Welcome to the Summer

St. Jude's Family Newsletter!

Welcome to the summer issue of the St. Jude's Family Newsletter! We hope that you are having a restful summer and enjoying some quality family time. This mid-summer issue of the St. Jude's Family Newsletter will offer some ways to stay engaged with our parish community through fellowship, fun, and faith inspired activities! This month we look forward to our annual Parish Festival. In addition, religious education registration is now open so be sure to sign up!

Important Upcoming Dates:

Wednesday, August 3: Mom's Group Zoom Rosary

9:00 pm (e-mail Jessica Iannotta for link)

Friday, August 5: First Friday Adoration

7:00 pm

Saturday August 6: Feast of the Transfiguration

Learn more on Formed.org 

*NO FIRST SATURDAY 8 AM ROSARY/MASS THIS MONTH*

Sunday, August 7: Children's Rosary

after 9:30 am Mass by the Blessed Mother Statue *NOTE EARLIER TIME

Monday, August 8: Youth Group Summer Sports & Scripture

6:30 - 8:00 pm

Friday, August 12: Family Movie Night

7:00 pm Social Hall Movie: Camp Cool Kids

Saturday, August 13-Sunday, August 14: Bl. Michael McGivney Relic at all Masses

Monday, August 15: Youth Group Summer Sports & Scripture

6:30 - 8:00 pm

Monday, August 22: Youth Group Summer Sports & Scripture

6:30 - 8:00 pm

Tuesday, August 23: Youth Group Service Day at Merton Center

Begin with Mass at 9:00 am at St Jude's followed by volunteering at Merton Center until 2:00 pm 

Wednesday, August 24 - Saturday, August 27: Parish Festival 

6:00 pm - 10:00 pm (starts at 5:00 pm on Saturday 8/27)

sign up to volunteer in the church vestibule

Saturday, August 27 - Sunday, August 28: Blessing of the Backpacks at all Masses

Wednesday August 31: Mom's Group Meeting

7:00 pm Social Hall

Save the Date in September...

Sunday September 25: Parish Softball Game against St Stephens

2:00 pm - Baseball fields at Great Hollow Lake.  (e-mail Jessica Iannotta if you would like to participate). Optional practice day - Sunday 9/11

Join us on Friday, August 12 at 7 pm in the Social Hall for our family movie - Camp Cool Kids. Snacks, popcorn, and juice will be provided. Bring a blanket if your children would enjoy watching "picnic style" in the center of the hall.

Formed Family Challenge!

Are you up for a challenge? The deadline is approaching for the Formed Family Challenge! We challenge you to replace device and TV time with engaging, Faith-inspired content on Formed.org! Record your Formed use for each family member and e-mail to Jessica Iannotta by September 6 to be part of a special recognition event! Check out some seasonal Formed resources below:

Catholic Family Summer Bucket List Challenge!

We encourage you to create your own Catholic family summer bucket list to keep you and your family engaged in our faith this summer. Here are some ideas to create your own family bucket list! Families who e-mail Jessica Iannotta with a completed bucket list of 5 items or more will win a prize at the end of the summer!

• Read the Bible together as a family
• Say the Rosary or Divine Mercy Chaplet as a family
• Attend Adoration together as a family
• Learn about and begin the First Friday or First Saturday Devotion as a family
• Visit a local Shrine
• Participate in the Formed Family Challenge
• Pray for deceased family members 
• Volunteer your time and perform an act of service as a family 
• Attend or help out with Vacation Bible School
• Attend Mass at a new Church that you've never been to
• Invite a new family to attend Church with you
• Watch a faith-inspired movie as a family (Check out Formed.org)
• Read a Catholic book 
• Consecrate your family to the Holy Family

Coming this Fall - St Jude's Kids Club!

Would your child like to be part of our new St Jude's Kid's Club? 

It will be a junior version of our youth group geared toward elementary aged children. The group will launch this Fall and more details will be announced soon. 

Adult and teen volunteers are needed!

If you are interested in volunteering or having your child be a part of the group, e-mail Jessica Iannotta for more information.

Celebrate the Marian Feast Days of August

August 15 ~ Solemnity of the Assumption

August 22 ~ Queenship of Mary

August 26 ~ Our Lady of Czestochowa

~ Our Lady, Pray for Us ~

drawing credit: Alina Kaufman, founding Children's Rosary member in West Hartford, CT

Blessing of the Backpacks during Masses on 8/27-8/28

Youth are invited to bring their backpacks to all Masses the weekend of August 27-28.

Fr. Joseph will be blessing the backpacks.

Backpack prayer cards will be available to attach to backpacks for the start of the school year. 

Volunteer Opportunities for Adults and Teens

• Summer service day at Merton Center - August 23
• Volunteer to help at Parish Festival - August 24-27

E-mail Jessica Iannotta for more information

Saints of the Month

Feast of St. John Vianney - August 4

Feast of St. Clare of Assisi - August 11

Feast of St. Philomena - August 11

Feast of St. Maximillian Kolbe - August 14

Children are welcome to take prayer bookmarks and handouts when available on the Family Ministry Resource table.  

• Watch My Catholic Family on EWTN
• Learn about St Philomena on Formed.org
• Watch Lukas: Storyteller on Saint Maximillian Kolbe on Formed.org
• Read The Mystery at Midnight by Lisa M. Hendry on Formed.org

LOOK OUT FOR SOME UPCOMING SAINT TRIVIA IN THE NEXT NEWSLETTER!

Mom's Group Announcements!

St. Jude's Mom's Group Kickoff Meeting Recap is available on the parish website. Contact Jessica Iannotta for more information and click here to register for the group contact list.

Next meeting Wednesday 8/31 at 7 pm in the social hall to finish our summer book club on Living Joy by Chris Stefanick. To join our monthly mother's Zoom rosary, on the 1st Wednesday of each month at 9 pm, e-mail Jessica Iannotta. Next Rosary - Wednesday 8/3 at 9 pm.

Be on the lookout for our announcements for our Fall Board and Brush Event!

We are looking to form St. Jude Parish Family Prayer Teams!

Do you have a family or two that you would like to form a team with? You can decide your prayer focus - will it be First Saturday Rosary or perhaps praying for vocations? Would you consider dedicating your family prayer mission to praying for the unborn? We have plenty of inspiration all around us so you can see what the Holy Spirit may be calling you to!

If you would like to get involved, e-mail Jessica Iannotta for more information!

drawing credit: Alina Kaufman, founding Children's Rosary member in West Hartford, CT