Reflection from Fr. Joseph

Conspiracy theories abound like flies on rotten meat. This past week I was reading about several conspiracies related to the Ebola virus – some say that the virus was introduced to acquire foreign aid, or to gain access to mineral rights, or that the virus doesn’t even exist at all.

Over the last many years, there have been copious conspiracy theories about everything from the moon landing to the death of JFK to September 11th to the Coronavirus. Some are easily dismissed out-of-hand, while others have some good arguments in their favor.

But I think it speaks to a deeper issue in society – who can we trust? Can we trust the news media? The government? The Church? Very few of us have the ability to do all the research ourselves or to understand the complexities of certain situations (it always amazed me how during Covid, everyone became an epidemiologist overnight), so we have to trust outside authorities to give us the truth.

Sadly, it is harder and harder to find voices we can trust. The number of coverups that have been exposed and lies that have been debunked have made it difficult to trust. It seems like almost every authority and elite leader in our world today has been coopted by financial interests and are only concerned with saving their skin and padding their bank accounts, rather than actually caring about the ordinary American who are affected by their decisions and words.

But we can take solace in a couple of truths of our faith. First, Jesus promises that “all things that are hidden will be revealed.” At the end of time, all of the lies will be exposed for what they are; all of the double-lives will be made manifest; we will be able to know completely and fully many of the mysteries of human history.

Second, we have to keep in mind what we need to know and what we don’t need to know. It was curiosity that killed the cat; and it was also the driving force behind Original Sin. But whether or not the moon landing was real does not impact my daily life. As tragic as it was, we may never know exactly who killed JFK, but how does that concern me? We need that famous Serenity Prayer, “God, grant me the grace to change the things I can, the serenity to accept the things I cannot, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

Finally, we CAN trust the Word of God and the Church. We can’t live healthy lives if we are suspicious of all authority – we have to put down roots in something beyond ourselves. The Bible has held up to the test of time, and the Church has never wavered or erred in its teaching of the same truth for two millennia. This is something I’m willing to stake my life on.



So don’t be taken in by the conspiracies we read in the news. It’s good to question and investigate, but at the end of the day, evaluate all things in light of what God has revealed, and we won’t go down the rabbit hole of suspicion and speculation!

Corpus Christi Procession

Coming up on Sunday June 7^th is our great feast of Corpus Christi, honoring the Body and Blood of our Lord. We will have our annual procession with the Blessed Sacrament immediately following the 9:30am Mass. We will process down to the new fire pit in the field by the Rectory. All are welcome!

Family News and Events

End-of-the-Year Youth Appeal

​Dear families,

It has been an amazing year in Youth Encounters! From our first-ever overnight retreats to our dynamic Youth Encounter nights to our St Jude Youth TikTok channel going viral (one video with over 5 million views!), we're excited at what God is doing in our youth here in Monroe.

We have always made Youth Encounters free, no-cost, and no-sign-up. The Gospel should never come at a cost! At the same time, it does cost money to run Youth Encounters: supplies and food are getting more expensive (and the kids are getting hungrier!), and many of our trips and activities are heavily subsidized. We offer significant Camp Veritas scholarships, too, which drain our resources.

We are asking families to contribute to an End-of-the-Year Youth Encounter Appeal in the hopes of raising $1,000 for our youth programs here at St. Jude's. This will allow us to continue our strong youth program without taking money away from the other vital ministries at our parish.

Would you consider donating? If so, you can find the link here: https://www.osvhub.com/st-jude-church-monroe/giving/funds/youth-encounter-kid-s-club-appeal  or the QR code to donate is here below:

June Rooted Magazine



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

It is full inspiration for the the month of The Most Sacred Heart!

Printed copies will be available at the family ministry table.

Saint Jude Moms Group

Email saintjudemomsgroup@gmail.com if you would like yo join our summer book club - Parenting for Eternity!

Knights of Columbus News

The Knights of Columbus, Rev James McCarten Assembly 119, will be hosting a Patriotic Rosary on Tuesday, June 16th at 6PM . Please join us at the Madonna statue for prayer. If you wish, you may bring chairs. 

Rosary at Marion Heights

The Knights of Columbus, Council 5987, will sponsor a Rosary at Marion Heights at 2:00 PM on Saturday June 6^th. 

May God Bless!

Hopeline Pregnancy Center has a continued need for disposable diapers, etc. They are currently low on sizes Newborn,3, 5, & 6, 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, strollers, baby toys 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.

 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, Nancy Czupkowski, Jean Paul, Virginia LaQuesse, Ed Marencik, Dan Mongillo, Lawrence Cofone, Mary Witkowsky, John Rizzitelli, Marissa S. , Dan Hermansson, Allison H.

Please join us in praying our Monthly Parish Intention..



Our Petitions for June are: Honoring St. Joseph and our own Fathers

As we honor St. Joseph and celebrate the gift of our own Fathers, may we pray for our priests, Fr. Joseph and Fr. Jozef, our Spiritual Fathers, that they may be filled with wisdom, understanding and strength to follow in the footsteps of St. Joseph...

         We pray to The Lord

Mass Intentions for June 6 – June 14

Sat      June 6              9:00am            In honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Sat      June 6              4:30pm           Joseph Farrugia

Sun     June 7             7:30am            Nicholas Boland

Sun     June 7              9:30am            Maria Silva

Sun     June 7              11:30am          St Jude Parishioners

                                                           Loretta Delmastro

                                                           Ginny Yehle

Mon    June 8             9:00am           Josephine Conde and Epifania Conde

Tue     June 9             9:00am            Deceased members of the Farrell family                                                                                                                                      

Wed    June 10           9:00am           Ruth Deneen

Thu     June 11            9:00 am          James W. O’Brien

Fri       June 12            9:00am            Larry Pline

Sat      June 13           4:30pm           Isabel Dantas Teixeira

Sun     June 14           7:30am           June Leonard

Sun     June 14           9:30am           Deceased members of the Longo and

Guerrera family

Sun     June 14          11:30am          St Jude Parishioners

                                                           Pietro Guerrera

                                                           Marie L. Keegan

Tabernacle Candle: In memory of Margaret Ann Tranzillo

Wine and Hosts: 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

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 * on break for summer will resume in September *

"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.