March 31, 2026

Join Us for Holy Week at Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish

March 31, 2026

Daly Holy Week Notes

Dear Friends,

Our entire parish staff joins me in extending blessings and best wishes for a joyous Easter to all of you.

At the Easter Vigil, the church is in total darkness as the priest enters with the light of the new Easter Candle as the only source of light. As that light passes from candle to candle, person to person, the dark church is soon filled with light.

May the light of the Risen Christ shine forth in our lives bringing hope, love, and peace to our troubled world, to our country, to our community, to our families. Happy Easter!

A Note About Our Sunday Mass Schedule

We have adjusted 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 Holy Week

Sacred Paschal Triduum Schedule

Holy Thursday

April 2, 2026

Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper

7:00 PM ~ St James

Adoration in Day Chapel until 9:00PM

Good Friday

April 3, 2026

Celebration of Our Lord’s Passion

3:00 PM ~ St. James

Stations of the Cross Liturgy
with Veneration of the Cross

7:00PM ~ St. Elizabeth Seton

Holy Saturday

April 4, 2026

Blessing of Easter Foods

Noon ~ St. James

Easter Vigil

8:00 PM ~ St. Elizabeth Seton

Easter Sunday

April 5, 2026

9:00 AM ~ St. Elizabeth Seton (livestreamed)

9:00 AM ~ St. James

11:30 AM ~ St. James

Bakhita Bible Camp Registration Form

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, April 21, 2026. We meet in person, at St. Elizabeth Seton Church, from 10:30 AM -12:00. We will be discussing two of the beatitudes. 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.

The Awakening Retreat will be held on Saturday, June 6, 2026 from 10:00 AM -5:00 PM at Saint Elizabeth Seton Church. If you have questions about both groups and the Awakening Retreat, please contact Michael Lonergan at 860-638-7080 or Mikelonergan53108@sbcglobal.net. I will forward your information to Kristie regarding the Charismatic Prayer Group.

Awakening Retreat Registration Form

Daily Mass

for Holy Week

Mon-8:30AM @ Seton

Tues-8:00AM @ St. James

Blessing of Easter Foods

Bring your Easter Foods to be blessed on Holy Saturday, April 4, at Noon at St. James Church!

Reconciliation

Fr. Shawn welcomes all to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation this Lent!
Mondays at 5:30 PM at St. Elizabeth Seton.

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

Bring Your Bells

Bells are a sign of joy at the end of Lent when the GLORIA returns on Holy Thursday. The bells are silenced again until the Easter Vigil and Easter morning. Dust off your chimes and bells and bring them to ring during the singing of the Gloria!

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 return your Rice Bowl Easter Weekend through the week after Easter. We have counters ready to add up the change and bills!

Thank you for changing lives this Lent!