Last Friday, our nation experienced something that I honestly never thought I would see in my lifetime: the overturning of Roe vs. Wade. It was a recognition that there is no constitutional right to abortion. This does not end abortion itself, but merely allows each state to rule on it, so there is more work to be done, particularly in Connecticut where legal abortion continues to stand as the law of the land. Nevertheless, we rejoice that, for the first time in fifty years, there is hope that someday abortion can be outlawed across the nation. After fifty years of prayer, fasting, marching, and witnessing, progress has been made. We praise God - and we recommit to praying, fasting, marching, and witnessing - this time in Hartford - so that all life might truly be respected and given dignity, from conception until natural death and every circumstance in between. 

This is only possible because of the grace of God. As we celebrate our nation’s birthday (and only four years until our 250^th!), it is interesting to note how our nation was truly built upon faith in Jesus Christ. 

In 1892, in the court case Church of the Holy Trinity vs. US, the Supreme Court unanimously declared, “this is a Christian nation.” In an 1844 Supreme Court ruling in the Vidal vs. Gerard’s Executors case, the Supreme Court again unanimously declared that it is beneficial for the public schools to “both read and be taught as divine revelation” the Bible. Moving to Congress, the Senate Judiciary Committee report in 1853 declared, “We are a Christian people…not because the law demands it, not to gain exclusive benefits, but from choice and education. And in a land thus universally Christian, what is to be expected, what desired, but that we pay due regard to Christianity?” 

Even our Founding Fathers agreed – Washington once said, “It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor.” 

And listen to the powerful words of John Adams: “We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion…Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” 

Here is what Ben Franklin had to say: “Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom.” 

Although our nation rightly welcomes people of all religious backgrounds, its core principles were built on the foundation that Jesus Christ and the Christian religion offers. To experience the prosperity and hope of our nation, we must return to that virtue and faith which had made us great among nations. 

God bless America!

Post-script: if anyone has suffered the pain of abortion, there is hope and healing available. The Catholic Church has several ministries of outreach and mercy to those who have had abortions. One is called "Project Rachel" - contact Maureen Ciardello with a confidential email line: projectrachel@diobpt.org (website: https://www.bridgeportdiocese.org/respect-life/home/) . Another one in our area is called "Hope and Healing" run by the Sisters of Life - contact them confidentially at hopeandhealing@sistersoflife.org or at their website https://sistersoflife.org/healing-after-abortion/ .

If any woman is struggling with a crisis pregnancy, the Church is here to help! There is help at Malta House in Norwalk (https://www.maltahouse.org/), the Sisters of Life (https://sistersoflife.org/what-we-do/pregnancy-help/) and Hopeline Pregnancy Centers (https://hopelineprc.org/). You do not need to struggle alone!

Fr. Joseph was installed as the

Pastor of St. Jude Parish 7/26/

Photos from the installation Mass may be viewed at 

https://saintjude.smugmug.com/2022/Fr-Joseph-Installation-as-Pastor-6262022/

Aflame for Christ



Fr. Joseph's homilies will now be podcasted at Aflame for Christ!

To access the podcasts, please go to the home page of our parish website!

https://www.stjuderc.org/

FLORAL MINISTRY

Ever wonder where the flowers come from that are in front of the main altar as well as the side altars or at the reception after Father Joseph’s installation as pastor? The Floral Ministry is responsible for all things floral at St. Jude’s (other than funeral and wedding flowers). We are the ones who create the displays at the major displays of Christmas and Easter using plant material from St. Jude’s, cut from our homes, or bought at a wholesaler. We also take care of the plants in the church and create arrangements during the other seasons of the liturgical calendar. Thanks to the generosity of the parishioners who contribute to the two collections for flowers (Christmas and Easter) we are able to beautify the interior of the church with cut flowers and plants and the exterior with annuals. We also take responsibility for the funeral flowers which are generously left on the altar as well as vases of flowers brought to the side altars by parishioners. 

If you would like to bring flowers to the side altars, please do so! We will change the water and try to keep the flowers alive as long as possible. If you’d like the containers to be returned to you, simply leave your name/email/phone number on the bottom of the vase and we will contact you. 

If you like working with flowers and want to join this ministry, contact Diane Ganser, dlganser@yahoo.com or (203) 261-2761 . 

Parish News

Saint Jude Parish

2022 Bishop’s Appeal as of June 10, 2022

ABA Goal:

$84,600 

Total Pledged:

$112,649, 133%

Donors to Date:

265 Donors

To make a gift, or for more information, please visit us at 2022BishopsAppeal.org, call (203) 416-1470 or scan with your phone.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT:

SUNDAY'S CHILDREN'S ROSARY

HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED TO

AFTER 9:30 AM MASS

for SUNDAY 7/3

Speaking of baseball....Check out the RSVP for the Family Softball Game on 7/14! See more info

in the Family News below!

The blood drive sponsored by the Kngihts of Columbus on Saturday, July 23 is now 50% subscribed to. If you are interested in donating at this drive, you can do so as follows:

Go to the ARC blood donation web site, https://www.redcrossblood.org/. Click “donate blood”, insert the zip code 06468 and then click “find a drive”. In the filter area, select and click “refine search” and then click “Choose my dates”. When the calendar comes up, click on July 23, 2022 and our drive should appear. From there, you can schedule your own appointment. Appointments are only available between 11 AM and 2 PM, at this time.

You can also email Frank Flynn at bynumrun@hotmail.com. Let him know a preferred time and he can insert your name.

Hopeline Baby Bottle Appeal

Knights of Columbus

St. John XXIII Council 5987

The Knights of Columbus are in the process of completing the Baby Bottle Appeal for the Hopeline Pregnancy Center.

If you haven’t done so already please return the bottles, with your donations, at each Mass this weekend.

Any amount you can donate will be appreciated by the Knights of Columbus, Hopeline, the expectant mothers and the unborn babies.

Project Connect – Outreach to the homeless in Bridgeport

Once again Project Connect is happening in August of this summer. Backpacks are being provided filled with useful items for those living on the streets of Bridgeport. St Jude Parish has been asked to donate 250 toothbrushes and 250 4 oz toothpastes to put in the backpacks. Baskets will be by the entry doors of the Church until July 25^th.  Please consider helping these poor people as they try to take care of themselves while living on the street.

Thank you and bless you for your generosity. You always come through!!!

Save the Dates for Summer Family Events! 

open to families with children and teens

Tuesday, July 26: Family Bingo Night - 6:30 pm

Friday, August 12: Family Movie Night - 7 pm 

St Jude Parish Softball Game - July 14 6:30 PM at fields at Great Hollow Lake RSVP here.so we can put together the teams!

Family Hike - will be rescheduled later this summer

Mom's Group - Save the Dates:

Summer meetings Wednesday 7/27 and Wednesday 8/31 at 7 pm in the social hall to discuss our summer book club on Living Joy by Chris Stefanick. See the Parish office if you need a free copy of the book.

Our next monthly mother's Zoom rosary is 7/6 at 9 pm and will continue on the first Wednesday of every month e-mail Jessica Iannotta for more information

Stay tuned for Fall events to be announced soon

Please remember in your daily prayers:

Marge Tranzillo, Judy-Beth Raine, Maria Bertone, Deacon Ronnie Bicknell, Marie Micholovich, Vincent Daniello, Dyana vander Wielen, Joe Pinto, Ray Schwartz, Zoey Frigo, Daniel Louis Bianco, Max, Hung Vu, Alfred Zawadski, Michael Serke, Kristen Kelly, Leroy Moye, Richard Carrano, Judy Thomas, Dr. John Kezel, Joseph Sheridan, Francisca Testa & family, Catherine Belanger, Stephen Henn, Robert Orol, Manny Cambra, Bennett Gulyas,Tom Pleva, Andrew Henn, and James Buturla 

All healthcare workers, first responders, caregivers and the men and women 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.

Please join us in praying our Monthly Parish Intention. 

Our Petition for July is:

May we continue to pray for God to restore peace in our Country as we say:

🇺🇸 I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America,

    and to the Republic for which it stands,

    ONE NATION UNDER GOD,

    indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Upcoming Mass Intentions

Sat   July 2        5:00pm               Francis Dunne

Sun  July 3        7:30am               St Jude Parishioners

Sun July 3        9:30am               Patty Eng

Sun  July 3        11:30am             Rino and Jane Servadio

Mon July 4        9:00am               Tina Pechulis

Tue  July 5       9:00am               Jack Hurley

Wed July 6        9:00am               Deceased members of the Yash and

                                                         Pekar families

Thu  July 7        9:00am               Madeline Tully 

Sat   July 9        5:00pm               Isabel Dantas-Teixeira and

                                                         Jose Dantas

Sun  July 10      7:30am               Bruce Lazar

Sun July 10      9:30am               Pinto and DeAndrade Family

Sun  July 10      11:30am             St Jude Parishioners

The Tabernacle Candle will burn in memory of Elvira and Luis Ferreira during the month of July.

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.

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 5:00 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 )

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: Gifts and cards for Father's Day, Graduation, Teacher's Gifts, statues, rosaries and more. Come in and browse. Call Fran Cambra 203-261-2573 or Parish Office 203-261-6404.