A Message from Father Henry |
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Fellow St Jude Parishioners:
Lent begins this year with Ash Wednesday celebrated on Feb. 17th. Catherine Doherty, pioneer of social justice and a renowned national speaker and writer, said: ”Lent is a time of going very deeply into ourselves... What is it that stands between us and God? Between us and our brothers and sisters? Between us and life, the life of the Spirit? Whatever it is, let us relentlessly tear it out, without a moment’s hesitation.”
Each year during Lent, we have the invitation to go deep and examine our lives. What is it that keeps us from growing in faith? Try to take the time to reflect on your life, your daily schedules, your habits, your relationships. What can you do this Lent to become closer to God, who always waits for us to return to Him?
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Our February Online Bulletin Board (Padlet) is dedicated to Lent. Visit it to add your thoughts and prayer requests and to see what others at St. Jude are doing this Lent.
Password is Jude
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Let us all start off Lent by receiving ashes on Ash Wednesday, either by coming to the church, or by having me come to your home. Ashes symbolize both our death and repentance, reflected in the two options that the priests and deacons and Eucharistic Ministers choose from when placing the ashes on your forehead.
One option is: “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” Referring all the way back to the second chapter of the very first book of the Bible, “the Lord God formed Adam from the dust of the ground and breathed the breath of life into him, and Adam became a living being.” And so did God breathe life into us at our conception. And so does continue to sustain us in life until our dying day, when our body will begin to face the corruption that will result in it returning to dust or ashes.
The other option is: “Repent, and believe in the Gospel.” Stressing our need for going to confession with a repentant spirit.
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Please contact me to reserve a date and time for your confession, either in the church, or for me to come to your home. I can hear your confession social distancing and with masks on in your front lawn.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Fr Henry
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Mourning Your Relatives and Friends
Who Have Passed During The Pandemic
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My heart goes out to all of you who have lost a relative or friend to the Coronavirus, and with this in mind, I include a brief series of prayers that you can say in remembrance of them. Sincerely, Fr Henry |
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https://youtu.be/d3pTw8gyFUk |
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10 Minutes of Prayer a Day |
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A Preview of this Sunday’s Homily
This Sunday I will continue to speak about Matthew Kelly’s Prayer Process during all of my homilies. My question to you, at this time, is, what do King David, a fly - that I may or may not have swallowed, peace, and forgiveness have in common? I’ll tell you the answer this weekend.
One of the great benefits of committing yourself to regular prayer is that in addition to strengthening your relationship to God, you also come to know yourself better. Sometimes we have trouble forgiving ourselves for past sins that we may have committed. This Sunday I will talk to you about bringing everything, including our most serious sins, to Jesus on the Cross. I will tell you what happens then, you will be amazed.……until Sunday
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Lent is the perfect time to begin the discipline of daily prayer. Matthew Kelly, in his book, I Heard God Laugh, describes a prayer process that takes only 10 minutes a day. Make that your Lenten Promise, and if you forget a day, you can always start over.
Weekly Reflection Questions:
• What are some things that take 10 minutes of my day?
• Do I have a special place where I like to pray?
Kelly’s Quote of the Week:
“Find a place where you can be still and quiet, with the fewest possible distractions, a place that is available to you every day.”
A question from Fr. Henry: What is your favorite prayer tip?
Want to know Fr. Henry’s? Visit our February Padlet to find out.
Password is Jude.
Visit: https://padlet.com/amyhermanns/fjh99wp29jbb3ih0
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Ambassador Formational Program |
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The Diocese is sponsoring a spiritual and ministerial formation program. Please send an email to Fr Henry as soon as possible if you might be interested in becoming an Ambassador, and you would like additional information. Please note that in order to enroll in the program you must fully complete the application process by the week of February 22, 2021.
A wonderful opportunity to undergo spiritual and ministerial formation so that you can become a Prayer Warrior in our parish!
Please click on the image to the right to view/download a pdf file!
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St. Jude 2021 Lenten Information |
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Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday, February 17, is going to be different this year. The clergy and Eucharistic ministers will be placing ashes on your foreheads using q-tips.
You can come to the church for 9am Mass, or Prayer Services at 12noon or 7pm and receive ashes.
Those who watch the 9am livestream can come to the school parking lot immediately afterward for ashes.
We will also be distributing ashes in the church from 4-6pm, for two hours in the late afternoon without a service.
And spread the word to the homebound. Anybody at High Meadows, please contact me to schedule an appointment for ashes. I will be at High Meadows from 1-3pm.
Anyone else who would like me to drive to your home and give you ashes, please contact me to schedule.
I ask that everybody be patient as Coronavirus restrictions and making Ash Wednesday complicated. But we shall overcome.
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Lenten Confessions
In an effort to work out a way to hear everyone’s Lenten confession, and in compiling your more than one hundred responses to the confession time/date survey, we see overwhelmingly that you would prefer to make your lenten confession between 2 and 3pm on Saturday afternoons during Lent.
Priority will be given to those who contact Fr Henry in advance, with a date and time for Saturdays during Lent. You will get to come to the front of the line if you preregistered for a time and date. Hint, hint, hint!!!
So Fr Henry will be in the confessional for St Jude parishioners, Saturdays February 20 and 27 and March 6, 13, 20, 27, from 2pm to 3pm. (He will not be hearing confessions on Holy Saturday April 3.) Please come during that first hour. This will be our personal St Jude Parishioners’ time. Fr Henry will also be in the confessional on those same Saturdays from 3-3:30pm as usual, but please note that we get a lot of people from other parishes during that time.
For those few who asked for other dates and times during the week (Sunday evenings at 7:30pm, Tuesday March 30 at 7:30pm, Wednesday, March 31 at 6pm), and those others who would like Fr Henry to come to your homes to hear your confessions, please contact him directly to schedule a private day and time, either in the day chapel of the church or at your home.
All in an effort to see that everybody has an opportunity to make their Lenten confession.
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St. Jude to offer Relics of the Passion Service March 7
MONROE- St. John XXIII Council 5987 of the Knights of Columbus will be hosting The Relics of the Passion at St. Jude Parish on Sunday March 7 at 2 pm. The service will take place in the church located at 707 Monroe Tpke., Monroe, Conn.
Read more
www.bridgeportdiocese.org
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FORMED Lenten Reflections
Join us for a 40-day journey of welcoming his tender love, beginning with these short, daily videos from Scripture scholar Dr. Tim Gray. Live in Christ's love and let him transform your life as you watch these awakening reflections during Lent 2020.
Read more
formed.org
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The Murphy Center for Ignatian Spirituality of Fairfield University has announced that it will continue its virtual retreat series beginning Tuesday, February 9th, 1:00-2:00pm and concluding on June 8th. There will be 18 one-hour presentations every week beginning at 1:00 pm provided by the Jesuit fathers, followed by a prayer experience. Marcy Haley will facilitate each presentation, opening and closing with a prayer and offering a companion prayer reflection. Please feel free to forward this information to anyone who might be interested. All are welcome!
The Center is using one registration for all of the retreats. Please use the registration below to participate in the retreats. So, register now and participate if you can. If you can’t attend a session that is okay. There is no obligation.
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You are invited to a Zoom meeting.
When: Feb 9, 2021 01:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Register in advance for this meeting:
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
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Best Lent Ever | Dynamic Catholic
Nothing will transform your life so completely, absolutely, and forever like really learning how to pray. That's why this year's BEST LENT EVER journeys through Matthew Kelly's latest book, I Heard God Laugh : A Practical Guide to Life's...
Read more
www.dynamiccatholic.com
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Mary Beth Rauser will be facilitating a weekly Zoom Discussion Group based on Matthew Kelly’s Best Lent Ever Video Series and Journal.
We will meet Friday mornings from 9:30am to 11am beginning 2/19 and ending 3/26.
As part of the Parish Champion Program through Dynamic Catholic, we have received 40 copies of this year’s Best Lent Ever Journal to use to follow along with the Best Lent Ever video series with Matthew Kelly. If anyone is interested, please contact Mary Beth Rauser at 203-516-1821 or mbrauser@hotmail.com. First priority will go to those participating in the Best Lent Ever Zoom Study Group.
This is a great opportunity to come together and share our faith and discuss with others how God is speaking to us this Lent. Those who register will receive a Best Lent Ever Journal that has a daily question, reflection and space to journal/take notes based on Matthew’s daily videos.
If there is enough interest, Mary Beth is also willing to offer an evening session for those who can’t meet during the morning. Day and time to be determined.
Please contact Mary Beth to register at 203-516-1821 or mbrauser@hotmail.com
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For additional info, please contact:
Parish Pro-life Coordinator:
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Our parish has a gift for you!
We have created Lenten Prayer Bags which will be available after all Masses this weekend, on Ash Wednesday, and after Masses the following weekend (as long as supplies last). It is our hope that the items in the bag will remind you to pray the prayer process daily, and aid you in your prayer journey that we have embarked on as a parish. They may sweeten up your Valentine’s Day too! And for those of you attending Mass virtually, Bernice will have a few in the office if you would like to pick one up.
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Please remember in your daily prayers:
Mike Piatt, Marge Tranzillo, Judy-Beth Raine, Maria Bertone, Deacon Ronnie Bicknell, Marie Micholovich, Patty Eng, Joseph Bisignano, Sr.,
Jim Tierney, Sr
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 Petition.
Our Intention for February is:
We pray for the repose of the souls of Priests, Religious and all people being murdered because of their Christian faith,
We pray to the Lord
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Upcoming Mass Intentions
Sat Feb 13 4:00pm Brett Southard
Sun Feb 14 7:30am Julia DeSousa
Sun Feb 14 9:30am St. Jude Parishioners.
Sun Feb14 11:30am William DiStasio
Mon Feb 15 9:00am Teodoro Josef
Tue Feb16 9:00am Todd Buzi
Wed Feb 17 9:00am St. Jude Parishioners
Wed Feb 17 7:00pm St. Jude Parishioners
Thu Feb 18 9:00am Ray and Nett Bourdeau
Sat Feb 20 4:00pm Maria Emilia Monteiro
Sun Feb 21 7:30am William and Marjorie Mahoney and
Margaret Gray
Sun Feb 21 9:30am Beverly Roh
Sun Feb 21 11:30am Joyce C. Abbott
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. The Saturday Mass at 4:00 pm and the Sunday 7:30 am Mass are live streamed.
Pre-registration is required for all weekend
For those of you who do not feel comfortable attending mass inside the church, please watch the Sunday 7:30 am live-streamed Mass. (This Mass may be viewed at https://www.stjuderc.org/view-masses.html ) on 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, from 8:30 AM to 8:45 AM in the School parking lot.
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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.
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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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First Friday Adoration 7- 8 PM |
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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: Valentine's Day, 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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