Reflection from Fr. Joseph

Blessed Fulton Sheen once said, “There are not one hundred people in the United States who hate The Catholic Church, but there are millions who hate what they wrongly perceive the Catholic Church to be.” Many times, people have serious misunderstandings about what we believe or who we are as Catholics. For the remainder of the summer, I’d like to explore – and debunk! – some of those myths that we often hear about our Catholic Faith.

A few weeks ago, I was touring the Sistine Chapel, and happened to overhear a tour guide saying to his group, “And here is a statue of Mary, who is the first female goddess in Christianity.” Woah!! That might be the biggest misunderstanding I’ve ever heard! And yet it amazes me how many people think that Catholics worship Mary.

This myth picked up steam after the Protestant Reformation because they have a different definition of worship than Catholics. For a Protestant, worship means singing hymns and praying. That’s what they do to Jesus – and that’s what we do to Jesus and Mary. But Catholics – and, in fact, all world religions throughout history until the Reformation – define worship as sacrifice. We do NOT sacrifice to Mary – we only sacrifice to Christ, and through Christ, to the Father. The Sacrifice we offer is the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass (where Christ offers Himself to the Father) and we also offer ourselves as a living sacrifice to Christ. We would never offer a sacrifice to Mary! We may offer it through Mary, as Pope St. John Paul II’s motto was “Totus Tuus” – totally Yours, to Jesus through Mary. But we never offer it to Mary as if she was the recipient of a sacrifice.

Besides, a relationship with Mary is simply a consequence of our belief in the Communion of Saints. If I asked my friend to pray for me, they could do so. Logically, I would also be motivated to ask a holy friend to pray for me, more readily than a mediocre or sinful friend. So, if we believe that the souls in Heaven are even more alive – and even closer to Christ – than you or me, doesn’t it make sense to ask Mary and the saints to pray for us, too?

The belief that Mary is sinless has both logical and Scriptural evidence. Logically, it makes sense on two counts. First, if you could create your own mother, would you not make her perfect? It is not fitting for the Sinless One, in whom not even a blot or stain could reside, to dwell in one who is marred by Original Sin or personal sin. Scripturally, we see the Angel Gabriel calling Mary “full of grace” – the word in Greek iskecharitomene, which literally means “in-grace-ing” – not just having grace given from without, but possessing it within, being “made of grace”, one could say. Grace is the opposite of sin, so Mary is overflowing with grace so that no sin could dwell in Her.



More to come next week on another topic!  

2027 PARISH MASS INTENTION BOOK

The 2027 mass intention book will open on MONDAY, JULY 6

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.

         We have instituted a collective intention Mass (11:30am Sunday) where we will pray up to three intentions.

TABERNACLE CANDLE (month)

ADORATION CANDLES (during any adoration times during month)

WINE AND HOSTS (month)

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



STIPEND: Mass: $15.00

              Tabernacle Candle: $75.00

              Adoration Candles: $40.00

             Wine and Hosts: $25.00

Payment by cash or check at time of request (No Credit Cards)

LIMITATIONS :Weekend mass request :Up to four (4) per family        

                   Weekday mass request : No limit

Catechists Needed!

Are you passionate about our Catholic Faith and have a desire to share it with others? Do you enjoy working with young children and helping them discover the love of Jesus? St. Jude's is in need of a few more catechists for the upcoming year, particularly in the younger grades. If you are interested in teaching religious education, please contact our Director of Religious Education, Alice Teixeira, at DRE@stjuderc.org. The rewards and graces are eternal!

Family News and Events

July 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 Precious Blood.

Printed copies will be available at the family ministry table.

Knights of Columbus News

All men in the parish 18 and over are invited to learn more about the Knights of Columbus. Learn more about our core principles of Charity,Unity,Fraternity and Faith.



Please contact Paul Sideleau at p1aulsr@aol.com for further questions or information.

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, Jea, 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 Petition for July is for:

  The 250th Anniversary of America

As we celebrate the 250th Anniversary of our Country on July 4th, may we give thanks for all the blessings God has bestowed upon our great Nation.  We invoke His Mercy to heal all that divides us, so that we may remain "One Nation Under God"...

   We pray "GOD BLESS AMERICA"

Mass Intentions for July 25 – August 2

Sat      July 25            4:30pm           Luis and Elvira Ferreira and Jennifer Cannon

    Sun     July 26           7:30am            Ernest Vitti

Sun     July 26           9:30am            Maria Emilia Monteiro and

Artur Fernandes Monteiro

Sun     July 26           11:30am          St Jude Parishioners

                                                           Judy Anne Rowinski

                                                           Robert and Barbara Ciotti

Mon    July 27           9:00am           Gallagher and Kealy families

Tue     July 28           9:00am            Patrick Ryan

Wed    July 29           9:00am           Romeo and Catherine Sanna

Thu     July 30           9:00 am          Ed and Sue McPadden

Fri       July 31            9:00am            Erika and Mike Gulgas

Sat      Aug 1             4:30pm           Holy Souls in Purgatory

    Sun     Aug 2            7:30am           St Jude Parishioners

Sun     Aug 2             9:30am           Jacinto Cabral

Sun     Aug 2             11:30am          Stephanie Rossi

                                                           Joseph Kmec, Sr

                                                           Fulvio Tramontina

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 * 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.