A Message from Father Henry |
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Fellow St Jude Parishioners:
For the past few hundred years, we as a Church have celebrated the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary on October 7th — Saint Pius V having originally established the feast in 1573, for the purpose of thanking God for the victory of Christians at Lepanto.
I remember myself first being taught the rosary as a young boy and I have payed it forward countless times by promoting the praying of the rosary of the others. A parishioner just informed me that he had completed praying the rosary every day for the past year at my recommendation. I do not remember my exact words, but I most likely recommended that he start a rosary everyday. I do not want the rosary to be a burden, but rather a turning over of our ourselves to Mary’s Motherly care. I usually ask that someone start a rosary everyday, so as not to burden them with the need to finish the rosary. I am fully confident that the Blessed Virgin and the Holy Spirit in their own time and in their own way will take it from there and lead the person to complete the rosary.
Of all of the prayer forms and constructs that we have, there is something special about the simple set of repetitive, contemplative prayers to Our Lady who always draws us to Her Son.
A couple facts about the rosary are:
Tradition holds that St. Dominic received the rosary during a vision of our Blessed Mother.
The word rosary comes from the Latin rosarius, which means “garland” or “bouquet of flowers.” It is an apt word for a bouquet of prayers offered to God. The word bead is an Old English term that originally meant “a prayer.”
I usually teach the rosary in stages. After somehow has become accustomed to the repetition of Our Father’s and Hails Mary’s and Glory Be’s, I encourage them to begin including a mediation on the Mysteries.
The Joyful Mysteries, prayed on Mondays and Saturdays, are the Annunciation, the Visitation, the Nativity, the Presentation of the Child Jesus, and the Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple.
The Luminous Mysteries, added by Pope John Paul ll in 2002 and prayed on Thursdays, comprise Christ’s Baptism, the Wedding at Cana, the Proclamation of the Kingdom, the Transfiguration, and the Institution of the Eucharist.
The Sorrowful Mysteries, prayed on Tuesdays and Fridays, consist of Christ’s Agony in the Garden, the Scourging, the Crowning of Thorns, the Carrying of the Cross, and the Crucifixion.
The Glorious Mysteries, prayed on Sundays and Wednesdays, include the Resurrection, the Ascension, the Descent of the Holy Spirit, the Assumption of Mary, and the Coronation of Mary.
October is the month of the Holy Rosary. Why not begin the practice of praying this beautiful prayer alone or with your families?
Whenever somebody comes to me early in their spiritual journey and asks how to pray, I encourage them to begin a rosary each day. Then the Blessed Virgin and the Holy Spirit take it from there.
Yours in our common devotion to our Spiritual Mother,
Fr Henry
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Fellow St Jude Parishioners:
Many of us are struggling at the moment with the many challenges that we are facing these days. The pandemic doesn’t seem to be going away and because of that, our economy is suffering. In addition, we are approaching a highly contentious national election.
As Catholics we turn to God in prayer to give us the comfort and strength to move forward in these stressful times, but sometimes our prayers seem to go unanswered. Is God there? Does he hear me? How to I keep from giving up?
Ruth Burrows is a Carmelite Nun from Quidenham in Norfolk, UK. She is the author of a number of bestselling books including Guidelines for Mystical Prayer and Essence of Prayer. In her book Essence of Prayer, she beautifully describes what prayer is.
Here are her words on prayer:
Prayer can never be a failure. If I used that expression it would refer to how people express themselves: "I can't pray"; "my prayer is a failure"; "I pray and nothing happens; I'm praying to myself." This is to have a completely false idea of prayer.
To believe in the God of Jesus Christ is to know that, through what God in his love has done for us, there is absolutely no barrier between God and ourselves. We have free access. God is always available, always there, always with us—with you, with me. What is more, we know that God made us in love, precisely because God wants us wholly united to him for his and our total happiness.
Now, if we really believe that—and we must, surely, if we set aside some time to pray, affirm God's (or Jesus') loving presence and offer ourselves to him to do in us all he wants. He will not fail to purify us and gradually transform us as he unites us to himself. How can it matter that we do not feel it is happening?
Prayer is essentially God's work. Our part is to give time, do our best to keep attention, surrender ourselves as best we can. Then we can be sure that God works. Faith does not ask for signs, for tokens. When we really grasp that prayer is essentially God's business, not ours, we will never talk of failure, no matter how unsatisfactory prayer seems to us.
Wonderful words of guidance from a woman who has devoted her life to prayer.
Yours in Christ,
Fr Henry
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Hello St. Jude Families! Fall is underway and our youth group is growing! Please join us for the following meetings. ALSO! We are now providing dinner to any teens who join.
October 11th @ 6 pm in the Social Hall (Finding time for Reflection)
October 18th @ 6 pm in the Social Hall (Seasons and the Church)
October 25th @ 6 pm in the Social Hall (What's Up with Halloween)
November 1st @ 6 pm in the Social Hall (Party like the Saints)
November 8th @ 6 pm in the Social Hall (Should we be Meditating More?)
November 15th @ 6 pm in the Social Hall (What is a Calling?)
November 22nd @ 6 pm - 7:30 pm in the Social Hall (Thanksgiving Celebration) *RSVP Required
Parents and other adult members looking to becoming involved we need volunteers! Time commitment is low, and the reward is high! Please send any questions to Shannon at shannon.carey@stjuderc.com.
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During the past six months of the COVID confinement, the Healing Shawl ministry has continued to keep busy knitting and crocheting Healing Shawls and Prayer Squares. (PSs) If you have been to Mass, you may have noticed, that the Prayer Square baskets are back! Our inventory is strong, so please help yourself to the Prayer Squares, located in the entries to the church. They have been blessed, are washable and made while praying by the dedicated members of the Healing Shawl ministry. During the height of the pandemic, our PSs were distributed at Danbury Hospital to some of the COVID patients.
Since 2007, the Healing Shawl Ministry has been meeting and working to provide spiritual comfort to those in need through our shawls and more recently the PSs. We have given away (there is no charge) over 700 shawls, most to individuals, but also to hospitals, Hospices and several Bereavement ministries. Although the recipients of our shawls are mainly from our local area and surrounding communities, they have been received by people as far away as England, Germany and even Australia.
Please contact Angela Baril, 203-452-0432 or anbar123@aol.com if you need a shawl for yourself, or someone you love for any reason, be it spiritual, health related, bereavement, loss of job, etc. And remember to give a Prayer Square to anyone you know, who might need to have a pocket size reminder that God is always with us.
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St Jude Novena
Tuesday October 20 - Wednesday October 28
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Your Word alone, Lord is our Hope!
Now more than ever before, we need our annual Novena to St. Jude as a welcome opportunity to come together in prayer as one Body of Christ and to seek his intercession as our patron saint of Hopeless Causes during these challenging times.
We are so blessed to have such a wonderful Saint as the patron of our beautiful parish!! St. Jude is most certainly one of the most powerful intercessors in our Catholic Faith. Perhaps, he has helped you or someone you love. The St. Jude Novena is an awesome opportunity to come together as a faith community to thank St. Jude for all he has done for us and to ask his assistance in those things that we still struggle with.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, masks and social distancing are required at all Masses, and we will be unable to provide refreshments. Sign up for Mass is required in the event of Covid-tracing requirements and can be done by clicking on the following link https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A054BA5AE2EA20-stjude8
Our Novena Masses will be live-streamed as well and can be viewed on our website. www.stjuderc.org.
Please join us at St Jude Novena Reception on Sunday, October 25, 2020, at 12:30pm. Since the 11:30am mass on Sunday 10/25 will be our Novena mass, we are hosting a Covid-compliant reception immediately after the mass.
Location: the Plaza outside the church. (If raining or too cold, we will host in the social hall.)
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Knights of Columbus Annual Needs/Food/Furniture Drive |
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The Knights of Columbus are sponsoring a Needs Drive on Saturday, October 24, 8 - 10:30am. Donated items will be distributed to St Jude Food Pantry, Bridgeport Rescue Mission, Blessed Sacrament Parish, Change Ministry & Hopeline (diapers & wipes).
Because of the Covid virus, we are only accepting items listed in the flyer (please click the picture to the left or the button below). To minimize contact & ease of distribution, we ask that you place labelled items for these organizations in bags or boxes which can be placed in your vehicle's trunk and can be unloaded by our volunteers. A note on furniture, we are hoping most parishioners can bring these donations directly to St Jude's on the day of the drive. If assistance is needed to unload furniture, we can help. If furniture transportation is not possible, we will make limited pickups the day of the drive at the donor location but only if the items are located in the garage or in the driveway. We will not enter homes for pickups to minimize risks.
Questions, please contact Rocky Scali, 203-767-6053 or Frank Flynn, 203-556-5016.
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If you are comfortable, Father Henry would like to visit you on the front lawn of your home (wearing facemasks and being Social Distanced). Schedule a visit by emailing me, fr.henry@stjuderc.com or calling the Parish Office (203-261-6404).
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St. Augustine Award
Congratulations to Vic and Patty Eng who were selected to receive the St. Augustine Service Award this year for St, Jude Parish!
St Jude Novena Reception on Sunday, October 25, 2020, at 12:30pm.
Since the 11:30am mass on Sunday 10/25 will be our Novena mass, we are hosting a Covid-compliant reception immediately after the mass.
Location: the Plaza outside the church. (If raining or too cold, we will host in the social hall.)
Children's Rosary
Children's rosary will resume this month on Sunday 10/18 at 11 am prior to Mass. All families are invited to participate and no experience is needed. We will follow proper covid protocols.
Food Pantry Needs
As the cooler weather descends upon us we are making arrangements to stock the pantry accordingly. Items in need at this time would be instant oatmeal, instant coffee, hot cocoa, canned soups and chili. Thank you again for your continued support of our ministry!
Mission Committee (Appalachian Christmas Drive):
Carole Donnarumma
Due to Covid restrictions and church protocols, the drive will not take place this year, but plans to return in 2021.
Mission Committee (Gift A Teen Drive)
Mission Committee will not be conducting our "Gift A Teen" Drive this year due to Covid-19 restrictions. Hopefully we will be able to resume our activities sometime in 2021.
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40-DAYS FOR LIFE PRAYER VIGIL
Wednesday Sept. 23 to Sunday Nov. 1, 2020
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, St. Jude Parish Pro-Life Ministry will not participate in the Vigil this Fall. Individuals wishing to attend, please click the Flyer to the right for registration information or contact Karin Tierney kjt1046@att.net for additional information.
Please continue to pray for an end to abortion and for a Culture for Life in our Country.
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Prayer for Vocations
O Lord, send workers for your harvest, so that the commands of your Only-begotten Son may always be obeyed and his Sacrifice be everywhere renewed.
Look with favor upon your family, the Church, and ever increase Her numbers. Enable Her to lead Her sons and daughters to the holiness to which they are called and to work for the salvation of others.
Through Christ Our Lord.
Amen.
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The St. Jude Religious Gift Shop is open in the Msgr. John Sabia Social Hall after the 9:30 AM Mass on Sundays and after the 5 PM Mass on Saturday night as well as by appointment Monday - Friday at 9:30 AM.
Gifts for all occasions include: Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Wedding, Ordination, baby gifts, bibles, statues, rosaries, medals, auto visors and a variety of cards such as Birthday, Get Well, Weddings and more.
Stop by, browse and find a truly meaningful gift for that special occasion. For information or an appointment please call Fran Cambra 203-261 2573 or the Parish office.
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Please join us as we resume praying our Monthly Parish Intention.
Our petition for October is:
We pray for an end to all abortions, and for respect for all life from conception until natural death,
We pray to the Lord
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Upcoming Mass Intentions
Sat Oct 10 4:00pm Louis & Paquita Regina, Sr
Sun Oct 11 7:30am Dolores Rauser
9:30am The Pacelli Family
11:30am Angelo Mancini
Mon Oct 12 8:30am Mary Carney
Tue Oct 13 8:30am Victor Sylvestri
Wed Oct 14 8:30am Francis Carroll
Thu Oct 15 8:30am Frances Mudre
Fri Oct 16 8:30am Tony Costello
Sat Oct 17 4:00pm Luis Ferreira
Sun Oct 18 7:30am Tranzillo Family
9:30am Maria Emilia Monteiro
11:30am Yolanda & Joseph Riccio
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The parish office is taking Mass Intention requests for 2021. Requests will only be taken by phone (203-261-6404) or by email ( parish.office@stjuderc.com). For more information, please click here. |
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Mass Schedule and Registration |
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Fr Henry will be distributing Communion every Sunday, rain of shine, at 8:45am in the School parking lot.
As we are all part of the St Jude Parish family, each of us plays a role to make St Jude Parish all that it can be.
We priests are the ones who, with Jesus acting through us, consecrate the Eucharist. And we are fully committed to making the Eucharist available to you.
Owing to the weather, the 7:30am mass will now take place in the main church.
For those of you who do not feel comfortable attending mass inside the church, please watch the 7:30am live-streamed onto your phone or computer and then come to the School parking lot to receive outdoor communion at 8:45am. Rain or Shine. If it is raining, I will walk to each of your cars with an umbrella. No obstacle is too large to prevent us from distributing communion.
Each generation has had to overcome the obstacles specific to its time and place to receive the Eucharist. We will continue to work through any obstacles particular to our time and place, to make the Eucharist available.
--Fr. Henry
Please note that the upstairs bathroom in main church is available for all weekend masses. Masks should be worn at all times. Social distancing is required at all times. Please be sure to arrive 15 minutes before Mass.
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Church Hours for private prayer
Church is open Monday to Friday 8am - 10am for private prayer.
Live-streamed Mass Schedule
Confession Hours
Beginning October 24 and continuing into the future, confessions on Saturday afternoon will be in the day chapel.
Confessions are required to be outside at 3:00 pm on Saturdays until the bishop gives us permission to go back inside the church, which he has not, and probably will not for some time. Confessions are 3:00 pm outside, behind the church, and also by appointment, calling 203-261-6404, to set up and appointment or emailing.
First Friday Adoration 7- 8 PM
Mass Intentions 2021
The parish office is taking Mass Intention requests for 2021. Requests will only be taken by phone (203-261-6404) or by email ( parish.office@stjuderc.com). For more information, please click here.
Office Hours
THE OFFICE HOURS ARE:
MONDAY - THURSDAY 9:00 – 3:00
It is suggested that you 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.
In the event you do come to the office, we will be following the state protocols:
- A face covering is required
- Social distancing will be followed
- If you are experiencing COVID-19 defined symptoms, or have had contact with someone with the symptoms please do not come to the office.
Signage will be posted on the front door with all directives to be followed when admitted to the office.
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St Jude Parish
707 Monroe Tpke
Monroe, CT 06468
203-261-6404
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