Reflection from Fr. Joseph

Have you ever just wanted to get up and walk 500 miles?

Last week, I mentioned the story of St. Bona of Pisa, who took several pilgrimages to Santiago de Compostella. Perhaps the most famous pilgrimage place in Christianity, it is a remarkable experience – one that I was blessed to have in 2012. But first, a bit of background.

Santiago de Compostella (literally “St. James of the Field of Stars”) is a town in northwest Spain in the region of Galicia. The cathedral there houses the bones of St. James the Apostle. How did he get there? St. James the Greater was the first Apostle to be martyred, in Jerusalem. It is also possible that he preached in Spain before returning to the Holy Land, but that is unsure. At some point his bones were brought to Spain, but were buried and then lost for centuries (many legends surround the transfer of his bones: one legend says that his remains were placed in a rudderless, unattended boat which then sailed, of its own accord, to Spain itself).

In the 800s, a hermit was tending his flocks when he saw a bright light emanating from the ground (hence the “field of stars”). Upon digging, he found the bones of St. James and began to publicize the matter. Within two centuries, people began flocking to the bones as a way of making a holy pilgrimage, particularly useful when the Holy Land was inaccessible due to Muslim occupation.

Although technically the route has been used since the 900s (in fact, there was a whole travel book written about the pilgrimage, around the year 1000), it has exploded in popularity in recent decades. From only 690 people who completed the pilgrimage in 1985, almost 500,000 completed it in 2024, and this year they are poised to break the record!

But the pilgrimage itself is a feat of endurance. For modern pilgrims, the walk is 498 miles from St. Jean Pied du Port, a town in the French Pyrenees, through the desert-like Meseta of central Spain, into mountainous Galicia. For ancient pilgrims, the pilgrimage began out their front door – when I hiked El Camino in 2012, we hiked with a man who had walked all the way from southern Italy, having been on the trail for over six months! Of course, it’s not necessary to walk – one may bike it, ride horseback, or any other form or transportation you wish.

There are many different routes to take. The main one is the French Route, which starts in the aforementioned town, but other routes include one from Lisbon, Portugal or Seville, Spain…or really wherever you want to begin. Pilgrims will stay at a network of hostels along the way, which offer hospitality, food, bedding (and sometimes bedbugs!) to pilgrims, for only 5 Euro/night.

When one arrives in Santiago de Compostella, they are greeted with a holy moment at the bones of St. James – and an awe-inspiring view of the botafumeiro, the largest incenser in the world! Check this thing out – it is incredible:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsrqkYQvpr4&list=RDrsrqkYQvpr4&start_radio=1 .

So, why do people do it? All sorts of reasons. I did it out of obedience to the Bishop (and that’s a long story in itself…). Some do it for piety and prayer, although I found that only maybe 1/5 of people were religious. Some do it for exercise or vacation. Some do it to “find themselves” or take a break from the hectic pace of modern life. Some do it as penance for their sins. But whatever the reason, it truly is a life-changing experience to walk in prayer and silence for over a month. There was lots of pain: blisters, shin splints, twisted ankles, aching knees. But there were a lot of other amazing moments: for example, in one town, there is a fountain that spouts out free wine for all the pilgrims! Or, to stay in the same hostel that St. Francis used when he made the pilgrimage…or to attend Mass in six different languages (including Korean, when I found a Korean priest on pilgrimage with me!)…or just to get to hear the different stories of the pilgrims and experience the richness of different cultures.



If you are looking for an exciting spiritual adventure, I definitely recommend the Camino of Santiago di Compostella. It is, perhaps, the most famous and exciting pilgrimage site in Catholicism – and truly a place where the journey is as important as the destination.

Confession Weekend is Back!



This weekend, please take advantage of the awesome Sacrament of Confession! Particularly if you have had the misfortune of missing Mass while on vacation this summer, please come to have that mortal sin forgiven before approaching our Eucharistic Lord at Mass. Before and after every Mass, Confessions will be offered during the weekend of August 2/3!

Rescheduled Annual Parish Softball Game

THIS weekend - Sunday, August

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!

Seeing God through the beauty of nature…

In the past two newsletters, Fr Joseph has written about “the beauty that God has created in nature” and the effect of that beauty on many Saints. Here, at St Jude’s we have both beautiful landscaped areas as well as natural ones. The Floral Ministry often uses plant material from the grounds for floral designs and displays.

Recently a Floral Ministry member introduced a St Jude family to milkweed, growing in one of the natural areas, and how this ‘weed’ is important to Monarch butterflies. So far, they have raised and released 11 Monarch butterflies into their yard to lay even more eggs.

 We need volunteers to help with the gardening. Although there is a landscape company that mows the lawns and shears the hedges annually, we do need volunteers to.prune trees/shrubs, maintain/divide perennial flowers, as well as preserve the habitat for critters such as monarch butterflies.

If you’d like to help maintain the beauty of the St. Jude campus as well as learn more about gardening tasks , please contact Cathy Ritch, cathy.ritch.ct@gmail.com. There are no set days or times for volunteering, only the interest in learning more and maintaining the beauty that God has created.

Summer Backyard Adorations

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

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

Below are some photos from Monday's Backyard Adoration at the Albohn's

Family News and Events

The August issue of our parish subscription to Rooted Magazine for children and families is hot off the press!

Learn about the month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, The Feasts of the Transfiguration and the Assumption, and Saints Monica and Augustine.

If you missed any past issues, you can view them here.

We plan to offer a parent bible study again during

Sunday's religious education session

at 10:30 am. Email Jessica if interested!

Knights of Columbus News

Blood Donation Drive Update and Save the Date



Brothers or Fellow parishioners: The blood drive held on July 19 at IBEW, co-sponsored by them and the Knights of Columbus and the Columbiettes, yielded 37 good pints of blood with only 4 referrals. While the number is low for the hoped-for turnout, the percent success was very good. It seems a lot people were on vacation. Our thanks to all who donated and to those who helped out at this drive.

Our next drive is Saturday, September 20 here at St. Judes. To donate, please visit www.redcrossblood.org and search for our drive.

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 sizes 3, 4 & 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 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, 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, George N., Milenka Gospic

Please join us in praying our Monthly Parish Intention.

Our Petition for August is for: ST. JUDE'S ITALIAN FESTIVAL

We pray for good weather for our Festival, and that it be a time of camaraderie for all volunteers and enjoyment for all those attending.

         We pray to the Lord

Mass Intentions for August 2- – August 10

Sat      Aug 2           9:00am       Madeline Morency Jantz

Sat      Aug 2            4:30pm       Antonio R. Silva

Sun     Aug 3            7:30am        St Jude Parishioners

Sun     Aug 3            9:30am        Stephanie Rossi

Sun     Aug 3           11:30am        Victoria Conde

                                   Anna Marticek 

                                   Helen Tuccio

Mon    Aug 4            9:00am        Paul Verespej

Tue     Aug 5            9:00am         Carlos Fernandes                                 

Wed   Aug 6            9:00am        Maximino Monteiro

Thu     Aug 7            9:00am         Emanuel Cambra

Fri       Aug 8            9:00am         Paul Verespej

Sat Aug 9            4:30pm        The Lluch Family

Sun     Aug 10          7:30am         St Jude Parishioners

Sun     Aug 10           9:30am       Maretta Fagan

Sun     Aug 10          11:30am        Margaret Schwartz

                                   Doug Stevens  

In Thanksgiving for the Monroe Volunteer Firefighters and First Responders                                  

Tabernacle Candle: In memory of Margaret Tranzillo

Hosts and Wine: In memory of the Tortora and LaBella Families

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.