If you speak any other Romance language (like Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French, etc), you will notice that the word for “Lent” involves some sort of reference to 40 (for example, it is “Cuaresma” in Spanish or “Quaresima” in Italian, all deriving from the word for “Forty”). But in English, the word “Lent” has a completely different origin. It comes from the Old English “lengten” meaning Spring or Springtime (from which we get the word “lengthen”, referring to the lengthening of days during the Spring).
Even Easter is connected to Spring. Romance language words for Easter (such as Spanish “Pascua” or Italian “Pasqua”) have their origins in the old Hebrew word for the Feast of Passover (“Pesach” in Hebrew) – hence, we call Jesus’ Death and Resurrection the “Paschal Mystery” because it is our spiritual Passover from death to life. But the word “Easter” comes from an early pre-Christian German word for the goddess of spring.
I think these etymologies are fascinating, because what is happening in the natural realm is a sign and symbol of what truly occurs in the spiritual realm through Lent and Easter. For months, the world has grown cold, snowy, frozen, and seemingly dead. The birds were silent, frost encrusted the ground, the trees were bare…but now, the world is bursting back into life. The crocuses are blooming, the birds have returned, and warm breezes caress the land. This annual cycle of death and rebirth mirrors the annual remembrance of Christ’s death and rebirth. God gives us the natural world to visually and sensorily show us what happened two thousand years ago in His death and Resurrection – and what happens to our souls through the Sacraments of Baptism and Confession which take a dead soul and raise it back to life. What a gift that we can reflect on it – and experience it! – every year.
Speaking of springtime, Pope John Paul II, in his letter for the year 2000, wrote that he hoped for a “New Springtime” of the Church. In many respects it seems like the Church is sleeping, dormant, or dead. But we who have the eyes of faith know that the Church will experience a resurrection, as a new Springtime comes upon the Church – not through our efforts, but through the Breath of the Holy Spirit breathing upon Her.
One of the ways in which this “New Springtime” has been demonstrated in the past century is through the martyrs. An early Church Father, Tertullian, famously said, “The blood of martyrs is the seed of Christians.” Did you know that there have been more martyrs in the 20th Century than in all other centuries combined? I think of St. Maximilian Kolbe, who suffered death in Auschwitz; St. Oscar Romero from El Salvador who preached against the Communist guerillas and lost his life for it; Bl. Kizito from Uganda who died rather than renounce his faith; St. Jose Sanchez del Rio, a fourteen-year-old boy who died at the hands of the atheistic Mexican government with the cry of “Vivo Christo Rey!” on his lips…St. Anna Wang, who died along with thousands of her fellow countrymen in China when the Communists took over in 1920…and hundreds of thousands of others who suffered for their belief in Jesus Christ. This weekend, we have the blessing of hosting Carol Pinard, an expert on 20th Century Martyrs, who will give a presentation after each Mass in the Social Hall, telling the stories of these heroic men and women, boys and girls, who paid the ultimate price for Christ. Please come and learn more about how these great saints courageously stood strong for Jesus Christ! I pray that their sacrifices will bring about that “New Springtime” of faith that Pope St. John Paul II so earnestly prayed for!
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Bishop Caggiano Coming to St. Jude's!
We are very blessed to have our Bishop coming to celebrate Palm Sunday Mass at 9:30am on April 10th. All are welcome to celebrate with him that day!
Annual Bishop's Appeal Goal Reached!
I am happy to report that our ABA goal for 2022 has officially been reached! We are over 100% of our goal, thanks to your generosity. Praise God! You have been so kind in supporting the charitable works of the diocese - feeding the poor, providing scholarships to needy children, and supporting parishes and evangelization initiatives. Anything above and beyond our goal stays here at St. Jude's for our ministries and capital needs, so please continue to be generous if you have not yet given!
The Blessing of the Food for Easter will be held after our 9am morning prayer on Holy Saturday in the Social Hall.
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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:
Confessions Available:
Every Saturday from 3-4pm
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 is 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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Fr. Joseph and the cast of Restless
will be providing live music for this event!
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PRO-LIFE PRAYER VIGIL
Please join St. Jude Pro-life Ministry on Sunday, April 3rd from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. for Prayer Vigil as St. Jude Parish continues to witness to the sanctity of life and the evil of abortions in front of Planned Parenthood, at Commerce Park, Main Street, Bridgeport.
For additional information, please contact Karin Tierney, email: kjt1046@att.net
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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."
Prepare to take full advantage of the great graces available on the Feast of Mercy for yourself, your family, and indeed the whole world.
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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.
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Save the Date!
St Jude's Mom's Group Kick off Meeting Thursday April 28th at 7 pm in the Social Hall. Email Jessica Iannotta for more information and to get on the e-mail list.
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Vacation Bible School is coming back to St Jude's on July 11-15 for grades K-5!
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
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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.
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Saint Jude Parish
We Stand With Christ Campaign Redemption Update
Total Pledged:
$740,540.54
Total Collected (As of 3/21/22):
$400,651.08 (54%)
or call 203-648-9050.
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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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Regina Caeli Academy
Come join our exciting mission to form the next generation of Catholics! Regina Caeli Academy (www.rcahybrid.org) provides a university-style hybrid™ education in the Catholic tradition. Pre K3 - 12th grade students attend Socratic classes two days a week and homeschool on the remaining days. Lesson plans are provided and optimized for in-home education.
Touring Event: Monday, April 4 at 10 A.M.
Events include a tour, classroom observation, and Q&A!
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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, Catherine Belanger, 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 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
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Upcoming Mass Intentions
Sat Apr 2 8:00am Monsignor Robert Roh
Sat Apr 2 4:00pm Luis and Elvira Ferreira
Sun Apr 3 7:30am Mildred Brenna Yorke
Sun Apr 3 9:30am Alex Skultety
Sun Apr 3 11:30am St Jude Parishioners
Mon Apr 4 9:00am Josephine Provenzano
Tue Apr 5 9:00am Irena Kossowski
Wed Apr 6 9:00am Vincent Capoccitti
Thu Apr 7 9:00am Florence Olivia
Sat Apr 9 4:00pm Luigi Paniccia
Sun Apr10 7:30am St Jude Parishioners
Sun Apr 10 9:30am Mary Jordano
Sun Apr 10 11:30am Maria Emilia Monteiro
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.
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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 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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Divine Mercy Chaplet
Wednesdays at 3 pm in the Church
"Jesus we Trust in You"
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Flame of Love Rosary
Thursday mornings after 9 am Mass
"Spread the effect of grace of thy Flame of Love over all of humanity"
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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: 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 |
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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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