Please note that Fr Joseph is currently on retreat and will resume his regular column next week.

An article from the Diocese of Bridgeport

We Mourn the Death of Pope Francis

Bridgeport, CT/April 22, 2025—The Diocese of Bridgeport joins Catholics worldwide in mourning and prayer following the death of Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88. Bishop Frank J. Caggiano expressed deep sorrow yet profound gratitude for Pope Francis’s luminous witness to the Gospel, describing him as "a shepherd who led with tenderness" and "a prophet who called us to conversion."

Throughout his pontificate, Pope Francis emphasized mercy, solidarity, and care for the marginalized. In his recent statement about Pope Francis, Bishop Caggiano highlighted the Holy Father's invitation to renewed encounters with Jesus Christ, recalling how Pope Francis portrayed the Church as a "field hospital" open to all. His advocacy for justice, peace, and ecological responsibility has profoundly impacted the faithful, inspiring continued commitment to these ideals.

Bishop Caggiano will offer Mass for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis at St. Augustine Cathedral on Saturday, April 26, 2025 at 7:00 pm. This will also be Mass for Mercy Sunday. All are invited to attend.

As part of mourning practices, the Diocese is entering the traditional novemdiales, or nine days of mourning. During this period, parishes will prominently display portraits of Pope Francis, accompanied by votive candles and mourning flowers. Church bells across the Diocese will toll solemnly in honor of the late pontiff.

The Diocese encourages personal prayer for Pope Francis, including recitations of the Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, and the Rosary, particularly involving schoolchildren. Special intentions for the Pope's eternal rest will be included prominently in the Universal Prayer during all Masses and the Liturgy of the Hours. While immediate liturgical celebrations remain focused on the Easter Octave, special Masses dedicated explicitly to Pope Francis’s memory will commence from April 28th, emphasizing Christ's victorious death and resurrection as central themes, aligning with Pope Francis's own faithful witness.

The Funeral Mass (which will be live-streamed) for Pope Francis will be celebrated in St. Peter’s Square on Saturday, April 26, 2025 at 10:00 am (CET/Rome)/4:00 am (EDT/NYC).

A novena provided by the USCCB, available in English and Spanish, will guide the Diocese through nine days of reflective prayer, scripture readings, and liturgical petitions. These practices underscore a communal response that blends sorrow with Christian hope, trusting in the Resurrection that Pope Francis faithfully proclaimed.

In honoring Pope Francis's legacy, the Diocese reaffirms its dedication to living as missionary disciples, echoing his lifelong call to bring Christ’s love to the world.

Virtual Tea Party fundraiser

The Saint Pope 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 26 & 27 and May 3 & 4, 2025. 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 a rosary and include the names of all your intentions.



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

St Jude Church

707 Rt 111

Monroe, CT 06468



We appreciate your support.

SUNDAY IS DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY!

Join us THIS SUNDAY, 4/27 at 3:00 PM 

for a Divine Mercy Sunday Holy Hour

with a light reception following.

The Holy Hour will include the Divine Mercy Chaplet in song, time for quiet Adoration and Confession. Take advantage of this great day of grace!

Father Chris Alar MIC of the Divine Mercy Shrine (Stockbridge, MA) shared this prayer to say after Communion on Divine Mercy Sunday:

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God,

have mercy on me, a poor sinner.

Jesus, you promised St. Faustina that the soul who has been to Confession and the soul that receives Holy Communion

will receive the complete forgiveness of all sin and punishment. 

Please give me this grace.

Amen

Divine Mercy Sunday is the first Sunday after Easter, the greatest day of grace of the year. Official Church teaching states that those who worthily receive the Eucharist with trust in God's mercy on this day and are merciful to others will obtain COMPLETE forgiveness of all sin and punishment. It is likened to a second baptism! On this day, ask the Lord with trust for blessings, healings, reconciliations, etc.



Jesus promises, "On that day the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those 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. On that day all the divine floodgates through which graces flow are opened. Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet."

Click here for some useful documents to learn more and prepare for this great feast!

St Jude-St Stephen Seniors

The St Jude-St Stephen Seniors will meet on Thursday, May 8th at 1:00 PM in the St Jude Social Hall below the church.

All are welcome. No need to register.

Blood Drive

The Knights of Columbus Council, along with the Columbiettes, are sponsoring a blood drive in the Monsignor Sabia Social Hall on Saturday, May 17th, 8 AM until 1 PM. If you wish to donate, please access www.redcrossbloog.org, find our drive and schedule a slot. Hope to see you there. 

Frank Flynn

The Saint Jude Religious Gift Shop has many beautiful Holy Communion items for sale.

A table will be available with items for purchase in the vestibule the weekend of May 3-4.

Family News and Updates

Youth Encounter - TONIGHT 4/25!

Camp Adore 2025 Registration

**REGISTER SOON - SPACE IS FILLING QUICKLY!**

June 23-27 from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm

for children entering grades 1-6

REGISTER HERE



Email Jessica for more information or if you are an adult or teen interested in volunteering

Knights of Columbus News

The Knights of Columbus are once again sponsoring a Needs/Food, clothing, & diapers drive on Saturday April 26, 2025 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 Blessed Sacrament parish, Hopeline, & the Bridgeport Rescue Mission. 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.

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.

Food Pantry update

Our gratitude for your continued generosity. At this time the items in greatest need are: Mac and Cheese, canned tuna, and canned soup. 

Hopeline Pregnancy Center has a continued need for disposable diapers, etc. They are currently low on Newborn and size 5, wipes and jars of baby food as well as Baby clothes (boys and girls, up to 18 months), Baby blankets, crib sheets, Onesies, socks, strollers, bottles and pacifiers and baby cloths, 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. 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, Louise Noll, Chrystal Archuletta, Chloe Capra, Lucy Hanson, Debbie Dragonetti, Jesse Hurst & Family, Maryann Lapinski, Joseph Laveneziana, Andrea Paddock, Nadine Alusik, Margarida Andrade, John

Please join us in praying our Monthly Parish Intention.

Our Petition for April is for Sacred Days.

As Holy Week quickly approaches, Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday, may we take the time to participate in all the spiritual opportunities we have at St. Jude's to prepare for the GREAT FEAST of THE RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD...

     We pray to the Lord

2026 PARISH MASS INTENTION BOOK

The 2026 mass intention book will open on Monday, May 12.

Helpful information to guide you when you are requesting a Mass:

Announced Masses: Offered for a particular intention on a particular date. It can be in honor/memory of someone or for a special intention.

We offer weekday masses (Monday-Friday), weekend masses, and our monthly first Saturday Padre Pio Mass.

PLEASE NOTE: By Papal Decree a mass every weekend is to be said for the parishioners of St. Jude. Therefore, we have only 3 masses a weekend available for intentions and will need to be limited. We have instituted a collective intention mass (11:30am Sunday) where we will pray up to 3 intentions.

TABERNACLE CANDLE (month)

ADORATION CANDLES (during any adoration times during month)

WINE AND HOSTS (month)

Requests can be made through e-mail, by phone, or by visiting the parish office

STIPEND: Mass $10.00

Tabernacle Candle $75.00

Adoration Candles $40.00

Wine/Hosts $25.00

Payment by cash or check at time of request (No credit cards)

All outstanding invoices for past requested intentions must be paid before new intentions will be scheduled.

Mass Intentions for April 26 – May 4

Sat     Apr 26            4:30pm           Isabel Dantas-Teixeira and Lucinda Dantas

Sun     Apr 27            7:30am           St Jude Parishioners

Sun     Apr 27            9:30am           Angelo Magliocco

Sun     Apr 27            11:30am         John Rauser

                                                           Emanuel Cambra

                                                           Margaret Oakley

Mon    Apr 28            9:00am           John J. Tuccio

Tue     Apr 29            9:00am           Patrick Ryan

Wed    Apr 30            9:00am          Rosa Muscarella

Thu     May 1           9:00am            Isabel Dupont

Fri      May 2             9:00am           Rita Delle Donne Stoverchy

Sat     May 3             9:00 am          Maximino Monteiro

Sat      May 3             4:30pm           Raymond and Ann Ferrara

Sun     May 4             7:30am           St Jude Parishioners

Sun     May 4             9:30am           Howard Saad

Sun     May 4             11:30am         Deceased members of the Henn Family

                                                           Peter Monticelli

                                                           Christine Grinavic

Tabernacle Candle: (April) In memory of Andrew Henn

                               (May) In memory of Luis and Elvira Ferreira and Jennifer Cannon

Hosts and Wine: (April) In memory of Marie Goss

                           (May) In memory of Lucinda Dantas      

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

The Men's Bible Study will resume on Saturday, January 18th at 8:00 AM, in the Parish Social Hall. Each week we will study and discuss the Mass readings for that weekend. All men of the parish are welcome.



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

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



Confessions on Saturday afternoon will be in the day chapel at 3:30 to 4:15 pm on Saturdays. Come take advantage of God's great mercy by coming to the Sacrament of Confession.



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