Reflection from Fr. Joseph

In the midst of these dog days of July, hopefully we are able to get out and enjoy some of God’s great creation. Many of the great saints were able to see

God through all that He has made – and we can, too, if we have eyes to see.

For example, the children of Fatima, Sts. Jacinta and Francisco Marta, used to call the sun “Our Lord’s lamp”, the moon was “Our Lady’s Lamp”, while the stars were “the angels’ lamps”. Many people have made the connection between the moon and Our Lady – just as the moon has no light on its own but only shines with light reflected from the sun, so Our Lady’s virtues and graces were not her own, but were reflections of God’s great work in her.

Speaking of the moon, one of St. John Bosco’s young pupils, Michael Magone (who is in the process of canonization), one time told his holy pastor the following words: “As I admire the moon I cannot help crying because it has for so many centuries regularly lit up the night without once disobeying the orders of its Creator. I, instead, who am so young and a rational creature who should have been faithful to the laws of God, have disobeyed Him so many times and have offended Him in a thousand ways.”

Speaking of St. John Bosco, he had a number of enemies in the anti-clerical milieu in which he lived. To protect him from harm, God sent him a large grey dog (which he nicknamed “Grigio”, the “Grey One”). Grigio would show up unannounced when he was needed, and then as soon as the threat had passed, he would disappear. Many of Bosco’s boys would see the dog and even pet it, but it always refused food and never stayed for more than a day with his master. No one knew where it disappeared off to – but whenever Bosco needed him, the dog would come from nowhere – a sign of God’s providence!

Animals featured greatly in the lives of many saints. St. Hubert was a great hunter and nobleman who one day was shirking his Sunday duties and missing Mass, preferring to go hunting. As he took aim at a fine stag, he was shocked to see, between the deer’s antlers, a crucifix. He allowed the animal to live and immediately repented of missing Mass, becoming a devout and holy man henceforth.

Birds, too, were closely connected to the saints. One time St. Kevin, an Irish monk, was lying in a cave, praying with his arms extended. He was so lost in prayer that he didn’t notice a blackbird making her nest in his hands. When he finished his prayer and saw the nest, he stayed with arms extended for forty days until the hatchlings grew up and flew off.

St. Francis was known for preaching to the birds! Francis was unsure whether he was called to be a hermit or a preacher – so he asked St. Clare to pray for him. After a while, Clare sent him the message that he was called to preach – and Francis was so thrilled that he walked out into the field and began preaching immediately to the flock of birds sitting there. The birds stopped their chirping and listened attentively, drawing near and landing on him as he walked among them.

But other saints were known to preach to other animals! St. Anthony famously preached in Rimini (Italy), but no one wanted to hear him. So he went to the town pond and preached across the waters, and the townspeople were shocked to see the fish poke their heads above water, listening attentively to his sermon. Needless to say, the people quickly welcomed Anthony back into town and hung on his every word!

More saintly nature stories next week…

Co-operative Mission Sunday Appeal on July 19^th & 20^th

Each year, the Mission Office of our diocese invites a missionary group to every parish to share about their mission work. On the weekend of July 19-20, we welcome the Foundation for Children in Need (FCN), a lay Catholic organization based in Arlington Heights, IL. FCN serves the poor in the villages of southern India.

Next week St. Jude parish is hosting Dr. Geetha Yeruva, the founder and president of FCN, who will explain how it supports among other endeavors the education of children and provides corrective surgeries for children with cleft lips and palettes.  

There will be a second collection taken up next weekend to support them. Our generosity will be appreciated. To learn more about FCN, please visit: www.fcn-usa.org.

Annual Parish Softball Game

Next weekend - July 27

(rain date 8/3)

2 pm

Wolfe Park Field #3 (by senior center)

All are welcome, even if you prefer to be a spectator to cheer us on!

Email Jessica if you would like to play with us!

Family News and Events

All are welcome. Email Jessica if you would like to bring something or for more info!

We plan to offer a parent bible study again during Sunday's religious education session

at 10:30 am. Email Jessica if interested!

Save the Dates!

Summer Backyard Adorations

Monday, July 28: 6:30 pm - hosted by the Albohn Family

Monday, August 25: 6:30 pm - hosted by the Goss Family

All are welcome! Email to RSVP and for more information!

Knights of Columbus News

Blood Donation Drive THIS SATURDAY



Brothers or Fellow parishioners: The next blood donation drive is being held THIS Saturday, July 19, 8 AM until 1 PM. What's new is that we are co-sponsoring with IBEW at their meeting hall, located at 721 Main St., Rte 25. We are excited by this partnership and hope to continue filling all the available donation slots. If you wish to donate, please search for our drive at www.redcrossblood.org. we hope to see you there. New place same faces. The Knights of Columbus and Columbiettes.

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. 

Beginning on May 31^st and through the month of June the Knights of Columbus will be sponsoring a Baby Bottle fund raiser to benefit the Hopeline Pregnancy Center. Bottles will be distributed after every Mass. Please consider taking a bottle home and filling it with your change, bills and/or checks.

Hopeline has said their estimated cost to save a baby’s life is approximately $1,200. Our goal at St Jude’s is to raise at least $6,000. Your support is greatly needed.

Should you have any questions please contact Bob Lux at mjrob08@gmail.com.

The Knights are wrapping up the Baby Bottle Drive for Hopeline. Please return all bottles, with your donations, by next weekend (July 19^th and 20^th) prior to your Mass.

We will soon announce the results of the Drive. Thank you so much for your support.



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, Chloe Capra, Lucy Hanson, Debbie Dragonetti, Jesse Hurst & Family, Maryann Lapinski, Joseph Laveneziana, Andrea Paddock, Nadine Alusik, Margarida Andrade, John, Jimmy Forno, Matthew Van der Wielen

Please join us in praying our Monthly Parish Intention.

Our Petition forJuly is for: PEACE

As we pray for peace in the World,

may we remember the words of the beautiful hymn,

Let There Be Peace on Earth and let it begin with me! 

We pray for peace in our own

hearts, our own homes, and our own Country...

         We pray to the Lord

Mass Intentions for July 19 – July 27

Sat      July 19         4:30pm          The Bonitatibus Family

Sun     July 20           7:30am        St Jude Parishioners

Sun     July 20           9:30am         Ruth Staub

Sun     July 20           11:30am        Maria Silva, Victoria Conde, Doug Stevens

Mon    July 21           9:00am          Joanna Cafora

Tue     July 22           9:00am          Lola Stephanic

Wed   July 23           9:00am          Joseph Monaco, Sr

Thu     July 24           9:00am          Dong Denise Tien

Fri       July 25           9:00am          John P. Pyrek Bennett

Sat July 26           4:30pm        John Koch

Sun    July 27           7:30am         St Jude Parishioners

Sun     July 27           9:30am          Maria Emilia and Artur Fernandes Monteiro

Sun     July 27          11:30am         Rose Marie Vigilio, Barbara Ciotti. 

Guerrera Family

        Tabernacle Candle: In memory of Emanuel Cambra

Adoration Candles: In memory of Isabel Dantas-Teixiera

Hosts and Wine: In memory of Isabel Dantas-Teixeira

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

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.