Reflection from Fr. Joseph

Are We In The End Times? Part 2

Fr. Joseph Gill

           Recently someone asked me, “Didn’t every age think they were in the End Times? What makes this age different from every other age?” I thought that was a very good question – one that deserved a response.

           I do think that there are fundamental differences between life as we see it now in the twenty-first century versus life throughout history. It’s not simply a matter of “more sin” or different kinds of sin – there was always lust, greed, violence, and even drugs throughout history. Various cultures have been equally depraved; atheism has been around for a long time; the devaluation of human life dates back to Cain and Abel. So it’s not just a matter of the “sex, drugs, and rock & roll” being the defining factor of our age.

           No, I think there are philosophical and anthropological trends which are far more prevalent that makes this a profoundly unique time in human history. Here are some of the differences:



1. Globalization. Never before in human history has the world been as small as it is today. I can send an email to someone in India in a matter of seconds. An event that happened in Australia might be posted online in minutes, for the rest of the world to see. For the first time in human history we truly live in a global village. This is important because it means the exportation of ideologies can happen at a rapid rate. Popes Benedict and Francis both warned against an “ideological colonization” – first-world countries that are sending out their ideologies to developing and third-world countries (for a humorous take on this, see the music video by Rammstein called “Amerika”).
2. Technology and Mass Media. Never before in human history has mass media been able to so thoroughly shape and form a culture. From radio to television to the internet, the ability to form minds and souls has been concentrated in the hands of a few elite. For millennia prior, cultures were passed down through communities – one grew up listening to the stories of grandparents, to witnessing the histories of your town, to being a part of celebrations and grieving rituals and the whole gamut of human life filtered through a community. Now, however, culture is self-defined through one’s media consumption. One chooses what culture to imbibe. This becomes problematic when cultural values are exported through the mass media (this ideological colonization again). Never before could a person, born and raised in a certain culture, seek out a completely different set of ideals through the mass media. This is why parents find that, despite raising their kids in the Catholic Faith, watch their children jettison the Faith – because the young have often willingly chosen a culture through the technological mass media that is at odds with how they have been raised. No longer are parents and other adults the main influential factors on a young person’s cultural, intellectual, and moral development, as had been the case for the vast majority of human history – now souls are formed through technology and mass media. In addition, we view the world through the lens of the screen – there is a dearth of interaction with the “stuff” of the world (dirt, plants, humans, tools, etc) – now most interaction is through a device. This has fundamentally changed the way we relate, the way we receive and form culture, the way we interact with the world.
3. Scientism & Secular Humanism. Closely related to technology is the undying belief that science holds the answers to all of life’s problems, and that scientific truth is the only truth that exists. Very few people examine the philosophical, anthropological, and spiritual implications of suffering or problems – they just want it gone, through science. There is a belief that there is no need to turn to a deity but to turn, instead, to human beings for answers and solutions. This is the first time in human history that man has been so exalted.
4. Rate of Change – sociologist Zygmunt Bauman coined the term “Liquid Modernity”, to describe the rapid rate of change in our culture, technology, and society. Five hundred years ago, if someone saw three or four life-changing inventions in their lifetime, it would have been significant. But consider how many changes have occurred in my short life-span of four decades: the internet, cell phones, AI, medical advances…I even have a “smart refrigerator” which connects to an app on my phone. And not only technology – cultural phenomena that would have been unthinkable in my teen years, such as gay marriage or the transgender movement, have quickly become the law of the land. The rate of change continues to accelerate and shows no sign of stopping.
5. Relativism. Throughout human history, truth has been seen as something worth fighting for and dying for. I think of the bitter fights – which sometimes ended in bloodshed, exile, and imprisonment – during the Arian controversy, which debated whether or not Jesus was truly divine; or the Crusades; or the wars of religion during the Protestant Reformation. There has always, in every culture, been a belief that truth was knowable, that is was important, and that one should seek it. For the first time in human history, however, truth is seen by many as a subjective experience. “Live your truth,” as one member of the transgender community put it. No longer is there any idea that truth exists in reality; rather, all truth is subjective and therefore cannot be scrutinized by others as to its actual correspondence with reality.
6. Irreligion/Thorough Secularism. The tribesmen of the Amazon, the aborigines in the desert, the high Anglican in the cathedral, the barbarian in the Norse lands – all cultures of all times have always had some sort of religion. Whether it was the polytheism of the Greeks and Romans or the Persian Zoroastrians or the ancestor-worship of ancient China, every culture (from the Latin “cultus” meaning “worship”) was based upon adoration of a transcendent deity/deities. But for the first time in history, we are forming a culture that is purposely irreligious. Religion is often scorned, seen as illogical or superstitious, and viewed as something passé. There is a concerted effort to build a world that is completely secular, which has never been done in human history before.
7. Sheer Magnitude of Sin. Even in the most barbaric days of the ancient Mayan empire, they were still not able to slaughter the 600,000+ babies killed each year in America alone through abortion. A teenage boy can see more sexually explicit images in one hour than even the most hedonistic Roman emperor would see in his lifetime. There is a sense in which those sins which have always existed have now reached a commonality to which we have become numb.



I believe that our modern age is one that is indeed different from every other age. We have abandoned the idea of God and instead replaced Man in His stead. This expresses itself in the way we see Truth (subjective to man’s perception), the way we solve problems (Man’s power through science can end all suffering), the way in which we have crafted a society without God. Indeed, the seeds of this have been planted all the way back centuries ago, from the Renaissance to the Industrial Revolution to Communism. But in the past 70-100 years we have seen a rapid growth and a full flowering of these seeds. For this reason, I believe that we truly are living in unprecedented times. Where will this end? Where will this lead? I do not know – but God knows, and my trust is in Him.

St. Jude Parishioners participated in the moving Ecumenical Prayer Service, May 7, 2026, as we prayed for our neighbors and Nation.

Family News and Events

May Rooted Magazine

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

It is full inspiration for the the month of Mary!

Printed copies will be available at the family ministry table.

Saint Jude Moms Group

Next Meeting Date:

Thursday 5/28 - 7:30 pm

Email saintjudemomsgroup@gmail.com for more information!

Knights of Columbus News

SAVE THE DATE: BLOOD DRIVE ON MAY 16

On Saturday, May 16, the Knights of Columbus and the Columbiettes will co-sponsor a blood drive in the Social Hall. The collection time is from 8 AM until 1 PM. If you wish to donate, you can access www.redcrossblood.org, search for our drive on May 16 and select a time to donate. We hope to see you there.

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 Monroe Turnpike Monroe, CT 06468

Rededication of Memorial

To the Unborn

This is a mass to thank God for the gift of life, to atone for the sin of abortion, and to pray for an end to abortion and the remembrance of the unborn. 

Gate of Heaven Cemetery

Daniel’s Farm Rd Trumbull, CT

Inside Mausoleum

Saturday May 9th

10:00 A.M.

Celebrant - Father Ukaj

Please join the Knights of Columbus

Council 5987

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, 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, Lawrence Cofone, Mary Witkowsky

Please join us in praying our Monthly Parish Intention..

Our Petitions for May:

HONORING OUR BLESSED MOTHER  and in Thanksgiving for our own Mothers 

In this month dedicated to honoring Mary,

Our Blessed Mother, we give thanks for her maternal care for each of us. We pray Her intercession for an end to the violence in our Country and for PEACE in our war-torn World.

May we also remember with gratitude all that our own Mothers have done for us...

     We pray to the Lord

Mass Intentions for May 9 – May 17

Sat      May 9             4:30pm            Laszlo, Piroska and Martha Mencseli

    Sun     May 10           7:30am            St Jude Parishioners

Sun     May 10            9:30am            Margaret Mende

Sun     May 10            11:30am          The Andrade and Pinto family

                                                           Christine Grinavic

                                                           Joseph A. Downs, Jr

Mon    May 11            9:00am            Donald Richard Marden, Jr

Tue     May 12            9:00am            Joseph Sidarweck

Wed    May 13            9:00am            Luis and Elvira Ferreira and

Jennifer Cannon

Wed    May 13            7:00pm            In honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Thu     May 14            9:00 am          Thomas Cunningham

Thu     May 14            7:00pm            Joseph Farrugia

Fri       May 15            9:00am            Frances Bilan

Sat      May 16            4:30pm            Edward Burns

    Sun     May 17           7:30am            St Jude Parishioners

Sun     May 17            9:30am            Mary Chappa

Sun     May 17            11:30am          Maxine Moats

                                                           Mary Alphonse and Ryan Joseph

                                                           Manuel Vieira

Tabernacle Candle: In memory of Renee Freer and Stephen Misencik

Adoration Candles: 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.