Reflection from Fr. Joseph

Recently on separate occasions, a number of parishioners have asked me about whether or not it is appropriate to join or raise their hands during the Our Father at Mass. It’s a question worth discussing, because it brings up an interesting intersection between private prayer and liturgical prayer.

First of all, raising one’s hands to pray is called the “Orans” position, and it is a very ancient custom. Art on the walls of the catacombs shows people praying in that position. It was very common in the early church – as attested to by Scripture. St. Paul writes, “Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension.” (1 Tim 2:8) and twice in the Psalms (Psalm 134 and 141) do we hear of the Psalmist “lifting up hands” in praise and supplication.

When the Faith reached the reserved and far less emotional Gaelic and Germanic peoples, it became customary for such gestures to become more restrained – hence we see hands folded, not raised. But the priests have always kept the Orans position at Mass as a symbol of beseeching God on behalf of the people. To use the Orans position, for a priest, means that he is acting as the representative of the people, standing before God.

The actions that a priest does at Mass are governed by rubrics – instructions, written in red ink, in the Roman Missal (the book on the altar and at the chair). These tell the priest what to do with his hands, when to kneel or bow, etc. It is very clear that during the Our Father (as with the Eucharistic Prayer, and the other prayers in which we are beseeching God on behalf of the people), the Orans posture is to be used by the priest.

The Roman Missal does specify some actions that the congregants do – they are to kneel during the Eucharistic prayer, stand during the Gospel, etc. But the Roman Missal does not specify what to do during the Our Father – there are no rubrics for the people whatsoever.

A 1997 declaration from the Vatican entitled “Ecclesiae de Mysterio”, does give the following instructions: In eucharistic celebrations deacons and non-ordained members of the faithful may not pronounce prayers — e.g. especially the eucharistic prayer, with its concluding doxology — or any other parts of the liturgy reserved to the celebrant priest. Neither may deacons or non-ordained members of the faithful use gestures or actions which are proper to the same priest celebrant. It is a grave abuse for any member of the non-ordained faithful to “quasi preside” at the Mass.

Does this forbid the use of the Orans position during the Our Father? My personal interpretation is that it does not. Holding hands or lifting one’s hands is usually never meant to “quasi-preside” as if the laity were mimicking the priest’s actions.



So, my personal opinion based on the lack of very specific instructions from the Vatican to the contrary, is that your position during the Our Father is a personal decision!

Men’s Cursillo Weekend

16-19 April 2026

Sisters of the Atonement Retreat Center, Garrison, NY

The Cursillo movement focuses on proclaiming ­­­­­the good news that Christ loves us and offers a mechanism to spread this message through the best means possible, which is friendship.

To fully explain Cursillo to someone who has not experienced it is, at best, difficult. It’s not because Cursillo is a secret, but because it is a living experience that one must experience firsthand. No one can fully explain how God touches a person. Christ, through the Cursillo and through His grace, touches the person who is open to a personal relationship with Him in a special way. Cursillo offers a deeper understanding of what it means to be fully Catholic and provides friendship groups to help us grow closer to Christ as we go about our day-to-day lives. 



We are currently accepting applications for a limited number of men to join us in our upcoming Cursillo weekend. For more information, please text Wayne Haack at 203 516 7108.

Divine Mercy Sunday

THIS SUNDAY!

Jesus revealed to Saint Faustina that He wishes to pour His mercy upon the whole world. He told her, "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". Prepare to take full advantage of the great graces available on the Feast of Mercy for yourself, your family, and the whole world. Go to MercySundayMomentum.org to find out how.

• Day 9 Novena: Saturday 4/11 after 4:30 pm Mass  Day 9 prayers



• Sunday 4/12 Divine Mercy Sunday – 3 pm Divine Mercy Holy Hour followed by Hospitality in social hall. Feel free to bring a dessert or snack to share. Divine Mercy Crafts will be available for the children!

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN

TO A GREAT VIDEO WITH FR CHRIS ALAR AND CHRIS STEFANICK EXPLAINING THE GREAT GRACES AVAILABLE ON DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY!!

Confirmation Prayer

Join us in prayer for our confirmands who will be confirmed tomorrow, April 11

Lord, You send out Your Spirit to touch

the hearts of all people,

so that they may believe in You and

in Jesus whom You sent.

Look kindly on our candidates for

Confirmation as they listen to Your voice.

Open their hearts to Your Spirit and

bring to fulfillment the good work

that You have begun in them.

As we prepare and pray for these

Confirmation candidates, make each of us an

instrument of Your love.

Teach them to appreciate what is holy in others,

and to be patient with what

they do not understand.

Deepen their faith in the Gospel

and help them to pass it on by their example.

We pray that You will continue to

guide them and sustain them.

Through Christ our Lord,

Amen.

Family News and Events

April Rooted Magazine

Here is the link for March's Rooted Magazine with a link to past issues here.

It is full inspiration for the the Triduum, Easter and Divine Mercy Sunday.

Printed copies will be available at the family ministry table.

Saint Jude Moms Group

Next Meeting Date:

Thursday 4/23 - 7:30 pm

Email saintjudemomsgroup@gmail.com for more information!

SPACE IS FILLING UP QUICKLY REGISTER SOON!

Knights of Columbus News

Knights of Columbus Needs/Food, clothing, & diapers drive



The Knights of Columbus are once again sponsoring a Needs/Food, clothing, & diapers drive on Saturday April 25, 2026 from 8AM to 10:30AM. NO FURNITURE items are being collected. Please bring your donated items to the Monsignor Sabia Social Hall behind the Church. These items will be distributed to Bridgeport Rescue Mission, Blessed Sacrament parish, & Hopeline. Since we no longer have a food pantry at St Jude's, all food collected for the drive will go to the Blessed Sacrament parish community which has a critical need for food.

To simplify our distribution process during the day of the drive, it would be much appreciated if you labelled your donated items in boxes & bags for Blessed Sacrament/Father Skip, Hopeline & Bridgeport Rescue. Please review the attached flyer for specific items needed for each.  Any questions, please contact Rocky Scali, 203-767-6053 or Frank Flynn, 203-556-5016. 

THANK YOU

The Saint John XXIII Auxiliary #5987 of the Columbiettes cordially invite you to our annual Virtual Tea Party fundraiser to support our charitable works.

We will be distributing invitations on the weekends of April 25 and 26 and May 2 and 3, 2026. 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 Columbiettes May meeting we will pray the rosary and include the names of your intentions.

Please return the response card with your donation by May 9th. You can drop off in the basket at mass, drop it off at the parish office or mail to :

St Jude Church

707 Rt 111

Monroe, CT 06468

All men are invited to join for a discussion-based Bible Study on Saturday mornings at 8am in the Monsignor Sabia Social Hall, as we study the week’s Sunday readings.

For more information, contact Bob Lux at mjrob08@gmail.com.

Hopeline Pregnancy Center has a continued need for disposable diapers, etc. They are currently low on sizes Newborn,1, 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7,wipes and jars of baby food as well as gently used Baby clothes (boys and girls, up to 18 months), Baby blankets, crib sheets, Onesies, socks, strollers, bottles and pacifiers and baby monitors. They have also requested baby formula such as “Similac 360 Total Care”. Should you wish to help you can leave the diapers, etc. in the outer vestibule of the church. Monetary donations, with checks made out to the Hopeline Pregnancy Center, as well as gift cards from Amazon, Target and grocery stores are most welcome. They may be mailed to: Hopeline Pregnancy Center, PO Box 110658, Trumbull, CT 06611.

Their biggest need right now is girls’ winter clothing 0-3, 3-6, 9-12 and 12-18.

 As always, your continued support is greatly appreciated by Hopeline and our Knights of Columbus Council.

Please contact Bob Lux at mjrob08@gmail.com with any questions you may have.

Please remember in your daily prayers:

David Nicolett, Vincent Daniello, Joe Pinto, Zoey Frigo, Daniel Louis Bianco, Max, Hung Vu , Darryl Patterson, Dr. John Kezel, Francisca Testa & Family, Catherine Belanger, Tom Pleva, James Buturla, Patti F, Anne DeVita, Anna Harper, Jack Lane, Frank Kerekes, Antonia Tedeschi, Mary McDonald, Douglas Stanley, Jenn Katz, Susan W, Barbara Tranchese, Mary Lopresti, Lor C, Janet C, Larry Pisani, Becky M, Vincent Pisani, Greg, Kaiti and Cameron Kessler, Mildred Blasko, Michael Merola & Family, Father Krzysztof, Baby Henry Taylor, Garren Kiett, Viola Cleo Bradshaw, Alice Gumpert, Michael, Donna, Chrystal Archuletta, Lucy Hanson, Jesse Hurst & Family, Maryann Lapinski, Andrea Paddock, Nadine Alusik, Margarida Andrade, John, Jimmy Forno, Matthew Van der Wielen, George N., Milenka Gospic, Benjamin Gray, Chris McCarthy, Leo B., Edward Isales, MaryAnn Voytek, Sal Guerrera, Anne Gulia, Raymond Gosselin, Joan Deaky, Nancy Czupkowski, Jean Paul, Virginia LaQuesse, Ed Marencik, Dan Mongillo

Please join us in praying our Monthly Parish Intention..

Our Petition for April: For Religious Vocations.

On Good Shepherd Sunday, April 26th, we celebrate the 63rd Anniversary of Prayers For Religious Vocations.  Following Our Lord's instructions, "We pray for the Lord to send laborers into His Vineyard" (Mk 9:38 and Luke 10:2).

May we continue to pray for Vocations to the Priesthood, Diaconate and Consecrated Life. As Pope Leo XIV requests, may we also pray for priests in crisis...

    We Pray To The Lord 

 Mass Intentions for April 11 – April 19

Sat      Apr 11            4:30pm           Jennifer Cannon

    Sun     Apr 12           7:30am            Richard Stephens

Sun     Apr 12             9:30am            Erich and Rose Weingerl

Sun     Apr 12            11:30am          St Jude Parishioners

                                                           Manuel Silva

                                                           Thomas and Eileen Russell

Mon    Apr 13            9:00am           Louise Noll

Tue     Apr 14            9:00am           Gallagher and Kealy families               

Wed    Apr 15           9:00am           Mary and Anthony Bifulco

Thu     Apr 16             9:00 am         Margaret Oakley

Fri       Apr 17             9:00am          Istvan and Jolan Holecz

Sat      Apr 18            4:30pm           The Lluch Family

    Sun     Apr 19           7:30am           Deceased members of the Vill Family

Sun     Apr 19            9:30am           St Jude Parishioners

Sun     Apr 19           11:30am          Sam Tomatore

                                                           Russ Venables

                                                           Joe Laveneziana

Tabernacle Candle: In memory of Andrew Henn

Wine and Hosts:In memory of Luis and Elvira Ferreira and Jennifer Cannon

Weekday Masses (Monday thru Friday) will be in the main Church at 9 am and live streamed.

The Weekend Masses inside the Church are Saturday at 4:30 pm and Sunday at 7:30, 9:30 and 11:30. Only the Saturday Mass at 4:30 pm and the Sunday 7:30 am and 9:30 Masses are live streamed and may be viewed at https://www.stjuderc.org/view-masses

There will be a once/month Sunday evening Solemn High Mass on the Fourth Sunday of every month, starting February 22, at 5:30pm. It is scheduled through May.

Saturday Rosary Sign up.

We have a wonderful way to prepare for Saturday Mass and that is to say the Rosary before Mass starts. We start 30 minutes before Mass so we start at 4:00 every Saturday.

Please join us as we pray. Also, please prayerfully consider joining this ministry.

If you would like to join you can sign up at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0d4aa8ad2fa6fccf8-saturday#/

We look forward to you joining us as we pray the Rosary together.

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.

Flame of Love Rosary

Thursday mornings after 9 am Mass

"Spread the effect of grace of thy Flame of Love over all of humanity"

flameoflove.us



Divine Mercy Chaplet

Wednesdays at 3 pm in the Church

"Jesus we Trust in You"

thedivinemercy.org

St. Jude Religious Gift Shop

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: Communion Gifts and cards, statues, rosaries and more.

Come in and browse. Call Fran Cambra 203-261-2573 or Parish Office 203-261-6404.

Confession Hours

We are adding an additional Confession time starting February 1, through Easter (at least - if it is popular we will keep it). Monday nights from 8-9pm (the last hour of Adoration). 

Confessions will now be on Saturdays from 3:30-4:30pm and on Monday nights from 8-9pm. 

Confessions are also by appointment, please call 203-261-6404, to set up an appointment or email the office.  

Parish Office Hours

THE OFFICE HOURS ARE:

MONDAY - THURSDAY 9:00 – 3:00

Please call (203-261-6404) or e-mail (ParishOffice@stjuderc.org) 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.