|
September 9, 2025
Daly Notes
| | |
Taking up an enjoyable book to read can be good for the soul. I admit that, in recent months, I have not taken part in the simple, and restful activity of reading.
Thankfully, during my vacation, I resolved and followed through on returning to this important human and spiritual habit.
I took three books with me to New Hampshire. One was “Pleading, Cursing and Praising: Conversing with God through the Psalms.” This one was given to me by someone I consider a woman of wisdom. The second book was another recommendation by a friend, “Senior Year” by Dan Shaughnessy of the Boston Globe. If you have a son or daughter in their senior year of high school and are involved in sports, this is a book for you.
The book I want to focus on is: “Slowing Down to the Speed of Joy” by the popular Catholic author Matthew Kelly. I have read several Matthew Kelly books and have found them to be helpful but not always challenging.
This book was different.
It was not the words that Kelly wrote or the style of his writing that mattered as much as the topic did. Slowing down.
Kelly proposes – as many Catholic leaders have – that we need to renew our commitment to our weekly day of rest and worship by observing the Sabbath. How do we overcome the obstacles of busyness and speed? By learning to embrace Sunday, what Kelly calls “the climax of living.”
As we return to the rhythm of parish activities and a new school year, let us all – this priest included – be reminded that our hearts are made not for busyness, speed, and mindless work but rather our hearts are made to rest in God.
Finally.....Eric Clapton sang " Let It rain" and so it did on Sunday but the sun was shinning over our parish! THANK YOU to all the amazing people who help plan and host our Parish Picnic. It takes many hands to make any parish event an enjoyable, successful event. Special thanks to the planning committee under the leadership of Danielle Hollister and Jennifer Hussey. The picnic would not have come together the way it did without all the volunteers who helped on the day of, from the people who set up, cooked and served the food, conducted the games, the many who helped us take down and clean up — thank you, thank you, thank you!
And thank you to the generous folks who donated breakfast foods to be distributed to the The Amazing Grace Food Pantry.
We are a wonderful Parish because of you. And I am so blessed to be working with you!
With Gratitude,
Fr. Shawn
| | Photos courtesy of Tom Dzimian. Stay tuned for a whole gallery of photos from our parish picnic coming soon! | | |
Join Us For The Feast of the
Exaltation of the Holy Cross
| |
September 13, 2025
4:00 PM Vigil at St. James
September 14, 2025
9:00 AM at St. Elizabeth Seton
and livestreamed
11:00 AM at St. James
***Stay for coffee and conversation after the morning masses!***
| | |
Faith Formation Registration is Open!
A new year of Faith Formation is just around the corner, and we are excited to welcome your children back! Our calendar is finalized, our teachers are returning, and all that’s missing is your registration.
If you’ve already registered, thank you! If you have not please do so as soon as possible! Classes are being formed now and some class dates and times are already at capacity and have been closed
OUR REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS SEPTEMBER 14TH!
After that date you can no longer register online and need to contact the Faith Formation Office to see if there are any available room in classes.
We can’t wait to share another wonderful year of growing in faith with you and your family. Wishing you blessings as we begin another school year and continue to grow together in our faith!
Please direct any question to the Faith Formation Office at reo@sjbrh.org or call 860-529-1274.
| | |
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 in our own lives.
This October 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 first half of the Acts of the Apostles.
The series will be held on October 8,15, 22, 29 and November 5 and 12 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 Elizabeth Seton Youth Ministry
News and Opportunities
Our 9:00 AM mass has been blessed to have young instrumentalists play with our group. In the last few years, Sofia Acevedo and her sister, Samantha, string players, have come from Glastonbury to participate in our 9:00 AM Mass Music Ministry. Sofia, who plays cello, graduated from Miss Porter’s School in June and is off to Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio to study mechanical engineering. Sam plays violin and will continue to be with us! Hopefully, Sofia will play with us when she’s home for a visit as Katie Shattuck (flute) does when she’s home.
In the meantime, our music ministers and I welcome instrumentalists to add to our instrumental team. Singers are welcome for the 9:00 AM Mass as well. Pass the word on to high school students who may not prefer to attend mass. It’s a wonderful way to engage capable musicians into our Catholic liturgies.
Our Youth Choir is another opportunity for students in grades 3- 8 who like to sing. Our goal is to sing at one mass per month and for the Christmas Eve Mass.
Contact or speak to Music Director at St. Elizabeth’s, Elizabeth Husmer if interested. elizabeth@sjbrh.org/860-529-3222
| | |
Seventh Annual Knights of
Columbus Golf Outing
Friday, September 19, 2025
Timberlin Golf Club, Berlin CT
Lunch/Registration at 11:00AM
Scramble Format ~ Shotgun Start at 12:30 PM ~ Buffet Dinner to follow
$150 per golfer includes 18 holes of golf w/cart, lunch and buffet dinner, cash prizes, raffle prizes.
$55 dinner only
For more information, contact Mike DiBattisto (860-713-9070) or Mike Lombardo (860-869-2231).
| | |
Seeking musical, dance, comedic acts for the Second Annual
St. Josephine Bakhita Parish
Variety Show
Friday, October 17, 2025
7:00PM
Parish Center at St. James
For more info or to sign up email: Joy@sjbrh.org or call 860-529-8655 x17.
Participants must sign up by Monday, September 30, 2025.
| | |
Support Our Monthly Food Drive
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.
| | Saturday, November 22, 2025 | | |
2026 Mass Intention Scheduling
It is time to schedule your Mass Intentions! This year will be just like 2025 with two additional ways to remember your loved ones. 1.) Lighting of a special 5-day Vigil candle and 2.) Ringing of our beautiful carillon bells at St. James with an option of a song (list provided), toll (in memory of) or peal (in honor of).
Due to Mass Intentions being so popular we need to limit each household to 2 Mass intentions for the year so that everyone in our parish community has an opportunity to reserve a mass.
MOTHER’S AND FATHER’S DAY MASS INTENTIONS:
Due to the popularity of these dates we will no longer schedule individual names but together as a parish will celebrate All of our Mothers and Fathers together as one.
HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:
Call the office anytime NOW between 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM (860-529-8655) and we will make a phone/office appointment for you on one of the following dates:
OCTOBER 7, OCTOBER 8, OCTOBER 9,
OCTOBER 14, OCTOBER 15, OR OCTOBER 16
SCHEDULED TIMES WILL BE BETWEEN
10:00 AM & 2:00 PM
On your scheduled day and time you may call the office or stop by the Rectory Office at Saint James and we will put your request in the calendar book. Limit 2 per family.
Thank you,
Carrie & Pam
Parish Administrative Assistants
| | | | |
Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish
Rectory Office
on the campus of St. James Church
767 Elm Street, Rocky Hill
860-529-8655
Monday - Friday: 9:00 AM - 2:30 PM
| | Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish l The Catholic Community of Rocky Hill | | | | |
