Dear St. Josephine Bakhita Parish Family,
As we prioritize your safety during this time, we encourage everyone to stay warm and stay safe. For your convenience, we will be broadcasting Sunday Mass live on our YouTube page. Please join us at either 9:00 AM or 11:00 AM for worship online.
Let us remember that even when apart, we are united in Christ. As Psalm 46:1 reminds us, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”
Stay safe, stay prayerful, and may God’s peace be with you always.
In faith,
St. Josephine Bakhita Parish Team
You are warmly invited to join us for Holy Adoration of the Eucharist on the first Friday of each month at our St. Nicholas Campus. Adoration begins immediately following the Noon Mass, with Benediction at 5 PM. We look forward to praying with you in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament.
New Year's Day Mass will be celebrated at the Sts. Teresa & Bridget Campus. There will be no evening Mass and no noonday Mass at the St. Nicholas Campus.
Voices of Faith Youth Choir
Welcome to the Voices of Faith Youth Choir, a vibrant ministry bringing together the St. Josephine Bakhita Children’s Choir, the St. Louis Catholic Academy Choir, and students from Cardinal Ritter College Prep. This dynamic group is also extending invitations to other churches, creating a powerful, united community of young voices.
Under the exceptional direction of John Reed and Sharon Reed-Ussery, this choir offers young people a space to grow in faith, foster meaningful connections, and share the joy of music, all while glorifying God and serving His Kingdom. Please fill out the form today.
Celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family with Us
The Feast of the Holy Family is a beautiful occasion to honor the Most Holy Family and reflect on the gift of family in our lives. Join us on Sunday, December 29, for Mass at 9:00 AM or 11:00 AM.
Bring your family and friends to celebrate this special day with our parish community.
We look forward to worshiping and celebrating together!
Now the time has come for a new Jubilee, when once more the Holy Door will be flung open to invite everyone to an intense experience of the love of God” ( Spes non confundit, 6). In the Bull announcing the Ordinary Jubilee of 2025, at a moment in history in which "heedless of the horrors of the past, humanity is confronting yet another ordeal, as many peoples are prey to brutality and violence" ( Spes non confundit, 8), the Holy Father calls on all Christians to become pilgrims of hope. This is a virtue which must be sourced above all in the grace of God and in the fullness of His mercy. It is to be rediscovered in the signs of the times, which, encompassing "the yearning of human hearts in need of God’s saving presence, ought to become signs of hope" ( Spes non confundit, 7).
Please click the link to download the full decree.
On May 9, 2024, Pope Francis issued “SPES NON CONFUNDIT” (Hope does not disappoint),
Bull of Induction of the Ordinary Jubilee of the Year 2025. The Holy Father invited “everyone to
an intense experience of the love of God” and “calls on all Christians to become Pilgrims of
Hope.”
The Jubilee 2025 - Pilgrims of Hope will begin on December 24, 2024, with the opening of the
Holy Door at the Basilica of St. Peter in Rome and continue until the closing of the Jubilee Year
on January 6, 2026.
Please click the link and see the official letter from Archbishop Rozanski.
Join us as we come together with St. Peter Claver Parish for an Advent Penance Service on Wednesday, December 18, at 6:00 PM.
Location: St. Peter Claver Parish
4330 Shreve Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63115
Let us prepare our hearts and minds during this sacred season. All are welcome!
Laudato Si’ Advent
Contemplating the mystery of Christ in creation.
During Advent, we embark on a journey of preparation for the arrival of Christ. Focusing on His light in the darkness strengthens our ability to see God in the world.
Download the Advent calendar and contemplation kit to prepare for Christ in creation.
Date: November 13, 2024
Time: 5 PM
Location: Pere Marquette Gallery, DuBourg Hall, Saint Louis University
Join us for a presentation on Sister Mary Antona Ebo, F.S.M., an African American sister from St. Louis known for her courageous stand in Selma, Alabama, during the 1965 voting rights campaign. Her life exemplifies enduring faith and a commitment to social justice.
Speaker: Winnie Sullivan, author and director of PenUltimate Press, will share insights from her upcoming biography of Sister Ebo.
Thank you for your generous support of the St. Vincent de Paul St. Josephine Bakhita Conference 2024 Neighbor In Need Coat Drive. Through our collective prayers, donations, and the involvement of St. Louis Catholic Academy students, the drive was a tremendous success. Our parish goal of 100 coats was surpassed with 108 coats collected.
In addition, the students at St. Louis Catholic Academy exemplified the school’s mission—sharing God’s love through service and respect for others—by collecting 240 coats. In total, 348 coats have been delivered to the St. Louis Crisis Nursery on parish grounds to support our neighbors in need.
Thank you for helping us answer the call to serve!
Harold Bailey, President
Christopher Gourdine, LTC, US Air Force - Retired
Coisetta Wright, LTC, US Army - Retired
Carol Wallace, SGT, US Army
Korky Buhr, SPEC 5, US Army
Beverly Versey, SSG, US Army - Retired
Valerie Howard, A1C, US Air Force
Roderick Moore, PO2, US Navy Seabees
Andrew Thompson, SPEC 4, US Army
Dominic Garland, SPEC 4, US Army
Lee Lotts, US Army
Marshall Brown, PVT, USMC
Chris Engelhardt, SSG, US Army
Michael Delcon, SGT, US Army (Also served in the US Navy and US Coast Guard)
Come, Lord Jesus: The Three Comings of Christ
Please Join us on Saturday, December 7, 2024, for an Advent Morning of Reflection Hosted by St. Josephine Bakhita Parish and held at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 3519 North 14th Street, St. Louis, MO 63107.
We will begin with Mass at 9:00 AM, followed by a short break for refreshments. We will then present three sessions on Christ's comings: History - Incarnation, Mystery - How he is present in our daily lives and Majesty – His triumphant return. We will end with lunch.
Amid the busyness of Advent, set aside a morning to calm your spirit, strengthen your faith, and join others in fellowship as we receive spiritual gifts and blessings in anticipation of Jesus' birth. Everyone is welcome!
This event is free however, for planning purposes, please register if you plan to attend.
St. Josephine Bakhita Parish Welcomes Community to Special Mass Celebration Featuring Homilist Fr. Urey Mark and Spelman Glee Club & Bowman Scholars
St. Louis, MO – November 4, 2024 – St. Josephine Bakhita Parish is delighted to invite the entire St. Louis community to a soulful Mass celebration on Sunday, November 10, at 9 AM, in honor of National Black Catholic Month. This special Mass, held at 2431 N Grand Blvd, will feature guest preacher Fr. Mark from Atlanta and the acclaimed Spelman Glee Club and Bowman Scholars as the guest choir, bringing 45 young voices to enrich the liturgy with powerful and uplifting music. Fr. Urey Patrick Mark serves as the Chaplain and Director of the Lyke House Catholic Newman Center in Atlanta, where he leads Catholic campus ministry for Clark Atlanta University, Spelman College, Morehouse College, and Georgia State University, the largest university in Georgia.
This event reflects St. Josephine Bakhita Parish’s commitment to celebrating Black Catholic heritage and cultivating a spirit of worship, evangelization, and service within the community. All are warmly welcome to join this joyful celebration and experience the spirit and unity of the St. Josephine Bakhita community.
For media inquiries, please contact Dr. Alice Prince at [email protected]. Additional information is available at https://stbakhitastl.org.
Fr. Mitch is asking the community to communicate with our City Housing, Urban Development, and Zoning Committee, pledging your support for Board Bill 114. You do not have to live in the city to express your support. This bill will go a long way toward stabilizing our neighborhoods by removing the ban on many forms of transitional housing while still welcoming community engagement in the discernment of each proposed development. Fr. Mitch plans to attend the public hearing on Tuesday, October 29, 2024, at 6:00 pm in Room 208 of City Hall. The link below contains pertinent information that may be of interest to you. Fr. Mitch would like to thank everyone for their consideration.
We are excited to honor and celebrate Black Catholic History Month! Explore resources from the National Black Catholic Congress and follow us on social media for educational content, insightful information, and inspiring stories curated by our team.
https://nbccongress.org/