Reflection from Fr. Joseph

The Catholic Church is the Mystical Body of Christ on earth, the Sacrament of Salvation, the great Bride of Christ progressing towards everlasting union with Him…and, much more mundanely, it is also a civil corporation. In our modern world, every parish and every diocese has a juridical reality that is incorporated into civil law. Any corporation, then, needs to file certain incorporation documents on a regular basis, and have a public management structure.

In our Catholic Church, every parish actually has three members of its management structure: the pastor, and two “lay trustees”. A trustee is a layperson who is entrusted with the task of helping the pastor oversee the property, financial, and legal business of a parish. They are not “owners” of the parish but they have a legal role in registering the parish as an official incorporation.

Why do I bring this up? Because we recently had a transition in our Trustees, the first in my tenure here. Regina Schwartz, who has served for many years as a very capable and excellent Trustee, is moving out-of-state, and has resigned her office. We are sorry to see her go, and thank her for her many years of service to our parish! You may know her as a member of Finance Council and as one of the leaders of Walking With Purpose – she has been a true Christ-centered leader in the parish, and for this we are most grateful.

To fill the vacancy, we welcome parishioner Ken Goss to take her place. Ken and his daughter Abby are faithful parishioners and have been active in the many Family Ministry activities that our parish has offered. Ken is currently the Senior Counsel as a lawyer for a Danbury manufacturing firm, and has twenty-five years of legal experience. He will be the perfect person to fill the role of Trustee, along with parishioner Bill Davoren who continues as our other lay trustee.

Let us thank – and pray for – these Trustees who provide such excellent assistance and wisdom in handling the temporal affairs of St. Jude’s Parish, so we can continue to focus on our mission of bringing souls to the Lord Jesus Christ!

Solemn High Mass Every Sunday!



The Mass is the highest form of worship, as Christ offers Himself to the Father in an unbloody re-presentation of the Sacrifice of Calvary. Whether it is a simple daily Mass or the ornate Easter Vigil, the Mass is still the most noble thing that a person can participate in - the fitting worship of God. As Catholics, we use incense to honor God as a symbol of our prayers rising up to Him.



Now, as we seek to give God the glory due Him, and worship Him with all of our senses (hearing, sight, and even smell!), we will be making every 11:30am Sunday Mass (outside of the penitential seasons of Advent and Lent) a High Mass with incense and extra candles. You may notice more ceremony and pomp - that is intentional! We want congregants and visitors to experience a sense of awe and wonder in the presence of our Eucharistic Lord. Thank you for coming to worship with us every Sunday at St. Jude's!

Father Joseph and the Parish Finance Council have agreed to renew our St. Jude's parish subscription to Formed and we would like to help with a fundraising effort to help defray some of the cost to the parish.

Any donations would be greatly appreciated to help the parish support this wonderful program. Even a small offering by each participant would help defray the cost away from basic parish expenses. Please prayerfully consider a special donation for the 2026-27 Formed Subscription Renewal which benefits you and your family as well as other families of the parish.

Anyone interested in donating toward the cost of Formed can direct their donations as outlined below:

• Donations can be dropped off or mailed to the parish office. Please make any checks payable to St. Jude's Church with "evangelization efforts" in the subject line of the check.  
• You can also donate online to our parish online giving platform to the section titled Formed Subscription.

ANNUAL BLESSING OF PETS

 In honor of the feast of St Francis, parishioners are invited to bring your family pets for a special blessing. All pets are welcome!

Sunday, October 4  

1:30pm

    Meet on the plaza near the St Jude Statue

A Thank You from Women's Cursillo

We had an amazing women’s Cursillo last weekend! We want to thank everyone for their prayers! The Holy Spirit was certainly present and the fire burned within us all!

De Colores,

Ileana Kotulich

 PRIESTHOOD SUNDAY

Please join the Vocation Ministry in anicipation of Priesthood Sunday, in praying for our priests, praising God for their courage and their generosity. Let us show Fr. Joseph and Fr. Jozef our encouragement and gratitude in thoughts and deeds. God bless our priests!

Family News and Events

Parent Bible Study Begins THIS SUNDAY!


We meet during religious education on Sunday mornings

from 10:30 am to 11:15 AM

All are welcome!

Email familyministry@stjuderc.org if you are interetsed or for more information

September Rooted Magazine

Here is the link to September's Rooted Magazine. This issue is dedicated to Saint Mother Theresa whose feast day is tomorrow!

Here is a link to past issues to use for family formation and faith enrichment throughout the year.

MOMS GROUP

Upcoming moms group meetings:

First Wednesdays of the month after 9:00 AM Mass in the Saint Jude Social Hall

Next Meeting: Wednesday 10/7

Moms group Friday evening event dates

Friday - 12/11 ADVENT WOMENS TEA more info coming soon! Email if you would like to help plan this event.

At Kids Club this month we learned about Bishop Fulton Sheen who was beatified on September 24th. Help yourself to extra resources at the family ministry table to learn more about him and this special occasion in the Church! Blessed Fulton Sheen, pray for us!

Columbiettes News

The Saint John XXIII Columbiettes of St. Jude Church in Monroe will be hosting their GIFTOBERFEST! fundraiser taking place throughout the month of October 2026.

Proceeds from the fundraiser will go to various causes that the Columbiettes sponsor - such as special needs camperships, Hopeline, Christmas baskets for the disadvantaged and other local charitable organizations. 

GIFTOBERFEST! Is a raffle that consists of a daily drawing from October 1-31, 2026. Each day a gift card in various denominations will be awarded to a lucky winner. Participants can win multiple times. Raffle tickets will be $10.00 each and are good for the entire month.

The raffle calendar and daily winners will be announced on the Saint John XXIII Columbiettes Auxiliary Facebook page

The Columbiettes will be selling tickets after Saturday and Sunday masses at St. Jude’s Church at 707 Monroe Turnpike throughout September or if you would like to purchase a ticket and cannot attend mass, please contact Elizabeth Edgerton at 203-258-3354 or Jan DeMayo at 203-520-9796 or you can email eaedgerton24@gmail.com.

Knights of Columbus News

Annual Domingo Arribas Memorial Needs/Food, Clothing, & Diaper Drive

The Knights of Columbus are sponsoring our annual Domingo Arribas Memorial Needs/Food, Clothing, & Diaper Drive on Saturday October 24, 2026 from 8AM to 10:30AM. Your donated items of food, clothing, and diapers/wipes can be brought to the Church parking lot in front of the Monsignor Sabia Social hall. These donations will be distributed to Blessed Sacrament parish, the Bridgeport Rescue Mission, and Hopeline.

To simplify our distribution process during the day of the drive, we would appreciate it if you labelled your donated items in boxes & bags for Blessed Sacrament/Father Skip, Bridgeport Rescue, & Hopeline. Please review the attached flyer for the specific items needed by each (click for a printable copy). Any questions, please contact Rocky Scali, 203-767-6053 or Frank Flynn, 203-556-5016. Thank you!!!

 Men’s Bible Study

Men’s Bible Study will resume on Saturday September 26^th. All men are invited to join for a discussion-based Bible Study on Saturday mornings at 8:00am 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,4, 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.

Hopeline reports that donations from the parishioners at St Jude’s, thus far for 2026, total 4,095 diapers, 6,800 wipes, plus formula, blankets, clothes, etc. Thank you.

 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, 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, 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, Virginia LaQuesse, Ed Marencik, Dan Mongillo, Lawrence Cofone, Mary Witkowsky, John Rizzitelli, Dan Hermansson, Allison H., Dawn S., Sonny T., Nancy St. Pierre, Baby Stevie P, Steve P, Sharon K

Please join us in praying our Monthly Parish Intention.

Our Petition for September is for: Teachers and Students

As the new school year begins, may it be a time of excitement and joy for students and teachers returning to classes.  

May those entering school for the first time find it a welcoming and positive experience as they begin their educational journey...

We pray to the Lord

Mass Intentions for September 26 – October 4

Sat Sept 26 4:30pm - Deceased Knights of Columbus members

Sun Sept 27 7:30am - Mary and Margaret Gallagher

Sun Sept 27 9:30am - Edward Fagan

Sun Sept 27 11:30am - St Jude Parishioners, Robert Thomas Franzago, Aida Maria Chavez

Mon Sept 28 9:00am - Ben Seamons

Tue Sept 29 9:00am - Louise Noll

Wed Sept 30 9:00am - Rosemarie Califana

Thu Oct 1 9:00 am - Holy Souls in Purgatory

Fri Oct 2 9:00am - Flynn Family

Sat Oct 3 9:00am - LeRoy and Louise Parenteau

Sat Oct 3 4:30pm - Louise Noll

Sun Oct 4 7:30am - Roslyn McGovern

Sun Oct 4 9:30am - Margaret Mende

Sun Oct 4 11:30am - St Jude Parishioners, Blessings for Lawrence Conde, Aida Maria Chavez  

Mass Schedule

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.