Message from Fr. Joseph
As we celebrate - and mourn - Good Friday, I want to share with you the beautiful reflection on the Cross that was written by St. Thomas Aquinas, the 13th Century Dominican scholar and Doctor of the Church:

Why did the Son of God have to suffer for us? There was a great need, and it can be considered in a twofold way: in the first place, as a remedy for sin, and secondly, as an example of how to act.

It is a remedy, for, in the face of all the evils which we incur on account of our sins, we have found relief through the passion of Christ. Yet, it is no less an example, for the passion of Christ completely suffices to fashion our lives. Whoever wishes to live perfectly should do nothing but disdain what Christ disdained on the cross and desire what he desired, for the cross exemplifies every virtue.

If you seek the example of love: “Greater love than this no man has, than to lay down his life for his friends.” Such a man was Christ on the cross. And if he gave his life for us, then it should not be difficult to bear whatever hardships arise for his sake.

If you seek patience, you will find no better example than the cross. Great patience occurs in two ways: either when one patiently suffers much, or when one suffers things which one is able to avoid and yet does not avoid. Christ endured much on the cross, and did so patiently, because when he suffered he did not threaten; he was led like a sheep to the slaughter and he did not open his mouth. Therefore Christ’s patience on the cross was great. In patience let us run for the prize set before us, looking upon Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith who, for the joy set before him, bore his cross and despised the shame.

If you seek an example of humility, look upon the crucified one, for God wished to be judged by Pontius Pilate and to die.

If you seek an example of obedience, follow him who became obedient to the Father even unto death. For just as by the disobedience of one man, namely, Adam, many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one man, many were made righteous.

If you seek an example of despising earthly things, follow him who is the King of kings and the Lord of lords, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Upon the cross he was stripped, mocked, spat upon, struck, crowned with thorns, and given only vinegar and gall to drink.

Do not be attached, therefore, to clothing and riches, because “they divided my garments among themselves.” Nor to honours, for he experienced harsh words and scourgings. Nor to greatness of rank, for “weaving a crown of thorns they placed it on my head.” Nor to anything delightful, for “in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.”
Bishop Caggiano Came to St. Jude's on Palm Sunday!
We were very blessed to have our Bishop celebrate Palm Sunday Mass at 9:30am on April 10th. Please read the following article for a review and to see a photo gallery from his visit!
Bishop Caggiano visits two diocesan parishes on Palm...

FAIRFIELD COUNTY-"Our hope and destiny lie in becoming one with Him and one another in a community of love," Bishop Frank J. Caggiano said during noon Mass on Palm Sunday at St. Matthew Parish in Norwalk. "We stand on the cusp of the week we call ...

Read more
www.bridgeportdiocese.org
The Blessing of the Food for Easter will be held after our 9am morning prayer on Holy Saturday in the Social Hall. 
Parish Clean-Up - All Hands On Deck!
It's time for "spring cleaning" - going through the clutter and chaos that ends up in closets and corners - and our parish is no different! Please come and help volunteer with both outside and indoor cleaning and organizing of St. Jude's Church, School, and Offices on Saturday, May 7th from 8am until 12noon. Bring work gloves and a good spirit! Great for all ages!
St. Jude Parish Lenten Services and Programs
Dear St. Jude's family,

            Although the snow and the frost lay deep outside, spring is right around the corner, and with Spring comes the great season of Lent! Every year the Church gives us 40 days to fast, pray, and grow closer to Jesus Christ as we walk with Him to His Cross, and experience the joy of His Resurrection.

            Here at St. Jude’s, we have a lot of great things planned for Lent 2022! I would like to invite you to nourish your spiritual life by joining us for any or all of these following events:

Confessions Available: 
 
Every Saturday from 3-4pm
 
Stations of the Cross & Adoration 
 
Every Friday: Stations of the Cross at 7pm, Adoration from 7:30-8:30pm.
 
Holy Week Liturgies 
 
Good Friday (April 15) – 9am, Morning Prayer
Good Friday (April 15) – 3pm, Commemoration of the Lord’s Passion
Good Friday (April 15) – 7pm, Stations of the Cross
Holy Saturday (April 16) – 9am, Morning Prayer
The Great Vigil of Easter (April 16) – 8pm
Easter Sunday Masses – 7:30am, 9:30am, 11:30am
 
Sincerely,
 
Fr. Joseph Gill
Parochial Administrator, St. Jude’s Parish
Parish News
Triduum: A Spiritual Pilgrimage is a beautiful, 30-minute contemplative documentary that cinematically walks through the locations of the Holy Week story, re-presenting the most important days of human history. Immersed in the real and sacred places of the Holy Land, the pilgrim faithful are brought tangibly nearer to the story, the landscape, and the reality of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Easter Book Giveaways!

Through a generous donation from the Rauser Family, we have copies of the new book Living Joy by Chris Stefanick. Books will be available on Easter Sunday. Joy isn’t a luxury. It’s a necessity. With evidence, experience, and common sense, Chris offers you nine practical rules that will empower you to experience unspeakable joy. One book per family please. Want a sneak peek? Listen to him talk about Joy on Formed.org! Extra copies are in the Parish office for those who will not be attending Easter Mass at St. Jude's
We also have a limited number of the Easter book "Jesus is Risen" for young children. You can find them at the Family Ministry Table on Easter Sunday. One per family please.
In the Spirit of Trust

Men's Retreat
May 13-15, 2022
Holy Family Retreat Team

Our retreat theme “In the Spirit of Trust” will explore the notion of trust and how it is gained, as well as lost. We will hope to share our personal faith experiences of trusting in God’s providence and help one another to build a foundation for lasting trust in the one who created us and loves us. And in the process, we hope to become more trustworthy Christian people on the journey of faith, bringing about a world of justice and peace as members of the Body of Christ.
The retreat begins with a buffet dinner from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. on Friday evening and concludes Sunday with the celebration of Mass at 10:45 a.m. followed by a hot brunch at noon. Families of retreatants are most welcome to attend the Sunday Mass and brunch at no extra charge.

Offering: $325; more if you can, less if you can’t.

A Day to Breathe
Join us on Friday morning of your retreat weekend (any time after 9:00 a.m.), check in early, enjoy some quiet time and a nurturing lunch, and settle in before the retreat begins. Offering: $50
Divine Mercy in the Second Greatest Story Ever Told recounts how God is communicating his mercy in our day and age through the lives of saints, apparitions, and historical events from the last century. With his characteristic skill and lucid style, Fr. Michael Gaitley interweaves the dramatic history of Poland, the transformative message of St. Faustina, the miraculous appearance of Mary at Fatima, the witness of St. Maximilian Kolbe, and the world-changing papacy of Pope St. John Paul II into a tapestry of wonder and beauty. Click here to watch on Formed.org or listen to an inspiring talk! Follow this link for other great Formed Divine Mercy Resources!
The World Needs Peace. The World Needs Divine Mercy.
In the 1930's Jesus revealed to St. Faustina that He wishes to pour His mercy upon the whole world. "I do not want to punish aching mankind, but I desire to heal it, pressing it to My Merciful Heart. My daughter, tell the whole world about My inconceivable mercy. I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners. It is My desire that it be solemnly celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter. Mankind will not have peace until it turns to the Fount of My Mercy." (Diary of St Faustina)
Prepare to take full advantage of the great graces available on the Feast of Mercy for yourself, your family, and indeed the whole world.
For more information visit thedivinemercy.org
The Domingo Arribas Memorial Needs Drive

The Knights of Columbus are once again sponsoring a Needs/Food, clothing, furniture, & diapers drive on Saturday April 23, 2022 from 8AM to 10:30AM. We are happy to announce that we have now renamed the drive "The Domingo Arribas Memorial Needs Drive" to honor our Brother Knight who was instrumental in founding this event over 30 years ago. Please bring your donated items to the Monsignor Sabia Social Hall by 10:30am. All donated items will be distributed to the St Jude Pantry, Blessed Sacrament parish, the Salvation Army in Bridgeport, Hopeline, & Goodwill in Monroe. 

Although Covid 19 has dramatically lessened since our last drive, we still have certain limitations on donated items in the attached flyer (click on the button below). To minimize contact & ease of distribution, we ask that you label the contents of your donated bags & boxes in your vehicle so they can be unloaded by our volunteers. For furniture items, please bring these items directly to St Jude's on the day of the drive & we can assist with the unloading. If furniture transportation is not possible to St Jude's, we will make a limited amount of pickups only on the day of the drive. In order to minimize risks for all, please have the furniture donations in your garage or driveway for pickup. Any questions, please contact Rocky Scali, 203-767-6053 or Frank Flynn, 203-556-5016.
The  Columbiette’s Auxiliary of Saint John XXIII Knights of Columbus cordially invites you to a virtual tea party fundraiser to support our charitable works. After all masses the weekend of March 26 and 27, 2022, members of the Columbiette’s will be distributing invitations to parishioners. Each envelope includes a tea bag, a request for prayer response card and return envelope. Please write the names of your loved ones , living or deceased that you would like us to include in prayer. At the Columbiette’s May meeting we will pray a rosary and include the names of all your intentions. 

Please return the response card with your donation by May 5th. You can drop in the basket at mass, drop off at the parish office or mail to:

St Jude Columbiettes
707 Monroe Tpke 
Monroe, CT 06468
We appreciate all your support.
Family News and Updates
The April Family Newsletter is now available!
If you would like to get on the distribution list, email Jessica Iannotta
Check out the new Easter, Divine Mercy, and
April Saints of the Month Resources
available at the Family Ministry Table!
Divine Mercy Art Contest for Children & Teens
Announcing an Art Contest with Prizes! Children and teens are invited to draw, color, or paint the Divine Mercy Image as revealed to St. Faustina Kowalsa. Place your image in the basket on the Family Ministry Resource Table. For an example see here.

An age-appropriate Divine Mercy Book Prize will be granted for a winner in each category for grades K - 3, 4 - 8, and 9 - 12. Parishioners will be able to vote on the artwork the week of April 24, and winners will be announced in early May!
Save the Date: Sunday April 24th for the next Family Event!

Join us on Sunday, April 24, Divine Mercy Sunday, for the Divine Mercy Chaplet for Children before 9:30 am Mass, and a family event in the Social Hall after the 9:30 am and 11:30 am Masses.

Children will have the opportunity to make their Divine Mercy Art contest picture, learn more about the Divine Mercy Message, and enjoy some family fellowship.
Vacation Bible School is coming back to St Jude's on July 11-15 for grades K-5!

If you are an adult interested in volunteering, please fill out this form to let us know your availability and what you'd be interesting in helping out with. If you are a teen who would like to volunteer, please fill out this volunteer application.

Once we secure volunteer numbers, children's registration will begin after Easter. For more information or to add your name to the list of those interested in attending e-mail Jessica Iannotta
Camp Veritas - Best Catholic Summer Camp Ever!

Camp Veritas is a week-long sleep-away camp for teens entering grades 7-12! Held in upstate NY, this camp combines all the amazing camp activities of sports, boating, swimming, rock climbing, zip lines, and making great friends with our Catholic faith: daily Mass, Rosary, Adoration, powerful worship music, dynamic talks. Where else can you play dodgeball with nuns, or go straight from the sports field to encountering Christ in the Eucharist!

All kids in grades 6-12 are invited to register for a week of Camp Veritas! The dates are August 8-13 (for rising 10th-12th graders) or August 14-20 (for rising 7th-9th graders). Special discount - through the generosity of benefactors, all St. Jude parishioners will automatically receive a $200 discount on their registration! 

This camp is an incredible, life-changing, unforgettable week - not only the most fun you will ever have, but also the most powerful encounter with Jesus Christ. Fr. Joseph will be there - hope to see our St. Jude's youth there as well!

For more information or to register, please visit www.campveritas.org . Want to see the camp in action? Check out their promo video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KKDGyNTQGM . Any questions, feel free to contact Fr. Joseph.
Encounter Christ this Easter by Eliminating Noise this Lent
Set an example for your brothers and sisters of faith. Be a disciple throughout Lent to reinvigorate the Church’s evangelical mission during Easter. Pray to encounter Christ in a profound way this Easter. Fast from worldly distractions – eliminate secular TV & radio and non-critical internet and mobile phone usage. Give financial support to your parish, start or join a bible study, forgive someone, and ask for someone’s forgiveness.
Listen to Veritas Catholic Network throughout Lent – 1350 AM; 103.9 FM; and on the app (https://www.veritascatholic.com/listen or scan the nearby QR code to get the app). Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the Veritas Lenten Challenge.

To all women of the parish...you are invited to a Feminine Genius Brunch on Divine Mercy Saturday, April 23rd at 9:30 a.m. at The Italian Center in Stamford, CT. This brunch borrows its name after those amazing God-given attributes endowed to you as women—receptivity, sensitivity, generosity, and maternity—all of which make up the feminine genius!! In addition to a lovely brunch at a beautiful location, Sr. Virginia Joy, a Sister of Life, will give a talk on Mercy, Love’s Second Name. A special Mass for women will be celebrated by Bishop Caggiano before the event at 8:30 a.m. at St. Cecilia Church, 1184 Newfield Ave., Stamford, CT.

Come discover God’s plan for your ultimate flourishing! Invite a friend, mother, or daughter (in-law)!

RSVP by April 19th, at www.feminine-genius-brunch-ct.eventbrite.com 
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.
Please remember in your daily prayers:

Marge Tranzillo, Judy-Beth Raine, Maria Bertone, Deacon Ronnie Bicknell, Marie Micholovich, Joseph Bisignano, Sr., Vincent Daniello, Dyana vander Wielen, Martha Zenobia, Joe Pinto, Ray Schwartz, Daniel Louis Bianco, Zoey Frigo, Koswenda Family, Max, Hung Vu, Alfred Zawadski, Michael Serke, Kristen Kelly, Leroy Moye, Judy Thomas, Dr. John Kezel, Rich Carrano, Joseph Sheridan, Catherine Belanger, Janice Moran, Francesca Testa & family, Stephen Henn, and Robert Orol.

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.
Monthly Parish Petition
Please join us in praying our Monthly Parish Intention. 

Our Petition for April is:

May we use the remaining days of Lent to prepare our hearts and souls for the Glorious Feasts of the Resurrection of Our Lord, and His gift of Divine Mercy Sunday...

We pray to the Lord 
Upcoming Mass Intentions
 
Sat   Apr 16     8:00pm               St Jude Parishioners
 
Sun  Apr17      7:30am               Deceased members of the Cole and
                                                         Vill families
 
Sun Apr 17      9:30am               Tony Calise
 
Sun  Apr 17     11:30am             Elvira Ferreira
 
Mon Apr 18      9:00am               Bill Thibodeau
 
Tue  Apr 19      9:00am               Margaret Oakley
 
Wed Apr 20      9:00am               Mary Dunne
                                                                                     
Thu  Apr 21      9:00am               John Rauser       
 
Sat   Apr 23      4:00pm               Luis and Elvira Ferreira
 
Sun  Apr 24     7:30am               St Jude Parishioners
 
Sun Apr 24      9:30am               Robert Kilpatrick, Jr.
 
Sun  Apr 24      11:30am             John J. Tuccio
 
The Tabernacle Candle will burn in memory of Jennifer Cannon during the month of April.

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.
Mass Schedule
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 4:00 pm and Sunday at 7:30, 9:30 and 11:30. Only the Saturday Mass at 4:00 pm and the Sunday 7:30 am Mass are live streamed.

(Live-streamed Masses may be viewed at https://www.stjuderc.org/view-masses.html )





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.
Divine Mercy Chaplet

Wednesdays at 3 pm in the Church

"Jesus we Trust in You"

Flame of Love Rosary

Thursday mornings after 9 am Mass

"Spread the effect of grace of thy Flame of Love over all of humanity"

St. Jude Religious Gift Shop
St. Jude Religious Gift Shop is located downstairs in the Msgr. Sabia Social Hall. Fr. Joseph's Books and CD's are available in the Gift Shop. Also new items: New Easter Cards, Communion & Confirmation gifts, statues, rosaries and more. Come and browse. Call Fran Cambra 203-261-2573 or Parish Office 203-261 6404
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.  
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. 
St Jude Parish
707 Monroe Tpke
Monroe, CT 06468
203-261-6404