A Reflection from Fr. Henry |
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Memorial Day: Remembering and Honoring All Who Served, Especially Those Who Paid the Ultimate Price To Protect Our Freedom
This past Sunday, May 30, was a rainy day. A lot of rain. The Memorial Day parade was canceled. And so was the picnic that was scheduled to follow on our St Jude parish grounds upon the completion of the parade.
But please know that St Jude Parish was still represented during the small Memorial Day Service that took place inside the Town Chambers of the Monroe Town Hall on this past rainy Sunday afternoon.
Among those in attendance were those holding a position of public office, including our First Selectman Ken Kellogg who hosted the service in the Town Hall. In addition there was representation from St Jude Parish, including among others, Fr Henry, Ray Ganser, Kevin Donovan, Norma Bissell and Gary and Jude Thomas to name a few. Our own Ray Ganser and Bob Tranzillo were among those who organized the service.
Fr Henry gave the Invocation at the beginning of the service. Then First Selectman Ken Kellogg spoke, followed by other elected officials. Kevin Donovan was among those who presented wreathes of remembrance. And Fr Henry led the closing prayer.
Fr Henry choose to mirror some of the same thoughts that our own Bishop Caggiano offered on this same day in history at the opening of the memorial. "As we begin to celebrate the 'unofficial start' of the summer season this Memorial Day weekend, let us all pause and reflect upon the family that we form as a country. It is a family that certainly faces many challenges for which there are no easy answers. It is also a family that must rediscover and recommit itself to the values upon which our nation was built, and without which we cannot find true unity and prosperity for all its members. However, it is also a family worth recommitting ourselves to strengthen and heal. The men and women who died for our country did not seek self-interest when they sacrificed their lives for you and me, to protect our national family. If we wish to honor them this weekend, let us courageously follow their example and love each other as they loved us.”
Later, at the closing of the service, Fr Henry offered in prayer: "During every generation of the history of our beloved nation, numerous soldiers have risked their lives in the name of a belief, a belief in our country, a commitment to maintain our freedom, a commitment to offer protection. And many of those soldiers paid the ultimate price, made the ultimate sacrifice by offering their lives to preserve the freedom and way of life that we enjoy today. I ask that you join me with your intention to remember and pray for all of these soldiers as I recite the following prayer: On this Memorial Day weekend, O God, grant peace to the souls of all those soldiers who have died in war. We remember the tears and grief of their families, the pain of mothers, wives, husbands and children who have lost precious loved ones. To build a meaningful memorial to them, we ask and pray to you, O God, that you give us all the grace to work for peace around the world, so that no more lives of sons, daughters, husbands, wives, fathers, nor mothers are taken by war. May God hold in the palm of his hand the souls of the departed and grant them eternal peace in heaven.”
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Memorial Day a Reminder to Protect Freedom - Diocese of...
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (CNS) - The inception of Memorial Day goes back to the bloodiest conflict in U.S. history, when Americans slaughtered their countrymen by the thousands in single-day battles - the Civil War. Pictured: The honor guard from...
Read more
www.bridgeportdiocese.org
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Pope's June prayer intention: 'The beauty of Marriage' - ...
Pope Francis releases his prayer intention for the month of June, and invites everyone to pray for those preparing for marriage, which is "a vocation born from the heart." By Devin Watkins "Is it true, what some people say-that young people don't ...
Read more
www.vaticannews.va
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Diocesan Wedding Jubilee Mass - Save the Date
September 25th is the date for the wedding jubilee Mass with Bishop Caggiano. There will be two celebrations to make up for the lost year – one at 10:30 am and one at 1 pm. This Mass honors Couples who are celebrating 25, 30, 35...50+ years of marriage. More details to follow
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ACA Update
As of June 4, 2021. Saint Jude, Monroe raised 336 gifts worth $126,395 from 294 donors bringing the parish to 149.40% of its $84,600 goal.
Thank you for your continued generosity and support!
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Project Rachel – June 2021 Day of Prayer and Healing
Are you or someone you know carrying the pain and sorrow of losing a child to abortion? The Diocese of Bridgeport is hosting an Entering Canaan Day of Prayer and Healing for women on Saturday, June 12, 2021. For confidential registration or more information, call 203.416.1619 or email projectrachel@diobpt.org. God’s mercy, healing and forgiveness are waiting for you!
Project Rachel, the U.S. Catholic Church’s ministry to those who have been involved in abortion, is a diocesan-based network of specially trained priests, religious, counselors and laypersons who provide a team response of care for those suffering in the aftermath of abortion. In addition to referring for Sacramental Reconciliation, the ministry provides an integrated network of services, including specially trained priests, support groups, retreats and referrals to licensed mental health professionals.
The Diocese of Bridgeport is committed to assisting those who are seeking help through the Entering Canaan model of healing.
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Join us in wishing Fr. Henry a great send-off!
We have created an online bulletin board (Padlet) where you have the opportunity to post a message to Fr. Henry as he prepares to leave St. Jude Parish. Feel free to write a special memory, offer a prayer, post a picture or say goodbye to him. We would like as many people as possible to make this a special memory for Fr. Henry.
Simply visit: https://padlet.com/amyhermanns/jnifv5huagd2ngdt and click on the plus sign (+) in the bottom right corner of the screen. A box will pop up where you can type a message, or upload a photo, etc.
Let's tell Fr. Henry how much he will be missed by posting a special message to him!
If you have questions, contact aworonick@snet.net
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Wanted: Family Photos and Videos!
We will also be creating a photo/video montage/slideshow for Fr. Henry to be shown at his going away reception. You can participate by submitting either photos of you or your family or a brief (30 to 90 second) video of you and your family saying good luck or farewell wishes. (You can easily create a video using your smartphone!) Items should be emailed as attachments to communications.stjuderc@gmail.com by June 20th. |
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Welcome Reception for Fr. Joseph - July 3 and 4
There will be a reception after all the masses during the first weekend of Masses July 3 and 4 with Fr. Joseph. If you are planning to attend the reception, please RSVP using the attached Sign up Genius link so that we will have an approximate number to plan refreshments. The installation mass is planned for November. Thank you!
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HEALING SHAWLS ARE AVAILABLE! |
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The Healing Shawl Ministry has been hard at work during the Covid days knitting and crocheting Healing Shawls and Prayer Squares. Since 2007, this ministry has provided over 734 shawls to parishioners and their loved ones as far away as England and Australia. We have one member, Gudrun Rosenbush, who has prayerfully made 119 shawls; each one is unique, intended for an unknown recipient to help them at a difficult time.
Available free of charge, they are made with love and prayers for the purpose of providing a tangible form of caring and compassion to those who are sick, bereaved or in need of a hug. WE NEED YOU to let us know when someone in your family, a dear friend, or a neighbor might be in need of one. To request a shawl (we have them for men, women, young people and children), contact Angela Baril, anbar123@aol.com or 203-452-0432. All requests are confidential. Prayer squares are always available in the entries to the church.
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Happy (Meterlogical) Summer St. Jude's Commuity. I am so excited that the sun is beginning to shine, restrictions have been lifted, and this ministry can begin to take the shape we have prayed for over the last 14 months. Below please find the dates and times for our summer youth group meetings:
Sunday, June 13th 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm in the Parish Hall
Sunday, June 27th 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm in the Parish Hall
Sunday, July 11th 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm in the Parish Hall
Sunday, July 25th 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm in the Parish Hall
Sunday, August 8th 6:00 pm - 7:30pm in the Parish Hall
Sunday, August 22nd 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm in the Parish Hall
Also! Be on the lookout for additional opportunities for the youth to get involved with our parish. (There is sure to be something fun popping up in August for our elementary students).
Finally, if you are an adult parishioner and would like to volunteer with the youth group please be in touch! The commitment is as much or as little as you would like and we are always looking to grow our group. Email Shannon with any questions: shannon.carey@stjuderc.com
Shannon E.B. Carey
Youth Coordinator
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St. Jude Food Pantry Update |
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Current items of greatest need for our pantry are tuna, jarred pasta sauce and especially boxed children’s cereal which is perilously low at this time.
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A quick reminder of the Bloomin’ 4 Good Bouquet program follows:
For June St. Jude Food Pantry will benefit from this program for purchases in the Newtown store.
The St. Jude Food Pantry will be beneficiary of the program for the Monroe S&S store in the month of July.
The Stop & Shop Bloomin' 4 Good Program, which launched in February 2021, is an easy way for shoppers to give back. Every $9.99 Bloomin' 4 Good Bouquet with the red circle sticker sold supports a hunger organization local to the Stop & Shop in which it was purchased. Our food pantry will receive a $1 donation for every $9.99 Bloomin' 4 Good Bouquet purchased at the Newtown Stop & Shop throughout the month of June and at the Monroe Stop & Shop during July. Simply look for the red circle sticker display as shown when making your floral purchase.”
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Parish Center available!
We are still marketing our parish center (former school building) with the hope of offsetting operation costs. Please contact the parish office for more information.
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Save the date!
Bishop Caggiano will be celebrating the 11:30am mass at St Jude Parish on Sunday, August 22, 2021. Please attend!
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Solemnity of the Scared Heart of Jesus
Join us Friday, June 11, 2021 at 7pm
As we continue to make progress exiting the effects of the pandemic, Bishop Caggiano has requested every parish in the Diocese to acknowledge, remember and pray for all those who have died from COVID-19, as well as those who have suffered greatly from its impact.
More details will follow, but if you have a loved one who has died from COVID-19 and would like their name to be included in the service, please contact Mary Beth Rauser at 203-516-1821 or mbauser@hotmail.com.
The Service at St. Jude will be live-streamed and the Bishop will also be live-streaming his service from the Cathedral as well.
May our prayers to the Sacred Heart of Jesus will bring comfort to the sorrowful, eternal life to the deceased and renewed hope to us all.
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Have you read any good books lately?
There’s a group of 9 St Jude parishioners who give an overwhelming score of ‘10’ to their most recent Book Group choice, Learning to Pray, A Guide for Everyone. James Martin, SJ, has written a book that explains how anyone can have an intimate relationship with God. I can already hear you thinking “What, another book on prayer?” YES and it is outstanding! Read some of the comments from a group of St. Jude parishioners who have been praying for many, many years…
· I didn’t realize there were so many ways to pray.
· I loved his (Fr James Martin’s) approach and spontaneity. It was as if he was talking to a friend who was sitting next to him.
· “Knowing God is more important than knowing about God”. That’s what this book is all about.
· Anyone could learn something from this book.
· It’s a book you can refer to anytime for a particular topic, or read many times from cover to cover and learn something new.
· It teaches you to treat Jesus like a friend with whom you can discuss anything.
· The book helps your prayer become alive.
· My adult daughter is coming home for a visit. I’m going to leave this out for her and hope that she will pick it up.
Learning to Pray, A Guide for Everyone was written by Fr. James Martin, a priest who has 25 years of prayer/Bible study/Retreats who says ‘Jesus is a personal friend of mine’. Fr Martin goes on to say “… your childhood image of God may need to evolve” and then he tells us how to do that and how it feels along the way. The book includes topics such as “Beginning a Friendship with God”, “What happens when you pray?”, discerning God’s voice, journaling, and distractions in prayer. It is not a book filled with theology, but rather practical advice from Fr. Martin’s personal prayer journey and experience as a Spiritual Director. Also included are insights from the Bible, as well as numerous Catholic writers and Saints.
As Father Martin says, “For many reasons, some believers don’t try prayer, or they pray less than they could, or they give up on prayer after they’ve started. All these reasons are understandable. But they are also in their own way, dangerous, because they all draw people away from God.
Since some of the fruits of prayer are peace, hope, answers to questions, and a strengthening of one’s faith, why not pick up this book and spend time with God? It can be ordered on Amazon
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Please remember in your daily prayers:
Marge Tranzillo, Judy-Beth Raine, Maria Bertone, Deacon Ronnie Bicknell, Marie Micholovich, Patty Eng, Joseph Bisignano, Sr., Jim Tierney, Sr, Bennett Gulyas, Vincent Daniello, Armando Aversa, Dyana vander Wielen, Christine DeAndrade Recine, Kathryn Bicknell, Barbara Filazzola
Also remember all healthcare workers, first responders, caregivers and the men and women of the parish who are in the military.
If you have anyone that you would like to add to the list, please call the office or email with the name to be added.
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Please join us as we pray our Monthly Parish Intention.
Our Petition for June is:
May the love Blessed St. Joseph had for Jesus be the model of love and guidance both for our own fathers and our Spiritual fathers...
We pray to the Lord
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Upcoming Mass Intentions
Sat June 5 5:00pm Peter Joseph Izzo, Sr.
Sun June 6 7:30am St. Jude Parishioners
Sun June 6 9:30am Pasqual and Vincenzine Cusello
Sun June 6 11:30am Dionisio and Rosa Barroso
Sat June 12 5:00pm Avelino Josef
Sun June 13 7:30am Deceased members of the Kealy and
Gallagher families
Sun June 13 9:30am In celebration of 60thwedding
Anniversary -Hank & Kathy Banville
Sun June 13 11:30am Rose and Salvatore Casa
The June Tabernacle Candle will be lit in memory of Isabel Dantas Teixeira and Lucinda Dantas
If the 9:00 am Weekday mass is not listed, an intention has not been requested. Also, there are no public Masses on Friday mornings.
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Monday through Thursday Weekday Masses will be in the main Church at 9 am and live streamed.
The Weekend Masses inside the Church are Saturday at 5:00 pm and Sunday at 7:30, 9:30 and 11:30. Only the Saturday Mass at 5:00 pm and the Sunday 7:30 am Mass are live streamed.
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Please note that on Sunday June 27, 2021, the 8:30am - 8:45am distribution of communion in social hall parking lot will be the final date for communion outdoors
People can call the parish office to arrange to be added to the sick bound and home communion call list, for a clergy to bring them communion at their homes beginning in July
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First Friday Eucharistic Adoration
“Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest”. Matthew 11:28-30
The time that we spend with Jesus in front of the Blessed Sacrament is the best time we will spend on earth. Please join us on the first Friday of every month from 7:00 to 8:00 PM.
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Children's Rosary First Sundays
We meet at 11 am before the 11:30 Mass by the Blessed Mother statue and follow proper covid protocols. No experience necessary.
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Confession Hours
Confessions on Saturday afternoon will be in the day chapel at 3:00 pm on Saturdays. Confessions are also by appointment, please call 203-261-6404, to set up and appointment or emailing.
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St. Jude Religious Gift Shop
St. Jude Religious Gift Shop is located downstairs in the Msgr. Sabia Social Hall. Many new items for all occasions. Baptism, Communion, Confirmation, Rosaries, Bibles, Statues, Medals & more. Variety of cards: Graduation, Father's Day, Birthday, Weddings, Get Well, Sympathy, etc. Come down & browse and find the perfect gift. For more info call: Parish Office - 203-261-6404 or call Fran Cambra - 203-261-2573.
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Parish Office Hours
THE OFFICE HOURS ARE:
MONDAY - THURSDAY 9:00 – 3:00
Please call (203-261-6404) or e-mail (parish.office@stjuderc.com) before coming to the office. Much can be accomplished through a phone call or email, such as requesting masses/mass cards; sacramental records; registering for Baptism; etc.
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St Jude Parish
707 Monroe Tpke
Monroe, CT 06468
203-261-6404
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