A Message from Father Henry
Fellow St Jude Parishioners:

In the Gospel reading for Sunday, October 18, 2020, we hear Jesus say, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and give to God what is God’s.” 

We are certainly all familiar with this phrase. Perhaps we have even used it from time to time. So let us further develop the phrase by putting it into context. The Pharisees were trying to find a way to trap Jesus, to trip him up, so they asked him a question. “Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?” 

If Jesus replied, “no, you do not have to pay the tax,” that could get him into trouble with the Roman government.

If Jesus replied, “yes, you have to pay your taxes,” this would question his devotion to his Jewish faith, since he would be accused of encouraging support for that very Roman government that the Jewish people felt were oppressing them. 

But Jesus would not fall into their trap. He knew what they were up to. His answer is simple and brilliant. Upon getting hold of a coin, he showed the image of Caesar on it, and delivered the now-famous line, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and give to God what is God’s.” His response tripped up those very people who were attempting to trip him up.

How do we apply this to our lives today? When we reflect on the words, “Give to God what is God’s,” we are tempted to ask what that means. What can we possibly give to God that he does not already have? He created everything, and all on heaven and earth belong to God. What can God possible want from me? 

If we think back to the story of Creation, we know that we were created in the image and likeness of God. One of the greatest gifts that God gives us is our free will.  We were not created as robots. God always gives us the choice to live in union with Him or to be separated from Him. When we choose to sin, that is what separates us from God. 

So what we can give to God is ourself. When we use our free will to keep God close, we will truly be happy because we were created for God. As St. Augustine said, “Our hearts are restless until they rest in you, oh God.” In choosing to keep God in our lives through prayer, in-person or virtual mass attendance, reception of the Eucharist (actual or spiritual), and spiritual Reading, among other forms of devotion, we are indeed ‘Giving to God what is God’s!’

Yours in our common commitment to give ourselves over to God,
Fr Henry 
Sunday October 18th is World Mission Sunday
One Sunday for the Whole World
On this World Mission Sunday, Pope Francis reminds us of our baptismal call -- to respond as missionaries, saying,"Here I Am, Send Me." Today we respond to that call, through our prayers and personal sacrifices for our brothers and sisters in the Missions - in places like Uganda where people face food uncertainty and violence.. in the Philippines where local clergy face martyrdom.. in Oceania where peoples' livelihoods are threatened by climate change.. and in remote regions of Latin America where people are hearing the Gospel for the first time.

Respond this World Mission Sunday by supporting the priests, religious Sisters and Brothers, and lay catechists who provide loving service to those most in need. Thank you!
Leaving Nobody Behind - Diocese of Bridgeport

Let us resolve not to leave anyone behind, so they know someone out there cares for them and has them in mind. My friends, I invite you to watch my homily for the 28th Sunday of Ordinary Time. -Bishop Frank

Read more
www.bridgeportdiocese.org
Youth Ministry News
Hello St. Jude Families! Fall is underway and our youth group is growing! Please join us for the following meetings. ALSO! We are now providing dinner to any teens who join. 

October 18th @ 6 pm in the Social Hall (Seasons and the Church)
October 25th @ 6 pm in the Social Hall (What's Up with Halloween)
November 1st @ 6 pm in the Social Hall (Party like the Saints)
November 8th @ 6 pm in the Social Hall (Should we be Meditating More?)
November 15th @ 6 pm in the Social Hall (What is a Calling?)
November 22nd @ 6 pm - 7:30 pm in the Social Hall (Thanksgiving Celebration) *RSVP Required

Parents and other adult members looking to becoming involved we need volunteers! Time commitment is low, and the reward is high! Please send any questions to Shannon at shannon.carey@stjuderc.com
St Jude Novena
Tuesday October 20 - Wednesday October 28
Your Word alone, Lord is our Hope!

Now more than ever before, we need our annual Novena to St. Jude as a welcome opportunity to come together in prayer as one Body of Christ and to seek his intercession as our patron saint of Hopeless Causes during these challenging times.

We are so blessed to have such a wonderful Saint as the patron of our beautiful parish!! St. Jude is most certainly one of the most powerful intercessors in our Catholic Faith. Perhaps, he has helped you or someone you love. The St. Jude Novena is an awesome opportunity to come together as a faith community to thank St. Jude for all he has done for us and to ask his assistance in those things that we still struggle with.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, masks and social distancing are required at all Masses, and we will be unable to provide refreshments. Sign up for Mass is required in the event of Covid-tracing requirements and can be done by clicking on the following link https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A054BA5AE2EA20-stjude8

Our Novena Masses will be live-streamed as well and can be viewed on our website. www.stjuderc.org.

Please join us at St Jude Novena Reception on Sunday, October 25, 2020, at 12:30pm. Since the 11:30am mass on Sunday 10/25 will be our Novena mass, we are hosting a Covid-compliant reception immediately after the mass. 

Location: the Plaza outside the church. (If raining or too cold, we will host in the social hall.)


Knights of Columbus
OCTOBER ROSARY
Hosted By
St. John XXIII Council 5987
Knights of Columbus

Monday    October 26     Joyful Mysteries
Tuesday     October 27    Sorrowful Mysteries
Wednesday October 28     Glorious Mysteries
Thursday    October 29    Luminous Mysteries

Join Us in Prayer At The
“Mary, Madonna of Peace” Statue
6:30 P.M.
Please bring your own chairs
Knights of Columbus Annual Needs/Food/Furniture Drive
The Knights of Columbus are sponsoring a Needs Drive on Saturday, October 24, 8 - 10:30am. Donated items will be distributed to St Jude Food Pantry, Bridgeport Rescue Mission, Blessed Sacrament Parish, Change Ministry & Hopeline (diapers & wipes).

Because of the Covid virus, we are only accepting items listed in the flyer (please click the picture to the left or the button below).  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 and can be unloaded by our volunteers. A note on furniture, we are hoping most parishioners can bring these donations directly to St Jude's on the day of the drive. If assistance is needed to unload 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 pickups to minimize risks.

Questions, please contact Rocky Scali, 203-767-6053 or Frank Flynn, 203-556-5016.
Parish Announcements
If you are comfortable, Father Henry would like to visit you on the front lawn of your home (wearing facemasks and being Social Distanced). Schedule a visit by emailing me, fr.henry@stjuderc.com or calling the Parish Office (203-261-6404). 
Parking Lot Paving Update
I am grateful for the parishioners who generously donated to have some repairs to our parking lots and driveways around the parish grounds. These donations will be supplemented by some of our parish funds that were targeted for capital improvements. The paving is to begin very soon, as it needs to be completed before the cold weather sets in. I ask you to bear with us as they may cause a short-term inconvenience in driving about the parish grounds.  Sincerely, Fr Henry 
St Jude Novena Reception on Sunday, October 25, 2020, at 12:30pm.
Since the 11:30am mass on Sunday 10/25 will be our Novena mass, we are hosting a Covid-compliant reception immediately after the mass. 

Location: the Plaza outside the church. (If raining or too cold, we will host in the social hall.)

Children's Rosary
Children's rosary will resume this month on Sunday 10/18 at 11 am prior to Mass. All families are invited to participate and no experience is needed. We will follow proper covid protocols.

Holy Trinity Catholic Academy
November 15th – 20th is Discover New England Catholic Schools. Visit www.holytrinitycatholicacademy.org and discover HTCA!
Thank you for your support.

Food Pantry Needs
As the cooler weather descends upon us we are making arrangements to stock the pantry accordingly. Items in need at this time would be instant oatmeal, instant coffee, hot cocoa, canned soups and chili. Thank you again for your continued support of our ministry!

Mission Committee (Gift A Teen Drive)
Mission Committee will not be conducting our "Gift A Teen" Drive this year due to Covid-19 restrictions. Hopefully we will be able to resume our activities sometime in 2021.
Pro-Life Update
40-DAYS FOR LIFE PRAYER VIGIL
Wednesday Sept. 23 to Sunday Nov. 1, 2020

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, St. Jude Parish Pro-Life Ministry will not participate in the Vigil this Fall. Individuals wishing to attend, please click the Flyer to the right for registration information or contact Karin Tierney kjt1046@att.net for additional information.

Please continue to pray for an end to abortion and for a Culture for Life in our Country.
Prayer for Vocations

O Lord, send workers for your harvest, so that the commands of your Only-begotten Son may always be obeyed and his Sacrifice be everywhere renewed. 
Look with favor upon your family, the Church, and ever increase Her numbers. Enable Her to lead Her sons and daughters to the holiness to which they are called and to work for the salvation of others. 
Through Christ Our Lord.
Amen.
The St. Jude Religious Gift Shop is open in the Msgr. John Sabia Social Hall after the 9:30 AM Mass on Sundays and after the 4 PM Mass on Saturday night as well as by appointment Monday - Friday at 9:30 AM.
 
Gifts for all occasions include: Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Wedding, Ordination, baby gifts, bibles, statues, rosaries, medals, auto visors and a variety of cards such as Birthday, Get Well, Weddings and more.
 
Stop by, browse and find a truly meaningful gift for that special occasion. For information or an appointment please call Fran Cambra 203-261 2573 or the Parish office.      
Please join us as we resume praying our Monthly Parish Intention.

   Our petition for October is:

We pray for an end to all abortions, and for respect for all life from conception until natural death,

  We pray to the Lord 
Upcoming Mass Intentions

Sat   Oct 17       4:00pm               Luis Ferreira      

Sun  Oct 18       7:30am               Tranzillo Family                  

                           9:30am               Maria Emilia Monteiro

                          11:30am             Yolanda & Joseph Riccio

Mon Oct 19       8:30am               Helen Ryan

Tue  Oct 20       8:30am               John A. Brogan, Jr.
                          7:00pm               Novena Mass - St. Jude Parishioners

Wed Oct 21       7:00pm               Novena Mass - St. Jude Parishioners

Thu  Oct 22       7:00pm               Novena Mass - St. Jude Parishioners

Fri    Oct 23       7:00pm               Novena Mass - St. Jude Parishioners

Sat   Oct 24       4:00pm               Novena Mass - St. Jude Parishioners    

Sun  Oct 25       7:30am               Deceased members of Yash & Pekar  
                                                         Family

                           9:30am               Evelyn & Vincent Cavaliere

                          11:30am             Alan Parrillo
The parish office is taking Mass Intention requests for 2021. Requests will only be taken by phone (203-261-6404) or by email (parish.office@stjuderc.com). For more information, please click here.
Mass Schedule and Registration
The Masses inside the Church are Saturday at 4:00 pm and Sunday at 7:30, 9:30 and 11:30. Pre-registration is required at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a054ba5ae2ea20-stjude4

Please note that the 7:30 Sunday Outdoor Drive In Mass has been moved inside. For those of you who do not feel comfortable attending mass inside the church, please watch the 7:30am live-streamed (This Mass may be viewed at https://www.stjuderc.org/view-masses.html ) onto your phone or computer and then come to the School parking lot to receive outdoor communion at 8:45am. Fr Henry will be distributing Communion every Sunday, rain of shine, at 8:45am in the School parking lot. If it is raining, I will walk to each of your cars with an umbrella. No obstacle is too large to prevent us from distributing communion. 

We priests are the ones who, with Jesus acting through us, consecrate the Eucharist. And we are fully committed to making the Eucharist available to you. 

Each generation has had to overcome the obstacles specific to its time and place to receive the Eucharist. We will continue to work through any obstacles particular to our time and place, to make the Eucharist available.  

--Fr. Henry

Please note that the upstairs bathroom in main church is available for all weekend masses. Masks should be worn at all times. Social distancing is required at all times. Please be sure to arrive 15 minutes before Mass.

Volunteers for the Masses are needed and may sign up at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a054ba5ae2ea20-stjude5 Thanks in advance for your help!
Church Hours for private prayer

Church is open Monday to Friday 8am - 10am for private prayer. 

Live-streamed Mass Schedule

The Masses at 4:00pm Saturday, 7:30am and 11:30am Sunday will be live-streamed every weekend. These Masses may be viewed at https://www.stjuderc.org/view-masses.html

Confession Hours

Beginning October 24 and continuing into the future, confessions on Saturday afternoon will be in the day chapel.  

Confessions are required to be outside at 3:00 pm on Saturdays until the bishop gives us permission to go back inside the church, which he has not, and probably will not for some time.  Confessions are 3:00 pm outside, behind the church, and also by appointment, calling 203-261-6404, to set up and appointment or emailing.  

First Friday Adoration 7- 8 PM

Mass Intentions 2021
The parish office is taking Mass Intention requests for 2021. Requests will only be taken by phone (203-261-6404) or by email (parish.office@stjuderc.com). For more information, please click here.

Office Hours

THE OFFICE HOURS ARE:
MONDAY - THURSDAY 9:00 – 3:00

It is suggested that you 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. 

In the event you do come to the office, we will be following the state protocols:
  • A face covering is required
  • Social distancing will be followed
  • If you are experiencing COVID-19 defined symptoms, or have had contact with someone with the symptoms please do not come to the office.

Signage will be posted on the front door with all directives to be followed when admitted to the office.
St Jude Parish
707 Monroe Tpke
Monroe, CT 06468
203-261-6404