A Message from Father Henry |
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Fellow St Jude Parishioners:
Are you someone who makes New Year’s Resolutions? If so, do you usually keep them? Each year we hear about promises to lose weight, get more fit, and work less (or more!). Our intentions are sincere. It’s 2021, so why not start it with a commitment to improve ourselves in one way or another?
A New Year and a fresh start. In this Sunday’s Gospel, we celebrate the Baptism of our Lord and even though Jesus had no sin, He chose to be baptized by John in the Jordan River. When we think about baptism, we consider it a new start in many ways. John the Baptist spoke about repentance, changing our ways, turning from sin, changing where we are looking for our happiness and fulfillment. A New Year, a fresh start, new resolutions, new promises.
So many New Year’s Resolutions that we hear about focus on improving our bodies, walk more, read more, exercise more, eat less, but this year, I’d like to add one more to the list. This Resolution, that I’m asking you to consider, is one that is aimed at your soul, rather than your external body.
Many of you received your free copy of Matthew Kelly’s Book, “I Heard God Laugh,” when you came to Mass on Christmas. If you don’t have yours yet, we still have some remaining copies. In the book Kelly suggests spending 10 minutes, just 10 minutes, each day in prayer. He even suggests a method for that prayer that I will outline in my upcoming homilies.
St. Therese of Lisieux said, “Prayer is an aspiration of the heart, it is a simple glance directed to heaven.” Some people think that prayer is only for times of need, some think that prayer has to be said in Churches and not at the kitchen sink, and some people just claim to be too busy for prayer.
I’m asking our St. Jude family to commit to 10 minutes a day to prayer. I have seen our parish community come together to support St. Jude Church in so many ways over these past years, today I ask you to come together once again for a 10 minute commitment to prayer. I promise you, this will not only improve your own life but the collective community as well.
This month we have dedicated our January Padlet to Prayer. I invite you to visit it often. Post your thoughts on prayer, answer the prompts, submit your own prayer requests and take advantage of the resources offer there.
As always, our password is “Jude” and the link is: https://padlet.com/ amyhermanns/2vohs6ysues1h5wh
United in prayer,
Fr. Henry
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Fr. Henry's reflection on 10 Minutes of Prayer a Day
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A New Year's Resolution
10 Minutes of Prayer a Day
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Matthew Kelly takes time in “I Heard God Laugh” to outline his own spiritual journey and how he came to his 10 minute prayer method. Inspired by his own story, it’s a worthwhile exercise to reflect on our own lives and think about our personal journey with God. When you seek Him, know that He is seeking you first.
Reflection questions for this week:
• What are your earliest memories of God, of talking to God?
• How has your prayer changed over the years?
• Do you have special prayers? The rosary, saint’s prayers, etc.?
Kelly’s quote for the week: “In prayer we learn how to love and be loved, because we discover that we have been loved, are loved, and will continually be loved by God.”
Visit our January Padlet for more about Prayer and to add your thoughts, comments and answers to the above questions. Read what others are posting. Post your own prayer requests and pray for those that others have written.
Password is Jude
If you were not able to pick up your free copy of Matthew Kelly’s Book at Church, we have them available at the office. If you are not able to come to the office to get your book, please call the office at (203)-261-6404, and we will arrange to get you a copy.
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Let's talk about prayer...
If you are interested in delving deeper into "I Heard God Laugh", via a book discussion on Zoom, please contact Cathy Ritch cathy.ritch.ct@gmail.com or Bonnie Thibodeau bonthib@gmail.com.
Let us know which day of the week and whether daytime or evening is of most interest to you. We look forward to hearing from you!!
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VOCATION MASS & VOCATIONS |
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Please support vocations by joining us at the 11:30 AM Mass on Sunday January 10th the intention for which is vocations to the priesthood, the diaconate and religious life.
Please offer prayers of thanksgiving Fr. Brendan Blawie, who was ordained on January 2nd at St. Augustine Cathedral. You can read the full article about his ordination by clicking on the following link. Many of you may know Fr. Blawie, who grew up in Newtown and was a member of St. Rose of Lima Parish.
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Sister Helen Kieran, OP, is leaving
A wonderful model of the Consecrated Religious life, Sr. Helen has enriched the lives of so many of us. She has opened her home and her heart as she shared her faith and God's love with us through her many Women's Days of Reflection. Her dedication has greatly enhanced our spiritual lives.
The joy of her Vocation is also evidenced by her delightful sense of humor. We cannot forget her many New York idioms, especially "Whatever" often pronounced "Watt ev va" for effect!
Our love, prayers and gratitude to God for her presence here go with her. As we bid "Farewell" but not "Goodbye" to Sr. Helen, we are confident of her continuing prayers for her St. Jude Parish Family.
As Sister always said to us when leaving morning Mass, "Be good to yourself today", we now say to her, "Be good to yourself today".
We will miss you!
Karin Tierney
Sister's mailing address will be:
Sr. Helen Kieran
St. Vincent Ferrer Convent
152 E. 66th Street
New York, N. Y. 10065
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We Stand With Christ
Capital Campaign Results
Thank you to everyone who made a pledge to St. Jude’s We Stand With Christ campaign. This was a tremendous effort by our Parish and we are very pleased with our results.
We’re happy to announce that we’ve raised $731,000 from 196 families. That’s 83% of our campaign goal. Our average campaign pledge was $3,600, or $60/month.
We will keep the envelopes in our church vestibule in case anyone still wants to participate. You can also visit GiveCentral.org/WSWC to make a pledge/gift. Please remember that our 2020 Annual Catholic Appeal was included in We Stand With Christ.
Our 2021 Annual Catholic Appeal will return this spring at a reduced level (down over 50% since 2018) in part due to We Stand With Christ’s success.
Thank you to all those who participated in this historic moment for
St. Jude Parish.
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Join us every Sunday night at 7:30 pm to pray the Rosary together. All are welcome and families of all shapes and sizes are encouraged to take turns leading us in prayer. The Rosary will also be live-streamed on YouTube each week. The link for the first year is the same, so bookmark it (see below) and join us each week.
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Thank You to all ST.JUDE PARISHIONERS who contributed to the Giving Tree For THE Teens at Blessed Sacrament Church.
We were very generous in Gift Cards and Monetary Donations. WE RECEIVED 171 GIFT CARDS
Burger King and Subway were big hits in Gift Cards follow by McDonalds and Dunkin Donuts then Taco Bell.
We collected $1100.00 Dollars in CASH AND CHECKS! Thank YOU FOR MAKING ST.JUDE A SPECIAL PARISH!
Always Reaching Out
A big Thank you goes out to the families in the Faith Formation for Children program (formally known as Religious Education) for reaching out and sending over 350 Christmas Cards to Seniors in our Parish. Always nice to see a friendly card at Christmas time and the children did a wonderful job decorating and coloring the cards. Stay tuned for more outreach ideas from the Faith Formation for Children program.
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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
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 January, 2021:
As we begin our New Year, may we pray:
"JESUS I TRUST IN YOU"
We pray to the Lord
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Upcoming Mass Intentions
Sat Jan 9 4:00pm Enrico Marini
Sun Jan 10 7:30am St. Jude Parishioners
Sun Jan 10 9:30am Edward Jennings
Sun Jan 10 11:30am Vocations
Mon Jan 11 9:00am Antonio Volpe
Tue Jan 12 9:00am Mary Ellen Bolton
Wed Jan 13 9:00am Julia DeSousa
Thu Jan 14 9:00am Beverly Roh
Sat Jan 16 4:00pm Ellen White
Sun Jan 17 7:30am Deceased members of Willett and Izzo
Families
Sun Jan 17 9:30am Harriet Kilpatrick
Sun Jan 17 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. (This Mass may be viewed at https://www.stjuderc.org/view-masses.html )
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 and the 7:30 am Sunday Mass are live streamed. (This Mass may be viewed at https://www.stjuderc.org/view-masses.html )
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, at 8:45am in the School parking lot.
--Fr. Henry
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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.
First Friday Adoration 7- 8 PM
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.
Office Hours
THE OFFICE HOURS ARE:
MONDAY - THURSDAY 9:00 – 3:00
During the holiday closure, Fr Henry will be checking voicemails regularly and will respond promptly.
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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