May 13, 2025

The Season of Easter at Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish

May 13, 2025

Dear Parishioners and Friends of Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish,

This weekend’s reading from the scripture (Rev. 21:1-5 and John 13:31-35) reminds me that life is a treasure that we seldom appreciate enough before we spent most of it. As birthdays, anniversaries and other momentous moments keep coming and we keep scrambling, a day can come when we feel cheated a bit. What we have worked so hard to achieve can lose its luster and can seem just a handful of dust.

The realization can be a painful moment, full of fear and confusion, but it is also a graced moment. For even as the realization dawns that we have invested too much in what can never fill our emptiness, an alternative will slowly reveal itself. In the words of scripture, the Lord will teach us the words of a new song: live like Jesus, give life, and do not take it away.

That new song is a remarkably reliable litmus test for every relationship and for every moment of our day. It is true for parents and children, clergy and scientists, soldiers and presidents. It can give an accurate answer to that most fearsome question: Who am I at the core of my soul? It can help us see what is not right in us, and it can guide us toward the good and the true.

And so, I suggest that we try to trust that test, and act on what it tells us. If you do, the people around you will thrive, you will find a new richness in your life, and the likeness of Jesus will begin to show itself on our faces, because we have begun to live like him.

Give life always and never take it away!

Peace!

Fr. George Couturier

Join Us For The Fifth Sunday of Easter

May 18, 2025

4:00 PM Vigil at St. James

9:00 AM at St. Elizabeth Seton

and livestreamed

11:00 AM at St. James

Congratulations and blessings to the 36 first communicants who received the Sacrament of First Communion on May 3, 2025. We also had a special Children’s Liturgy of the Word and May Crowning on Sunday, May 4, 2025 where we honored Mary with a special procession and crowning! May God continue to bless all of these children as they continue to learn more about Jesus and His special love for them every day through our prayerful support!

Congratulations to the members of our parish community who celebrated the Sacrament of Confirmation on Saturday, May 10, at the Cathedral of Saint Joseph with Archbishop Coyne. May the gifts of the Holy Spirit strengthen you, making you a witness of Christ's love in your families, your communities and in the world!

Retirement Celebration for Fr. George Couturier

The Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish Pastoral Council invites you to join us for a retirement celebration in honor of Father George Couturier on Sunday, June 1, 2025 at 12:30 PM. The celebration of his decades of service will take place in the Saint James Parish Center after the 11:00 AM Mass. All are welcome for food, drinks, music and more as we wish Father George well in his retirement. In lieu of gifts, Father George has requested donations be made to the newly-established Fernand & Yvette Couturier Scholarship Fund.

Food Contributions Welcome for the Celebration!

We welcome contributions of refreshments for this special event such as pastries, cookies, mini muffins, small croissants or other snacks that can be served as individual servings, finger foods. Both store bought and homemade items are welcome. Food donations must be dropped off at the Parish Center on Saturday, May 31 between noon and 6:00 PM. All questions related to the celebration can be directed to parishcouncil@sjbrh.org.

Click Here to Sign Up to Donate Refreshments

Retirement Gifts for Fr. George Couturier

Many have asked about the protocol of, and Father George’s needs, tastes and wishes regarding gifts for him on the occasion of his retirement.

With characteristic foresight, humility and generosity, Father George has not left us in the dark on this matter. With emphatic clarity he has indicated that he does not wish to receive personal gifts on the occasion of his retirement.

Rather, he has asked that in lieu of personal gifts that people make a donation to a parish scholarship fund established in the memory of his dear parents, Fernand and Yvette Couturier. This fund, now being established at St. Josephine Bakhita Parish, would provide financial assistance to young people, from parish families, that are furthering their education after high school.

Those wishing to honor Father George in his retirement may do so by making a contribution to the:

Fernand & Yvette Couturier Scholarship Fund

℅ St. Josephine Bakhita Parish

767 Elm Street

Rocky Hill CT 06067

Checks should be made payable to “St. Josephine Bakhita Parish” with “Couturier Scholarship Fund” on the memo line. Donations in envelopes so addressed may be mailed, delivered to the parish office at that address, placed in the Sunday collection, or placed in designated receptacles at the parish reception for Fr. Couturier on Sunday June 1, 2025 following the 11:00 AM Mass at the St. Josephine Bakhita Parish Center.

Please help us celebrate Fr. George, and keep the memory of his dear parents, by honoring this generous request!

Other Fun Tidbits

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.

Learn More Here

Ongoing Food Collection

Support our ongoing food and cereal collections for our monthly delivery to the Rocky Hill and Amazing Grace food pantries. Non-perishable food items and cereal boxes can be dropped off at either church location: St. James Church: Father Shea Hall, Mon - Fri (9:00 AM - 1:00 PM) or before the masses at 4:00 or 11:00. St. Elizabeth Seton Church: Bins located near the kitchen, Mon - Fri (9:00 AM - 1:00 PM) or before the Sunday mass at 9:00.

The Archbishop’s Annual Appeal changes lives through service. In addition to assisting the underserved of our communities, your gift helps those discerning a vocation to the priesthood. Your gift to the Appeal is an investment in the future of our Church and our faith. Please continue to pray for an increase of vocations especially in the Archdiocese of Hartford. Thank you to the parish families who have made a gift or pledge to the 2025 Archbishop’s Annual Appeal. If you have not yet participated, please prayerfully consider a gift today. Be assured every dollar of your gift will have a positive impact in someone’s life. All funds contributed to the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal are used exclusively for the purposes outlined in the Appeal literature, which can be found here. No Appeal funds are ever used for legal fees or settlements.