A Message from Father Henry |
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Fellow St Jude Parishioners:
In a series of revelations to St. Maria Faustina Kowalska in the 1930s, our Lord called for a special feast day to be celebrated on the Sunday after Easter. Today, we know that feast as Divine Mercy Sunday, named by Blessed John Paul II at the canonization of St. Faustina on April 30, 2000. So we celebrate Divine Mercy this Sunday.
The message is, as the name indicates, one of Divine Mercy. God loves us – all of us. And he wants us to recognize that His mercy is greater than our sins. With that promise in mind, we call upon Him with trust, receive His mercy, and let it flow through us to others. Thus, all will come to share His joy.
The Divine Mercy message is one we can call to mind simply by remembering ABC:
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A - Ask for His Mercy. God wants us to approach Him in prayer constantly, repenting of our sins and asking Him to pour His mercy out upon us and upon the whole world.
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B - Be merciful. God wants us to receive His mercy and let it flow through us to others. He wants us to extend love and forgiveness to others just as He does to us.
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C - Completely trust in Jesus. God wants us to know that the graces of His mercy are dependent upon our trust. The more we trust in Jesus, the more we will receive.
It is all about the mercy of God, trusting in Jesus, and living our lives in a way which shows mercy to others, as Jesus showed his mercy to us.
“Pass on the fire of Jesus’ merciful love,” writes our Holy Father Pope Francis. “Be for everyone a sign of His presence among you.”
As many of you know from your own visits, the National Shrine of Divine Mercy is located in Stockbridge, MA, not a far drive from our own Church. It is a place of great peace and tranquility.
Yours in the Mercy of Jesus,
Fr Henry
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As of April 8th, St Jude Parish has pledged $118,472 against our Annual Catholic Appeal goal of $84,600!! Thank you to all for your generous pledges and gifts supporting the many needs of the Diocese!!
Since we have already attained our goal, all additional gifts and pledges will be split between supporting Fr. Skip's efforts at Blessed Sacrament and Faith Formation programs here at St. Jude.
Many thanks for your continuing generosity and may God bless you all!
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A few weeks ago we, the St Jude Annual Catholic Appeal Team, asked you to “Love thy neighbor” through your donations to the Annual Catholic Appeal.
To love:
Our youth neighbors
Our religious neighbors
Our neighbors in need
Our less-well-off parish neighbors
We told you that we had a Diocesan ACA goal of $84,600. We noted that any amounts pledged above that goal, any “overage”, would be split between St. Jude and Blessed Sacrament in Bridgeport.
The St. Jude ACA Team want you to know that you have truly “loved thy neighbor”.
We are pleased to announce that through your generosity St. Jude Parish has exceeded our Diocesan goal. As of April 8, we have received pledges totaling $118,472!
The St. Jude ACA Team congratulates you, the parishioners, for what you have done.
Praise God and God Bless You!
All of this was achieved through pledges from approximately 230 donors and is a truly remarkable accomplishment.
We know not everyone acts at the same pace. Some of you may have not yet pledged, and are still prayerfully considering doing so. For that reason we are going to “keep the pledge window” open for a while to give you the opportunity to pledge. Know that because we have reached the Diocesan goal, these pledges will be beneficial to your more local “neighbors”. Half of the overage is going to our St. Jude Parish for the Youth and Adult Formation Ministries, and half is going to Blessed Sacrament our “sister’ parish.
We know that the amount you pledge is a very personal decision. No pledge is too small. The pledge process accommodates one time pledges or monthly pledge amounts for a period of up to 10 months.
A little bit every month helps a lot. Just imagine 100 additional donors pledging $15 per month for 10 months, $150 per donor, adds $15,000 to directly help St. Jude and Blessed Sacrament.
Again: CONGRATULATIONS for reaching the Diocesan St. Jude ACA goal.
You are a wonderfully compassionate parish.
God Bless You,
The St Jude ACA Team
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We are hopeful that 100% of our registered households will respond to the 2021 Annual Catholic Appeal. While the level of sacrifice will differ from parishioner to parishioner, an Appeal gift this year is within the reach of the majority of our people. Please prayerfully consider supporting the Annual Catholic Appeal with a pledge or one-time gift as your means allow. Your support is much needed and will be greatly appreciated! |
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FEMA Funeral assistance program for COVID related...
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) program is providing financial assistance of up to $9,000 for COVID-19 related funeral expenses incurred between January 20, 2020 and December 31, 2020. To be eligible for the assistance, you need to ...
Read more
www.bridgeportdiocese.org
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2021 Messages of Divine Mercy
A Program with Relics of St. Faustyna Kowalska
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A Unique program for Divine Mercy - RESERVE THE DATE and invite your friends to this special event to venerate the Relics of St. Faustyna and the Relic of the TrueCross. St Jude Parish will host a special event with 3 Relics of St. Faustyna Kowalska on Divine Mercy Sunday, April 11 at 2:00 PM.
We encourage you to attend to take advantage of this special opportunity to venerate these holy relics and participate in a program that allows you to engage in a unique series of meditations on Divine Mercy. This program features Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, recitation of the Divine Mercy Chaplet, accompanying music, meditations from St. Faustyna’s Diary and veneration of holy relics that are sure to touch your heart and connect you with the defining essence of Divine Mercy.
St. Jude Church is located at 707 Monroe Turnpike, Monroe CT.
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WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS |
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Together let us pray on April 25th the Marian Prayer for Vocations so that hearts and minds of men and women be open to the vocation to which the Lord is calling them.
O Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus, and Mother of the Church, to you we commend our young people, in particular those called to closely follow your Son as brothers, sisters, deacons and priests.
You know, O Mary, the difficulties, the struggles, doubts, and obstacles they must face. Assist them to answer "yes" to the divine call, as you did at the invitation of the angel.
Draw them near to your heart so that they can understand the beauty and the joy that awaits them when they answer your Son’s call to be witnesses of His love in the world.
Amen.
The Serra Club of Bridgeport
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Group Zoom Study for Consecration to St. Joseph
to celebrate the Year of St. Joseph
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Pope Francis has given the Universal Church a gift in proclaiming this year, a year of St. Joseph. The Church and the entire world needs the intercession of St. Joseph!
If you are interested in learning more about St. Joseph, his role in the Church, and powerful intercession that every Catholic should know, please join us for this Consecration Group Study.
This is a 33 day long preparation for Consecration to St. Joseph. Each day, you will read a few pages from the Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC book Consecration to St. Joseph – The Wonders of Our Spiritual Father. This book can be found anywhere books are sold. The link to Amazon and The Marians of the Immaculate Conception sites are below.
We will meet Friday mornings via Zoom from 9:30am to 11am to discuss the study questions in the book. Even if you have never participated in a group study, please consider joining us. No experience necessary! The group aspect of the Consecration is a time to share and learn with fellow parishioners. If there is enough interest, an evening Zoom group will be added.
Even if you can’t join us on Zoom, please consider giving yourself the gift of reading this book! Your faith and love of St. Joseph will be changed for the better!
The start date for the Consecration will be April 11th, which is Divine Mercy Sunday, or the Sunday following Easter. We will prepare for 33 days to Consecrate ourselves to St. Joseph on May 13, The Feast of Our Lady of Fatima.
Zoom meetings will begin on Friday, April 9 and will meet for six Fridays until May 14th. You do not need to attend every session to join us.
If you have any questions and to register, please contact Mary Beth Rauser at
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Coming Soon: St. Jude Movie Nights! |
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Back By Popular Demand
Outdoor Movie Nights
Disney's Soul and Night At The Museum
Friday May 14th and Saturday May 15th
We are so pleased to announce the return of St. Jude's Outdoor Movie Nights
So save the dates!
On Friday, May 14th bring your family and friends to enjoy the heartwarming Disney movie Soul.
On Saturday, we'll be showing the popular Ben Stiller movie
Night At The Museum.
An added treat this year will be JMG Music! Starting at 6:00,
JMG will provide music during dinner.
So come with your appetite and your lawn chairs and enjoy dinner, music, and a movie with your St. Jude family and friends!
Donations appreciated. No registration required.
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Please join us on April 10th at 10:00 A.M. in the Social Hall for a brief presentation by Mary Sekerak, RN, BSN, on using our new Automated External Defibrillator located in the Church lobby next to the Restroom.
It will be very helpful to have many people comfortable with the use and benefits of the AED as it truly is a life-saving device.
This does NOT include CPR and no prior medical knowledge is required.
As we can only accommodate 25 people, please register by contacting
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Food Pantry
We have successfully completed our Easter distribution of perishable and non-perishable items to our pantry families. Of course, this would not have been possible without the support of the St. Jude community from near and far. Our focus now turns to replenishing some of our more staple goods especially: coffee, tea, jarred pasta sauce, canned corn, canned peas and as always boxed children's cereal. Thank you again for your continued generosity and support of our ministry.
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Knights of Columbus Needs Drive
Saturday, April 17
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The Knights of Columbus are sponsoring a Needs Drive on Saturday, April 17 from 8AM to 10:30AM. Donated items will be distributed to St Jude Food Pantry, Bridgeport Rescue Mission, Blessed Sacrament Parish, Change Ministry, & Hopeline.
Because of the Covid virus, we are only accepting items listed in the flyer. 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 & can be unloaded by our volunteers.
A note on FURNITURE... we are hoping that most parishioners can bring these donations directly to St. Jude's on the day of the drive. If assistance is required to unload the 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 pick ups to minimize risks.
Questions, please contact Rocky Scali, 203-767-6053 or Frank Flynn, 203-556-5016.
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The Parish Council wants you!
The Parish Council is looking for some new members. The Parish Council acts as an advisory council for the Pastor and Deacons and helps the overall outreach of St. Jude Parish. The new Pastoral year starts on July 1st and we would like to have new members. Please contact Rich Lane at
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Always reaching out, St. Jude’s Youth Group hosted an Easter Egg hunt for the parish children |
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Fr Henry and Deacons John and Dave Blessed the Easter Food on Saturday April 3, 2021, in the parking lot, with the following Prayer from the Rite
God of glory,
the eyes of all turn to you
as we celebrate Christ’s victory over sin and death.
Bless us and this food of our first Easter meal. May we who gather at the Lord’s table
continue to celebrate the joy of his Resurrection and be admitted finally to his heavenly banquet.
Grant this through Christ our Lord. R/. Amen.
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Please remember in your daily prayers:
Marge Tranzillo, Judy-Beth Raine, Maria Bertone, Deacon Ronnie Bicknell, Marie Micholovich, Patty Eng, Joseph Bisignano, Sr., Jim Tierney, Sr, Bennett Gulyas, Vincent Daniello, Armando Aversa
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 as we pray our Monthly Parish Intention.
Our intention for April is:
May the Light of our Risen Christ continue to shine on our world,
We pray to the Lord
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Upcoming Mass Intentions
Sat Apr 10 4:00pm Donald Tierney
Sun Apr 11 7:30am St. Jude Parishioners
Sun Apr 11 9:30am Domingos Branco
Sun Apr 11 11:30am Ida and Julius Servadio
Mon Apr 12 9:00am Anthony Bifulco
Tue Apr 13 9:00am Dolly Dillon
Wed Apr 14 9:00am Arlene Cocco
Thu Apr 15 9:00am Julia DeSousa
Sat Apr 17 4:00pm Agnes Dubyoski
Sun Apr 18 7:30am Lucy Casola
Sun Apr 18 9:30am Anthony Bifulco
Sun Apr 18 11:30am Maria Emilia Monteiro
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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Mass Schedule and Registration |
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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.
Please note that we will no longer be doing Pre-registration for Masses after Easter!
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Children's Rosary First Sundays
We meet at 11 am before the 11:30 Mass by the Blessed Mother statue and follow proper covid protocols. No experience necessary.
Please note:
In April, the first Sunday Children's Rosary will be moved to the second Sunday because of Easter. In honor of Divine Mercy Sunday on that day, we invite families and children to join us for the Divine Mercy Chaplet instead. We will meet in the pews in front of the Divine Mercy image.
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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.
The Diocese has published a comprehensive list of the availability of the Sacrament of Reconciliation in all the deaneries of our Diocese. You can access this important information at https://www.bridgeportdiocese.org/call-to-renewal/welcome/, or click “A Call to Renewal” at the top of the diocesan homepage.
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St. Jude Religious Gift Shop
St. Jude Religious Gift Shop is located downstairs in the Msgr. Sabia Social Hall. Many new items for all occasions. Baptism, Communion, Confirmation, Rosaries, Bibles, Statues, Medals & more. Variety of cards: Birthday, Weddings, Get Well, Sympathy, etc. Come down & browse and find the perfect gift. For more info call: Parish Office - 203-261-6404 or call Fran Cambra - 203-261-2573.
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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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