and returned to the Archdiocese of Hartford to complete his seminary formation. After serving as a deacon intern at Incarnation Parish in Wethersfield, Fr. Daly was ordained as a priest on April 29, 1995.
Fr. Shawn's first assignments following ordination included parochial vicar at Saint Mary's Parish in Branford, followed by Saints Peter and Paul in Waterbury. His first assignment as pastor was at Saint Joseph and Saint Mary in Meriden. He then served as pastor at Corpus Christi and Sacred Heart parishes in Wethersfield, Annunciation Parish in Newington, and most recently at Saint Damian of Molokai in Windsor. He also served as Vicar for Clergy and later Minister for Priests.
Fr. Shawn's interests include reading, sports, and music. He is eager to get to know the faith community at Saint Josephine Bakhita in the coming months. Please join the Parish Staff and Pastoral Council in welcoming Fr. Shawn to Rocky Hill and to our vibrant parish! We look forward to many years of sharing faith and life together!
Lisa Orchen
Communications Coordinator
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Daly Notes
I have been praying for you for the past several weeks in this time of transition. I am so blessed to be with you.
Over the past several weeks, I have had a chance to talk with Fr. George, Deacon Michael Ward, staff members and a few parishioners. These conversations have been enlightening. I have learned that you are committed to living your faith in God. It will be a blessing for me to serve with you and learn from you.
This weekend we give thanks to God for our freedom. Ours is a nation that espouses liberty and justice for all, born and unborn. Truly, God has shed His grace on us. The United States of America was founded on the belief that God is the reason for our existence. The signers of the Declaration of Independence knew that they needed God, and our country needed God. That has not changed. May God continue to bless and renew the parish of Saint Josephine of Bakhita.
With prayers,
Father Shawn
| | Join Us For The 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time | |
July 6, 2025
4:00 PM Vigil at St. James
9:00 AM at St. Elizabeth Seton
and livestreamed
11:00 AM at St. James
Stay for fellowship after all of our masses this coming weekend for a chance to greet and welcome Fr. Shawn!
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Become a Cross Bearer at Saint Josephine Bakhita
A Cross Bearer's Ministry is to lead the entrance procession with the altar cross, followed by presider, deacon, candle bearers if present. The presider lets all involved know when it is time to line up. The cross bearer would lead the procession out at the end of mass as well. Again, the presider indicates when it is time to move to the front of the altar to process out. Other minor details would be covered in a quick training session. This invitation is for men and women & older boys and girls.
Arriving 15 minutes before mass and having the strength to carry the cross are required. Both campuses need cross bearers. Having more people involved would allow us to have a rotating schedule as well as having substitutes when needed.
Questions and concerns? Interested in signing up? Speak to Father George, Elizabeth Husmer or Joy O'Sullivan.
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Seventh Annual Knights of Columbus
Golf Outing
Friday, September 19, 2025
Timberlin Golf Club, Berlin CT
Lunch/Registration at 11:00AM
Scramble Format ~ Shotgun Start at 12:30 PM ~ Buffet Dinner to follow
$150 per golfer includes 18 holes of golf w/cart, lunch and buffet dinner, cash prizes, raffle prizes.
$55 dinner only
For more information, contact Mike DiBattisto (860-713-9070) or Mike Lombardo (860-869-2231).
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Pilgrimage to Fatima, Lourdes & Spain
April 28 - May 8, 2026
Deacon Michael and Krystyna Ward are pleased to announce that they will be leading a pilgrimage to Fatima in Portugal, Lourdes in France and notable sites in Spain along the way from April 28-May 8, 2026.
Arriving in Lisbon from New York and after a brief stop in Lisbon we will be moving on to our first major spiritual pilgrimage site visit at Fatima. From there we will stop in the Spanish cities of Salamanca, Valladolid and Burgos on our way to our second major pilgrimage site at Lourdes in southern France. At Lourdes we will visit the apparition site and related points of interest. Leaving Lourdes we will return to Spain visiting the mountaintop monastery at Montserrat before concluding our pilgrimage in Barcelona, visiting the famous Gaudi-designed Holy Family Church and other points, with some free time for exploring this beautiful city, before heading home!
If you are at all thinking of going, or are just curious, please contact Deacon Michael at saintjmdeacon@gmail.com or call him at 860-836-8218.
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Responsorial Psalms at Mass
Question often asked of music directors & cantors: Why are you singing the psalms and verses that are not in the hymnals?
What you need to know about Responsorial Psalms: The Responsorial Psalm which follows the first reading, is intended to be sung by a cantor/choir with the response sung by the congregation at the invitation of the song leader - Call and Response style.
The psalms for each week of the 3-year cycle have been chosen by the Church and reflect the theme of the first reading. The readings cannot be changed, but there is more flexibility with the psalms. Music Directors may choose to use:
- chants that appear in hymnals with responses composed and supplied by each hymnal publisher;
- composed psalms using other melodies with melodic verses that follow the prescribed texts or are paraphrased;
- OR, occasionally, substitute psalms approved by the Church, like psalms 19 and 34. This is usually only done if no suitable music setting can be found.
In all of these cases, the spirit of the given psalms should be followed.
One other factor that can influence the choice of psalm music settings: The nature of the parish, its history and worship style: traditional, contemporary, cultural, etc.
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Leadership Needed for the Holiday Fair
The Holiday Fair Committee is looking for a volunteer or volunteers to manage the administrative tasks for the Holiday Fair Committee. Some responsibilities of the role include scheduling committee meetings, setting the agenda and moderating planning meetings, coordinating with office staff, acting as point of contact for sub-committee leads and Holiday Fair related questions as they arise. If you are interested in this leadership position and helping steer a major annual fundraiser and would like to learn more, please contact Jo-Ellen Vendetti at sjbholidayfair@gmail.com.
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Funeral Liturgy Planning
Funeral liturgy and music planning can be stressful for families who have just lost their loved ones. Consider making these choices yourself well ahead while all is well; choose the readings and music that are meaningful to you.
Once choices are made with music directors Joy O’Sullivan or Elizabeth Husmer, the planning materials are safely saved. You’d also have copies for yourself and whomever you choose to entrust with the information. Contact either Joy@sjbrh.org, 860-529-8655 x17 or Elizabeth@sjbrh.org, 860-529-3222 for information or consultation. Click the button below to look at our on-line resources for funeral planning.
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Give Blood
The American Red Cross has launched a Severe Blood Shortage Appeal. All eligible donors are encouraged to schedule appointments now. The next drive hosted at our Parish Center at St. James Church is scheduled for Wednesday, July 9, 2025 from 1PM-6PM. Call 1-800-RED-CROSS or go to www.redcrossblood.org to register to give.
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Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish
Rectory Office
on the campus of St. James Church
767 Elm Street, Rocky Hill
860-529-8655
Monday - Friday: 9:00 AM - 2:30 PM
| | Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish l The Catholic Community of Rocky Hill | | | | |
