Many of us have been closely following the tragic war between Russia and Ukraine. For someone of my age, it’s probably the most serious world conflict that I’ve ever lived through – in addition to being the first major conflict to occur in our social-media fueled, 24/7 news-cycle era. The atrocities and horror seems closer-to-home, at least for me.
On October 4, 1965, Pope St. Paul VI became the first pope to ever address the United Nations. In his famous speech, he cried out: “No more war! War never again!” Going further back, St. Augustine said that “war is the result of sin” – the murderous division between peoples traces itself all the way back to Cain and Abel.
But according to Catholic moral theology, it is also acceptable to fight back, in self-defense, when an aggressor threatens your well-being. This is true as an individual – and as a nation. St. Thomas Aquinas outlined six criteria for when a war is justified:
- It must have a just cause (such as defense of one’s homeland or people against a violent oppressor).
- It must be declared by a competent authority (you can’t start a just war against your neighbor).
- It must be waged in self-defense (it is always unjust to attack first).
- All other means of resolution must have been tried first (such as peace talks, treaties, and negotiations).
- There must be a chance of success.
- One must not use more force than necessary to neutralize the aggressor (for example, if someone is burglarizing your house, it would be better to stun him with mace than kill him).
I think most people would regard Ukraine’s defense of its homeland to be very justified and moral, as it meets all six criteria for a just war.
Even in war, though, it isn’t a free-for-all. One is still forbidden to torture enemies, attack civilians, or wantonly destroy non-military targets. Unfortunately it seems that Russia has ignored this, as evidence is mounting that civilians are being harmed in this conflict.
Amidst such a tragedy, what can we do? Certainly prayer is the first and foremost task of any Christian – prayer can change the outcome of a war, as it did in the Battle of Lepanto (which I wrote about a few months ago). Many have felt moved to contribute financially to humanitarian aid which is being brought into Ukraine. Some have felt inspired by God to physically travel to Ukraine to fight or provide help, such as the famous Catholic podcaster Matt Fradd who is currently in Poland to assist refugees and orphans.
Let us pray that this war quickly comes to a just and peaceful end!
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St. Jude Parish Lenten Services and Programs |
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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:
Lenten Mission: March 19-22
We are blessed to have with us Sr. Megan Thibodeau, SOLT (Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity), who is the daughter of longtime parishioner Bonnie Thibodeau, for our Lenten Mission! She will be giving dynamic talks, we will offer Confessions
Weekend of March 19-20 – Sr. Megan will speak at all the Masses
Sunday, March 20 – Sr. Megan will give her first talk, with a Rosary, at 7pm
Monday, March 21 – 9:30am, Sr. Megan will give her second talk
Monday, March 21 – 7pm, Sr. Megan will give her second talk with Confessions available
Tuesday, March 22 – 9:30am, Sr. Megan will give her third talk
Tuesday, March 22 – 7pm, Sr. Megan will give her third talk with Adoration
Confessions Available:
Every Saturday from 3-4pm
Monday, March 21 at 7pm (in conjunction with our Lenten Mission) – Guest Priests will be available
Sat/Sun, March 26-27 – Confession Weekend (Confessions available before & after all Masses)
Monday, April 11 – Holy Week Confessions from 3-9pm (at various parishes in the Diocese - consult www.diobpt.org for details)
Stations of the Cross & Adoration
Every Friday: Stations of the Cross at 7pm, Adoration from 7:30-8:30pm.
Holy Week Liturgies
Holy Thursday (April 14) – 7:30pm, Mass of the Lord’s Supper
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
Martyrs Relics Presentation
Did you know that there were more people killed for their faith in Christ in the twentieth century than in all the other centuries combined? About ten years ago, Carol Pinard, a parishioner at Holy Spirit parish in Stamford, felt called by God to study and investigate the 20th Century martyrs to learn more about their lives. Over the course of several years, she has collected hundreds of different relics and stories of martyrs from across the globe – from little-known saints like Bl. Stanley Rother to well-known heroes like St. Oscar Romero. She even has one of only a dozen relics of St. Maximilian Kolbe, the Polish priest who gave up his life for his fellow man in Auschwitz. Carol is coming to St. Jude’s to give us a presentation on these relics on the weekend of April 2 & 3 after all the Masses – please come and join us in the Social Hall after Mass to see and venerate these relics, and hear the amazing stories of those who gave it all for Christ!
For Youth
Youth Encounters for kids in grades 6-12 during Lent are March 11th and April 1st – 7-9pm in the Social Hall. All are invited! All youth are also invited to watch “The Passion of the Christ” movie on Sunday, March 27 at 5:30pm. Pizza will be provided!
Sincerely,
Fr. Joseph Gill
Parochial Administrator, St. Jude’s Parish
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The Inaugural St. Jude’s Family Newsletter is now available!
The Family Newsletter can be found on the Parish website’s parish bulletin page (see link below). It will be e-mailed monthly to all Religious Education Families. If you do not have a child in Religious Education but would like to be added to the e-mail list, please e-mail Jessica Iannotta at Jessica.iannotta@stjuderc.com
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PRO-LIFE
As we continue to pray for an end to Abortion, may we always be mindful of our responsibility to pray for a Culture for Life from CONCEPTION until NATURAL DEATH.
Conn. Catholic Public Affairs Conference launches a NEW Website OPPOSING Physician Assisted Suicide:
You can find additional info on Connecticut Catholic Public Affairs Conference on Twitter or Facebook.
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Join us for the Connecticut March for Life 3/23/2022 |
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Bus transportation locations are available throughout the Diocese.
For info and to Register visit:
SCHEDULE: Speakers begin at noon at the Capitol. March immediately following in area surrounding the Capitol.
Buses will be dropped off in Hartford approximately 11:30 a.m., pickup scheduled for 2:15 p.m.
PLEASE NOTE: We hope and pray to have our own Parishioners participating in the March. Carpools are also a possibility for us. Contact Karin Tierney, kjt1046@att.net, for additional information.
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As we prepare as a parish family for our upcoming Lenten Mission, please begin to pray that it will bring much fruit to St. Jude! Please feel free to use the following prayer. Copies will be also be available in the church beginning this weekend.
Prayer for St. Jude Parish Lenten Mission
March 20 – 22, 2022
We praise you, Almighty Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We give you thanks for all the blessings and graces you have given us. We especially thank you for the gift of our parish, St. Jude. We ask you to watch over us and draw us closer to you. We pray that we continue to grow as a community of faith in love and always place you as the center of our lives.
We humbly ask your blessings upon our upcoming Parish Lenten Mission. May it be a time of renewal and refreshment for our entire parish; may it be a time of prayer and reflection; and may it be a time to come together in Your Holy name.
We pray protection over Sr. Megan Mary, who will lead us in our Mission and we ask you to bless all the good works of her Community, the Society of Our Lady of the Trinity. May we be inspired by Sr. Megan Mary’s words of faith, hope and love!
We ask our Blessed Mother to cover our parish with her mantle of love and protection and to always lead us to her Son.
We thank you in expectation that our Parish Lenten Mission will bear much fruit and bring honor and glory to you.
We ask all these things in the Name of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
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LENTEN MISSION GREETERS NEEDED
Our Lenten Mission will be held March 20-22. In advance, we are hoping to have greeters at each of the masses beginning the weekend of March 5-6, and the 12th-13th to hand our reminder cards regarding the Mission as well as greet incoming visitors and parishioners. There will also be a need for Mission greeters the weekend of March 19-20th before and after masses as well as the evening of the 20th, and on the 21st and 22nd of March in the morning at at the evening sessions.
Please consider giving just ten minutes of your time to help greet your fellow parishioners and visitors by signing up at the Sign Up Genius link below. If you have questions, please contact Diane Ganser at dlganser@yahoo.com
Thank you so much, The Lenten Mission Committee
To volunteer,
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Lenten Craft with Hospitality this Sunday |
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Join us in the Social Hall after 9:30 am and 11:30 am Mass for a Lenten craft for children and teens to make sacrifice chaplet beads. Coffee, tea and juices will be available. |
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Resources for Children and Families
A variety of books for young children are now available in the back chapel to be borrowed during Mass. Please return to the basket after use.
Check out the new Family Ministry Resource Table, next to the St. Anthony statue in the church foyer. You will find seasonal activities, handouts, and resources for children and families. Just added: Confession Guide for Children and Prayer Bookmarks for St. Patrick and St. Joseph's Day. Don't forget to add to our Children's Lenten Sacrifice Jar!
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Save the Date!
St Jude's Mom's Group Kick off Meeting Thursday April 28th in the evening in the Social Hall. More details to follow! To RSVP fill out this quick form.
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Food Pantry Update
Preparations are in process for our Easter distribution. At this time the pantry is in need of pancake mix, pancake syrup, jelly, jarred pasta sauce, condiments of any kind, and coffee. These items are needed as demand/participation in our Easter pack is traditionally high. Supporting the pantry is a wonderful opportunity to fulfill one of the three pillars of our Lenten observance of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Your continued support and generosity are very much appreciated.
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The Knights of Columbus will be taking orders for Palm Crosses during Lent. Knights will be at all masses on the following weekends to take orders:
3/5-6, 3/12-13, 3/19-20 & 3/26-27.
The Palm Crosses will be available for pick up after all the masses on Palm Sunday weekend, 4/9-10, in the social hall.
Proceeds will go to the Msgr. John Sabia Scholarship Fund which supports a St. Jude child attending Trinity Academy.
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Ladies, do you desire to live in greater freedom? Are you longing for an authentic encounter with your true feminine identity? Join us for the Undone Women’s Conference where you will experience a weekend of truth, beauty and transformation, as the knots of Eve’s disobedience are “undone” through Mary’s model of radical receptivity.
Bring yourself, your mother, your sister, your adult daughters, and friends. This is a weekend you won’t want to miss!
Undone: Freedom for the Feminine Heart will be held at St. Pius X Parish in Fairfield, CT March 31 – April 2, 2022. This event is being offered in person OR virtually via livestream! Register online for either experience at www.jpiihealingcenter.org. Scholarships, student, and missionary discounts available.
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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.
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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
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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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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, Jamie Addesa, Alfred Zawadski, Michael Serke, Kristen Kelly, Leroy Moye, Judy Thomas, Dr. John Kezel, Rich Carrano, Joseph Sheridan and Francesca Testa & family
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 in praying our Monthly Parish Intention.
Our Petition for March is:
Lord, send forth Your Spirit and renew the
face of this troubled, fallen world...
We pray to the Lord
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Upcoming Mass Intentions
Sat Mar 12 4:00pm Deceased members of the Carlson
and DelMastro family
Sun Mar 13 7:30am St. Jude Parishioners
Sun Mar 13 9:30am Ljubo and Grgo Baljak
Sun Mar 13 11:30am Agnes Dubyoski
Mon Mar 14 9:00am Connie Massaro
Tue Mar 15 9:00am Marjorie Hill
Wed Mar 16 9:00am Deceased members of the
Cunningham Family
Thu Mar 17 9:00am James Tierney, Sr.
Sat Mar 19 4:00pm John Koch
Sun Mar 20 7:30am Patty Eng
Sun Mar 20 9:30am St. Jude Parishioners
Sun Mar 20 11:30am Louis Regina, Jr.
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 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.
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First Saturday Rosary and Mass
Join us Saturday, March 5, 2022
The First Saturday Devotion began when
Mary explained the devotion to Lucia at Fatima, in reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The devotion includes:
· Confession (shortly before or after the First Saturday)
· Holy Communion received on the First Saturday of each month
· The Holy Rosary, five decades recited sometime during the day; and
· Meditating for 15 minutes on the Mysteries of the Rosary (one or more)
We will gather in the church for recitation of the rosary at 8am with mass following at 8:30am. The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be available following mass for those that wish to partake.
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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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St. Jude Religious Gift Shop |
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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: St. Patrick's and St. Joseph's Cards, Communion, Confirmation, statues and more. Come in and browse.
For more info call: Parish Office - 203-261-6404 or call Fran Cambra - 203-261-2573.
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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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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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