This week, as we prepare to celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday, I turn my bulletin column over to our Family Ministry Coordinator, Jessica Iannotta, who will share some thoughts and insights about Divine Mercy!
You may have noticed in last week’s bulletin a schedule posted for the Divine Mercy Novena. For those who are not as familiar with the Divine Mercy message and devotion, I thought I would give a little background in order to help you prepare for this wonderful Feast!
The Divine Mercy revelations were given by Our Lord to St. Maria Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun, in the 1930s. Through St. Faustina, Jesus gave us a special means to draw close to His Mercy. These means can be easily remembered through an acronym called F. I. N.C.H.
F – Feast: The Feast of Divine Mercy is celebrated on the octave of Easter, the Sunday after Easter Sunday. Our Lord told St. Faustina “On that day, the very depths of My tender Mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon souls who approach the Fount of My Mercy. The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment” (Diary, 699). This means that the temporal punishment that can remain from sin can be completely forgiven on this special day of grace!
I - Image: The Image of Divine Mercy, which is to the left of the altar at St Jude’s, is an image replicating the vision of how Jesus appeared to St. Faustina. The Image shows the rays of red and pale light (“blood” and “water”) streaming from Jesus’ heart and His hand raised in a blessing along with the words “Jesus I trust in You”. Jesus wanted this Image to remind people to trust in His mercy and to come to Him for mercy. “I am offering people a vessel with which they are to keep coming for graces to the fountain of mercy. That vessel is this image with the signature: Jesus, I trust in You.” (Diary, 327)
N - Novena: The Divine Mercy Novena can be prayed during any 9-day period but is especially important in the 9 days leading up to the Feast. For each of the 9 days, Our Lord gave a different intention to St. Faustina – All mankind, especially sinner; the souls of priests and religious; all devout and faithful souls; those who do not believe in Him and do not yet know Him; the souls who have separated themselves from His Church; the meek and humble souls and the souls of little children; the souls who especially venerate and glorify His mercy; the souls who are in the prison of purgatory; and the souls who have become lukewarm. This year, the Divine Mercy Novena will begin on Friday April 15th, Good Friday.
C – Chaplet: The Chaplet of Divine Mercy. Our Lord taught St. Faustina the Divine Mercy Chaplet and asked her to pray it “unceasingly.” He told her that this prayer would have great power for the conversion of sinners and for peace for dying souls. Instructions on how to pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy can be found here {insert hyperlink https://www.thedivinemercy.org/message/devotions/chaplet}.
H – Hour: The Hour of Mercy. In His revelations to St. Faustina, Our Lord asked for a special, daily remembrance of the hour at which he died for us on the cross at 3:00 pm. He said “At three o’clock, implore My mercy, especially for sinners; and if only for a brief moment, immerse yourself in My Passion, particularly in My abandonment at the moment of agony. This is the hour of great mercy for the whole world. I will allow you into My mortal sorrow. In this hour, I will refuse nothing to the soul that makes a request of me in virtue of My Passion...” (Diary, 1320).
The essence of this devotion is trust and mercy. This is not new – God has spoken this message through the patriarchs and prophets and God continues to speak to us through the Church and its shepherds and Holy men and women like St. Faustina. His mercy is available to all of us, no matter what we have done or what state our souls are in. Our Lord made it clear to St. Faustina: “The greater the sinner the greater the right he has to My mercy” (Diary, 723). He said, “Mankind will not have peace until it turns with trust to My mercy.” (Diary, 300). We know our world needs Jesus the Divine Mercy! Be sure to soak up all of the beautiful graces that this Feast has to offer! Jesus, we trust in You!
~ Jessica Iannotta
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Bishop Caggiano Came to St. Jude's on Palm Sunday!
We were very blessed to have our Bishop celebrate Palm Sunday Mass at 9:30am on April 10th. Please view the following gallery to see more photos from his visit!
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Parish Clean-Up - All Hands On Deck!
It's time for "spring cleaning" - going through the clutter and chaos that ends up in closets and corners - and our parish is no different! Please come and help volunteer with both outside and indoor cleaning and organizing of St. Jude's Church, School, and Offices on Saturday, May 7th from 8am until 12noon. Bring work gloves and a good spirit! Great for all ages!
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St. Jude Parish Pastoral Council needs You
Do you want to be on an Advisory panel for Fr. Joseph?
Do you want to be part of the team that works with all the Ministries in our Parish and have the opportunity to share your talents with everyone?
Maybe the Parish Pastoral Council is for you.
The Parish Council consists of a small group of a cross-section of Parishioners that sign up for a 3 year term. The Parish Council meets on the first Tuesday of each month for about an hour to discuss parish plans. If interested, please reach out to Fr. Joseph or Rich Lane at richard.lane2021@gmail.com or call (203) 517-6821.
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Divine Mercy in the Second Greatest Story Ever Told recounts how God is communicating his mercy in our day and age through the lives of saints, apparitions, and historical events from the last century. With his characteristic skill and lucid style, Fr. Michael Gaitley interweaves the dramatic history of Poland, the transformative message of St. Faustina, the miraculous appearance of Mary at Fatima, the witness of St. Maximilian Kolbe, and the world-changing papacy of Pope St. John Paul II into a tapestry of wonder and beauty. Click here to watch on Formed.org or listen to an inspiring talk!
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Divine Mercy Art Contest for Children & Teens
Announcing an Art Contest with Prizes! Children and teens are invited to draw, color, or paint the Divine Mercy Image as revealed to St. Faustina Kowalsa. Place your image in the basket on the Family Ministry Resource Table. For an example see here.
An age-appropriate Divine Mercy Book Prize will be granted for a winner in each category for grades K - 3, 4 - 8, and 9 - 12. Parishioners will be able to vote on the artwork the week of April 24, and winners will be announced in early May!
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Save the Date: Sunday April 24th for the next Family Event!
Join us on Sunday, April 24, Divine Mercy Sunday, for the Divine Mercy Chaplet for Children before 9:30 am Mass, and a family event in the Social Hall after the 9:30 am and 11:30 am Masses.
Children will have the opportunity to make their Divine Mercy Art contest picture, learn more about the Divine Mercy Message, and enjoy some family fellowship.
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The World Needs Peace. The World Needs Divine Mercy.
In the 1930's Jesus revealed to St. Faustina that He wishes to pour His mercy upon the whole world. "I do not want to punish aching mankind, but I desire to heal it, pressing it to My Merciful Heart. My daughter, tell the whole world about My inconceivable mercy. I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners. It is My desire that it be solemnly celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter. Mankind will not have peace until it turns to the Fount of My Mercy." (Diary of St Faustina)
Prepare to take full advantage of the great graces available on the Feast of Mercy for yourself, your family, and indeed the whole world.
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The Domingo Arribas Memorial Needs Drive
The Knights of Columbus are once again sponsoring a Needs/Food, clothing, furniture, & diapers drive on Saturday April 23, 2022 from 8AM to 10:30AM. We are happy to announce that we have now renamed the drive "The Domingo Arribas Memorial Needs Drive" to honor our Brother Knight who was instrumental in founding this event over 30 years ago. Please bring your donated items to the Monsignor Sabia Social Hall by 10:30am. All donated items will be distributed to the St Jude Pantry, Blessed Sacrament parish, the Salvation Army in Bridgeport, Hopeline, & Goodwill in Monroe.
Although Covid 19 has dramatically lessened since our last drive, we still have certain limitations on donated items in the attached flyer (click on the button below). To minimize contact & ease of distribution, we ask that you label the contents of your donated bags & boxes in your vehicle so they can be unloaded by our volunteers. For furniture items, please bring these items directly to St Jude's on the day of the drive & we can assist with the unloading. If furniture transportation is not possible to St Jude's, we will make a limited amount of pickups only on the day of the drive. In order to minimize risks for all, please have the furniture donations in your garage or driveway for pickup. Any questions, please contact Rocky Scali, 203-767-6053 or Frank Flynn, 203-556-5016.
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In the Spirit of Trust
Men's Retreat
May 13-15, 2022
Holy Family Retreat Team
Our retreat theme “In the Spirit of Trust” will explore the notion of trust and how it is gained, as well as lost. We will hope to share our personal faith experiences of trusting in God’s providence and help one another to build a foundation for lasting trust in the one who created us and loves us. And in the process, we hope to become more trustworthy Christian people on the journey of faith, bringing about a world of justice and peace as members of the Body of Christ.
The retreat begins with a buffet dinner from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. on Friday evening and concludes Sunday with the celebration of Mass at 10:45 a.m. followed by a hot brunch at noon. Families of retreatants are most welcome to attend the Sunday Mass and brunch at no extra charge.
Offering: $325; more if you can, less if you can’t.
A Day to Breathe
Join us on Friday morning of your retreat weekend (any time after 9:00 a.m.), check in early, enjoy some quiet time and a nurturing lunch, and settle in before the retreat begins. Offering: $50
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The Columbiette’s Auxiliary of Saint John XXIII Knights of Columbus cordially invites you to a virtual tea party fundraiser to support our charitable works. After all masses the weekend of March 26 and 27, 2022, members of the Columbiette’s will be distributing invitations to parishioners. Each envelope includes a tea bag, a request for prayer response card and return envelope. Please write the names of your loved ones , living or deceased that you would like us to include in prayer. At the Columbiette’s May meeting we will pray a rosary and include the names of all your intentions.
Please return the response card with your donation by May 5th. You can drop in the basket at mass, drop off at the parish office or mail to:
St Jude Columbiettes
707 Monroe Tpke
Monroe, CT 06468
We appreciate all your support.
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Check out the Easter, Divine Mercy, and
April Saints of the Month Resources
available at the Family Ministry Table!
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Vacation Bible School is coming back to St Jude's on July 11-15 for grades K-5!
We need ADULT and TEEN volunteers!
Once we secure volunteer numbers, children's REGISTRATION WILL OPEN THIS UPCOMING WEEK. For more information or to add your name to the list of those interested in attending e-mail Jessica Iannotta
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Camp Veritas - Best Catholic Summer Camp Ever!
Camp Veritas is a week-long sleep-away camp for teens entering grades 7-12! Held in upstate NY, this camp combines all the amazing camp activities of sports, boating, swimming, rock climbing, zip lines, and making great friends with our Catholic faith: daily Mass, Rosary, Adoration, powerful worship music, dynamic talks. Where else can you play dodgeball with nuns, or go straight from the sports field to encountering Christ in the Eucharist!
All kids in grades 6-12 are invited to register for a week of Camp Veritas! The dates are August 8-13 (for rising 10th-12th graders) or August 14-20 (for rising 7th-9th graders). Special discount - through the generosity of benefactors, all St. Jude parishioners will automatically receive a $200 discount on their registration!
This camp is an incredible, life-changing, unforgettable week - not only the most fun you will ever have, but also the most powerful encounter with Jesus Christ. Fr. Joseph will be there - hope to see our St. Jude's youth there as well!
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To all women of the parish...you are invited to a Feminine Genius Brunch on Divine Mercy Saturday, April 23rd at 9:30 a.m. at The Italian Center in Stamford, CT. This brunch borrows its name after those amazing God-given attributes endowed to you as women—receptivity, sensitivity, generosity, and maternity—all of which make up the feminine genius!! In addition to a lovely brunch at a beautiful location, Sr. Virginia Joy, a Sister of Life, will give a talk on Mercy, Love’s Second Name. A special Mass for women will be celebrated by Bishop Caggiano before the event at 8:30 a.m. at St. Cecilia Church, 1184 Newfield Ave., Stamford, CT.
Come discover God’s plan for your ultimate flourishing! Invite a friend, mother, or daughter (in-law)!
RSVP by April 19th, at www.feminine-genius-brunch-ct.eventbrite.com
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Parish Center available!
We are still marketing our parish center (former school building) with the hope of offsetting operation costs. Please contact the parish office for more information.
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Please remember in your daily prayers:
Marge Tranzillo, Judy-Beth Raine, Maria Bertone, Deacon Ronnie Bicknell, Marie Micholovich, Joseph Bisignano, Sr., Vincent Daniello, Dyana vander Wielen, Martha Zenobia, Joe Pinto, Ray Schwartz, Daniel Louis Bianco, Zoey Frigo, Koswenda Family, Max, Hung Vu, Alfred Zawadski, Michael Serke, Kristen Kelly, Leroy Moye, Judy Thomas, Dr. John Kezel, Rich Carrano, Joseph Sheridan, Catherine Belanger, Janice Moran, Francesca Testa & family, Stephen Henn, and Robert Orol.
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 in praying our Monthly Parish Intention.
Our Petition for April is:
May we use the remaining days of Lent to prepare our hearts and souls for the Glorious Feasts of the Resurrection of Our Lord, and His gift of Divine Mercy Sunday...
We pray to the Lord
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Upcoming Mass Intentions
Sat Apr 23 4:00pm Luis and Elvira Ferreira
Sun Apr 24 7:30am St Jude Parishioners
Sun Apr 24 9:30am Robert Kilpatrick, Jr.
Sun Apr 24 11:30am John J. Tuccio
Mon Apr 25 9:00am George Winkler
Tue Apr 26 9:00am Rev. James K. Joyce
Wed Apr 27 9:00am Milutin Nedeljkovic
Thu Apr 28 9:00am Patty Eng
Sat Apr 30 4:00pm Istvan and Jolan Holecz
Sun May 1 7:30am St Jude Parishioners
Sun May 1 9:30am The Andrew Oros and Richard
Robinson Families
Sun May 1 11:30am The Bernath Family
The Tabernacle Candle will burn in memory of Jennifer Cannon during the month of April.
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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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.
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First Friday Eucharistic Adoration
“Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest”. Matthew 11:28-30
The time that we spend with Jesus in front of the Blessed Sacrament is the best time we will spend on earth. Please join us on the first Friday of every month from 7:00 to 8:00 PM.
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Divine Mercy Chaplet
Wednesdays at 3 pm in the Church
"Jesus we Trust in You"
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Flame of Love Rosary
Thursday mornings after 9 am Mass
"Spread the effect of grace of thy Flame of Love over all of humanity"
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St. Jude Religious Gift Shop |
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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: New Easter Cards, Communion & Confirmation gifts, statues, rosaries and more. Come and browse. Call Fran Cambra 203-261-2573 or Parish Office 203-261 6404 |
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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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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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