May 12, 2026

Happy Easter! News from Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish

May 12, 2026

Daly Notes

Dear Friends,

As followers of Jesus, we are called to devote ourselves to prayer. Maybe you can only find 10 minutes in your day to sit still and speak with God. That is a good beginning. It will bring a stronger sense of meaning and peace into your life.

However, that is not enough. Someone who is devoted to something spends more than 10 minutes a day on it. All of us have to carve out time every day to dedicate to prayer. The amount of time will be different for each of us. However, if it is something we are devoted to - if it is a real priority - then it will have to involve some sacrifice. It means we will have to spend less time doing something else we enjoy. There will be times when we just don’t feel like doing it. However, if we devote ourselves to it, we will find that it becomes something we need. We will not want to start or end our day without it.

At the same time, for prayer to really change us, it has to be about more than our self-fulfillment. It has to be about more than reciting prayers or centering ourselves. To be truly transformative, prayer has to be about seeking a relationship with God.

If something is missing in your life, then try starting off with a daily habit of 10 minutes a day. What do you have to lose? Chances are, it is exactly what you need.

Yours in the Risen Christ,

Fr. Shawn

Join Us for The Ascension of the Lord

Thursday

May 14, 2026

8:00 AM Mass at St. James

and livestreamed

Noon Mass at St. James

6:00 PM Mass at St. Elizabeth Seton

Join Us for The Seventh Sunday of Easter

May 17, 2026

4:00 PM Vigil Mass at St. James

9:00 AM Mass at St. Elizabeth Seton
and livestreamed

11:30 AM Mass at St. James

Bakhita Bible Camp Registration Form

Bakhita Bible Study:

Acts of the Apostles: The Church of the Holy Spirit

Many have observed that these days it often seems that we are in times akin to those of our first ancestors in the faith, believers in Christ at a time when few did. The New Testament Acts of the Apostles is a thrilling and adventurous account of that time of the earliest Church, when Christianity was being lived for the first time. It takes us to some of the great cities of the ancient world. It introduces us to all kinds of people: apostles, prophets, martyrs, philosophers, governors, kings, merchants, jailers, and sailors. It tells of dramatic spiritual experiences, missionary journeys, trials and imprisonments, powerful speeches and dramatic responses, sea voyages and shipwrecks, and the clash of ancient cultures. It invites us to see the adventure continuing on in our own lives.

This May and June Deacon Michael will lead a six-part series on the Acts of the Apostles using Stephen Binz’s “Church of the Holy Spirits”, with readings taken from the second half of the Acts of the Apostles.

The series will be held on May 13, 20, 27, June 3, 10 and 17 at 10:00 AM at the Saint James Church Parish Center 767 Elm Street repeated at 7:00 PM at St. Elizabeth Seton Church, 280 Brook Street. The evening session will be available for online attendance through Google Meet. There is a $10 book fee. Please register via email at saintjmdeacon@gmail.com (BEST) or call and leave a message at 860-836-8218 if you don’t have email. (Unless specifically waived by the registrant, all registrants will be ordered a book for purchase.)

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, May 19, 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

Giving Garden Ministry

Since 2018 our parish Giving Garden Ministry of about 15 adults has been growing vegetables at a garden by St. Elizabeth Seton Church, and delivering them to the St Vincent DePaul soup kitchen in Middletown. Last year we donated 749 pounds. We’re looking for a few more volunteers.

Volunteers can do as much or as little as they want. Work teams are divided into different roles – planting & maintenance, and harvesting. Those who tend the garden often meet Mondays about 5:00 PM, weeding, tying up tomato plants, putting down wood chips, etc Harvesting teams go about three times a week from July to September, with each team picking and delivery vegetables just once a week.

We also have people who sub if a volunteer is on vacation. This is something you can join by yourself, or with a spouse a sibling, a child or a friend.

If you would like to join us, please contact Bob Manzi at manzirj@sbcglobal.net or call him at 860 502-5097.

The Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish Picnic Needs You!

We're building our Parish Picnic Planning Committee and looking for a few good people to help make this beloved community tradition a success! We're currently seeking volunteers for three key roles:

Set-Up Coordinator – Help develop the set-up plan and direct volunteers on picnic day.
Children & Family Activities Team Lead – Plan the fun for our youngest parishioners and their families!

Committee members attend monthly meetings beginning in May and play a hands-on role directing volunteers on the day of the picnic — Saturday, September 13, 2026. Interested? Reach out to Danielle Hollister at danie7@cox.net or Jennifer Hussey at thehusseys95@att.net for more details. We'd love to have you on the team!