March 17, 2026

Lent at Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish

March 17, 2026

Daly Lenten Notes

Dear Friends,

This weekend we celebrate the Fifth Sunday of Lent, the Sunday before the start of Holy Week; I am sure our hearts are more than prepared to celebrate Easter. We have been preparing during all these weeks with sacrifice, prayer, and penance. Lent is always a particular time to reconnect with God and ourselves.

In just a week, we will enter Holy Week. During those days, the faith of those closest to Jesus was shaken to the core. The apostles fled. One betrayed Him. Another denied Him. Watching Jesus suffer and die looked like failure. But it led to our salvation. The cross was not the end of the story.

Jesus leaves us this example so that when we are called to carry our own crosses, we do not lose hope. If we remain faithful even when God seems silent, suffering will never have the final word. The final word for those who place their lives in God’s hands is resurrection.

That is the promise Jesus makes to all who trust in Him.

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

March 22, 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

Good Friday

7:00 PM at St. Elizabeth Seton

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 this Lent!

Mondays at 5:30 PM at St. Elizabeth Seton.

Saturday, March 21 at 2:30 PM at St. James

Friday, March 27 at 3:00 PM at St. Elizabeth Seton

Thursday, April 2 at 9:00 AM at St. James

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.

The Knights of Columbus brought the luck of the Irish — and a whole lot of fun — to the Parish Center Saturday night for their annual Saint Patrick's Day Dinner! From great food to great company, it was a beautiful evening of fellowship and celebration. A heartfelt thank you to the Knights for hosting such a wonderful event and for all they do for our parish community.

Special congratulations to Grand Knight Dave Mikol, who received the Saint Joseph Medal of Appreciation at a special liturgy at Saint Joseph Cathedral on Sunday afternoon.