March 10, 2026

Lent at Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish

March 10, 2026

Daly Lenten Notes

Dear Friends,

The faithful of the Archdiocese of Hartford are invited to attend the Chrism Mass at the Cathedral of Saint Joseph on Tuesday, March 31, 2026. The Mass begins at 11:00 AM. The Chrism Mass is a special celebration in the liturgical life of the Church in the Archdiocese.

Archbishop Coyne will bless the 3 Holy Oils for the coming year. Additionally, priests of the Archdioceses con-celebrate the Mass and renew the priestly promises that they made at their ordination, and those priests celebrating milestone anniversaries of their ordination this year are recognized at the Chrism Mass.

After Mass, the holy oils will be distributed to the parishes to be used this year in the celebration of the sacraments. The Oil of the Sick is used in the Anointing of the Sick to bring the strengthening and healing power of Christ through the Holy Spirit. The Oil of Catechumens is used to strengthen

and purify those preparing for baptism. The Sacred Chrism oil, a mixture of olive oil and fragrance, is used to anoint those baptized as “priest, prophet, and king”, to seal candidates with the Holy Spirit at Confirmation, to anoint the hands of priests and the heads of bishops at their ordinations, and to consecrate new altars and churches.

A Note About Our Sunday Mass Schedule

Beginning Palm Sunday, we will be adjusting our Sunday morning Mass time at St. James Church from 11:00 AM to 11:30 AM. This decision was approved unanimously by our Pastoral Council. This change will allow Deacon Michael, Rochelle, and me more time to greet parishioners after the 9:00 AM Mass, travel to St. James, and properly welcome our community there before Mass begins. We believe this extra time for personal connection honors the spirit of hospitality that is at the heart of our parish life.

Yours In Christ,

Fr. Shawn

Click Here to See All We Have Planned for Lent

St Patrick’s Day Dinner

Join the Knights of Columbus for our annual St Patrick’s Day celebration featuring a traditional corned beef dinner with all the fixings and dessert.

Saturday, March 14

4:00 - 7:00 PM

St James Parish Center

Tickets on sale February 14 - March 8. Take out dinners will be available. Adults: $20.00 - Children (under 12): $12.00

Family Special (2 adults & 2 children (under 12): $52.00

Note: NO tickets at the door

For more info call Dave 860-726-3585.

March 15, 2026

4:00 PM at Saint James

9:00 AM at Saint Elizabeth Seton

& livestreamed

11:00 AM at Saint James

Lent Prayer & Devotions

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.

Attend the Stations of the Cross

Friday Evenings

5:30PM at St. James

Saint Josephine Bakhita

Faith Sharing Group

All are welcome to join the Saint Josephine Bakhita Faith Sharing Group. Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. We meet in person, at St. Elizabeth Seton Church, from 10:30 AM -12:00. March’s Discussion will focus on the Beatitudes of Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth; and Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. We conclude with various types of prayer petitions. We meet on the third Tuesdays of the month from now to June 17, 2026. We also have a Charismatic Prayer Group that is led by Kristie Bilcharz. This group meets on Zoom on the first Tuesdays of the month. And, there is also the Awakening Retreat on Saturday, June 6, 2026 from 10:00 AM -5:00 PM. This will be at Saint Elizabeth Seton Church, registration for this will be posted by the end of March. If you have questions about both groups and the Awakening Retreat, please contact Michael Lonergan at 860-638-7080 or at Mikelonergan53108@sbcglobal.net. I will forward your information to Kristie regarding the Charismatic Prayer Group.

Daily Mass

Mon-8:30AM @ Seton

Tues-8:00AM @ St. James

Thur-8:00AM @ St. James

Fri-8:30AM @ Seton

Evening Prayer

Join us for evening prayer Monday - Friday at 5:00 PM on our parish Facebook Page. All are welcome!

Reconciliation

Fr. Shawn welcomes all to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Monday evenings at 5:30 PM at St. Elizabeth Seton.

Lent Almsgiving

Your Change Can Change Lives

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) rice bowls have been a long-standing tradition in many families. It began with a simple idea to have a simple supper during lent and put the savings or any spare change in the rice bowl. This simple gesture can help fight hunger in so many places and ways.

Please consider taking home a rice bowl and making it part of your family tradition. We will collect the rice bowls on weekends up to the week after Easter. We have counters ready to add up the change and bills!

Thank you for changing lives this Lent!

Easter Grocery Gift Card Collection

Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish will be collecting local grocery store gift cards for Easter this year for families within our community. Please bring the gift cards to mass on the weekend of March 28/29 and place them in the collection baskets.

A Note of Thanks from Joy O'Sullivan

I have been thinking about the 40 years here at Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish. Here’s little history for you. I have always loved singing. When I joined Saint Elizabeth Seton in 1986, I joined the folk group and became a cantor at the 4:00 PM Mass under the direction of Elizabeth. In 2001, I also became a cantor at St. James and attended CCSU to gain my certificate to teach music. Eventually, I was hired as Saint James Church Music Director in 2007.

I thank all those who have been active parts of the music ministry. The children, our talented cantors, the wonderful instrumentalists who play here every week and all those choir members. Choirs have very special relationships. We see each other in loose, fun rehearsals and work together with a goal to prayerfully make music to enhance liturgy. If you want to increase joy in your life, join the choir.

I thank the staff who helped us accomplish our music goals—Carrie, Pam and Lisa, sextons Randy and Tom who among other tasks, move big things for me, Carol and Faith Formation who I closely worked with these 18 years, wonderful pastors who were bosses and friends, and my partner here since 2007, Elizabeth Husmer. We’ve known each other since she began at Saint Elizabeth Seton in 1996. Yikes 30 years! The pandemic was a terrible time, but it brought us closer together as we planned and compromised on music and it allowed me to sing again every Saturday, just the way we started 30 years ago. Full circle.

Finally, I thank each of you for your comments, both positive and negative—it means that music moves you and you care. Your participation in our music ministry through your full-throated singing has made me supremely happy. I have always said that while one particular voice may not be tuneful, together we make beautiful music.

Onward. Thank you to those who are on the Arts and Environment Committee and the Hospitality Committee at St. James, I know you will do a wonderful job. Best to Rochelle who I know will knock it out of the park (a baseball analogy for Fr. Shawn.)

I have been so blessed to have as my job something that fulfills me and makes my heart sing. Yes, even my heart sings. I have been encouraged and strengthened by so many of you, especially my husband and kids. It has been an honor and privilege to make music with you.

Joy O’Sullivan