Reflection from Fr. Joseph

Over the past two weeks our news feed has been in full-coverage of the tragic death and aftermath of the assasination of Charlie Kirk. I must admit that I didn't know who he was until his death, but his untimely passing has shaken many people. Gallons of ink - and billions of pixels - have been written about him (and about our nation at large) since his death. I don't have much to add to that volume of commentary, but just a few reflections in general which might be helpful at a time like this.

First, love is not niceness. Charlie was accused, by his murderer, of "spreading hate". But hatred is different from disagreement, freedom is more than license, and love is not the same thing as "getting along with everyone." Love, as Aquinas reminds us, is "willing the good of the other" - it is choosing the other person's flourishing, even when they are making self-destructive choices. A parent who hurriedly and frantically grabs a child's hand away from a hot stove might be perceived, by the child, of limiting their freedom and of "being mean", but of course it is for the child's good. Likewise, when a person speaks about biblical perspectives on marriage, the meaning of life, suffering, the common good, and other social issues, it is not because the person hates but precisely because the person loves that they are willing to say hard truths that actually lead to human fulfillment. Love and truth can never be separated.

Second, a sound-bite is not an argument. Many people have taken sound-bites out of context from some of Charlie's speeches to portray him as having bigoted perspectives that are out-of-touch with modern sensibilities. And while I don't know enough about him to opine on all of his thoughts, it's important to remember that many truths cannot be reduced to a re-tweetable sentence. I see this frequently in Catholic teaching - students will ask a loaded, controversial question, and expect me to have a snappy one-sentence response, when it's actually a thoughtful argument that needs to be built out before the full truth can be uncovered. Do not reduce truth to a mere sound-bite.

Third, God's providence is mysterious but always good. Nothing in this world happens by accident, and God can bring great good out of even the worst tragedies. It seems to me that Charlie's speeches and writings are traveling farther and impacting many more than they ever would if he were alive. I know that I have been edified by him, when two weeks ago I didn't even know his name. We see this similarity with Jesus: His death, the worst tragedy in human history, was also His greatest victory - and without His death, He would forever be a backwater no-name failed prophet...but His death (and especially His Resurrection!) has spread the good news of our salvation to the end of the earth.

Is Charlie Kirk a prophet? A martyr? A hero? Of these questions, I have no opinion. He was a man who sought to do good, engaged many lost souls in respectful debate, and spread much truth in the world - and for this, I respect him. Is this a watershed moment in the history of our country, as some have said? Perhaps, but only time will tell. Our world needs those who speak the Truth, and even if the truth-teller is silenced, Truth will never be silent. 

But as much as we may admire Charlie for speaking truth, we ought to all the more turn to Jesus Christ, Who is the Truth. Turn off the news feed, and start reading the Word of God. Form yourself in the Truths of our Catholic Faith, and speak them fearlessly and with charity toward all. This alone will honor the memory of Charlie Kirk.

Connecticut Catholic Men’s Conference

The Connecticut Catholic Men’s Conference will take place this year on September 27, 2025 at Holy Cross High School, CT. The Keynote speaker will be Dr. Ray Guarendi , CPM. This is a day of spiritual reflection, prayer, and fellowship with Catholic men from across the state. To access more information on this faith filled day please visit https://ctcatholicmen.org/.

If you wish to attend, the cost will be covered by St. Jude. 



For further questions please email Jim Bifulco at jbifulco@snet.net or call at 203-581-3071. This is an opportunity open to all the men of the parish. There may be a chance for carpooling also for this truly inspiring day.

Congratulations to Our St. Augustine Medal Winner!

Every year, the Diocese gives one volunteer from each parish a special award, recognizing their contributions and time given to the parish. This year, St. Jude's is happy to award the St. Augustine Medal to Betty Henn! Betty is a member of the Floral Ministry, an active part of Parish Council, and one of our Adorers. She organized the Eucharistic Procession that we had back in June, and is always active at the Italian Festival dishing out pasta and smiles! Congratulations to Betty - and thank you for all of your time and energy given to St. Jude's Parish!

St. Francis Pet Blessing!

Our annual tradition continues, celebrating the Feast of St. Francis - the Pet Blessing! Bring your animals - furry, feathery, and scaly - to the plaza in front of St. Jude's Church on Sunday, October 5^th at 2pm for our annual pet blessing, asking God to continue to bless our four-footed friends!

Confession Weekend

Our next Confession Weekend takes place on October 11-12 - Confessions available before and after all Masses!

Adoration Update - Help Needed!

Our Monday Eucharistic Adoration has launched - many people are joining our Eucharistic Lord for a short visit or for an hour! However, one of the regularly-committed Adorers is unable to continue due to health, so we are looking for someone who can commit to being a "Committed Adorer" every Monday from 1-2pm. Could you help? Truly, to do so would be a benefit to your own spiritual life! If you are able to help, please contact Fr. Joseph at frgill@diobpt.org.

The St Jude-St Stephen Seniors Meeting

The St Jude-St Stephen Seniors will resume their Joyful Journey on the 2nd Thursday of each month.

The October meeting will be on Thursday, October 9th at 1:00 PM in the St Jude Social Hall.

Vic Eng will be the guest speaker at the meeting. He will be sharing highlights, photos and insights from his African Safari trip this past July.

All are welcome. No need to register.

Family News and Events

September Issue of Rooted Magazine

Here is the link for September's Rooted Magazine! 

We hope that everyone has had a great start back to school!

Saint Jude Moms Group Announcements

Fall Meeting Dates:

Thursdays 10/23 - 7:45 pm (after Novena Mass), 11/13 - 7:30 pm, and 12/18 - 7:30 pm

Email stjudemomsgroup@gmail.com for more information

Parent Bible Study - THIS SUNDAY

9/28 during 10:30 AM Religious Education

Parents are welcome to join our next Bible study, Thrive: an 8 Week Study to Grow with Christ in Your Life. You can preview the study here

All are welcome! Even if your child is not in religion on Sundays or you can't make it each week, you will get something out of coming (and you can also easily follow along at home in between). The group that met last year during religion on Sundays really enjoyed the Bible study format from He is Goodness. There is no homework or preparation required and no Bible experience is necessary. Email familyministry@stjuderc.org to join us!

Youth Counter TONIGHT! Friday 9/26

Knights of Columbus News

Tootsie Roll Drive

More than two dozen Knights of Columbus volunteers were out in the community recently for the first half of their campaign to raise funds to help adults, teens, and children with intellectual disabilities. The campaign, known as the Tootsie Roll Drive, is an important fundraising event and a community outreach opportunity for our parish.

Knights of Columbus volunteers will again be collecting donations during the weekend of October 4^th and 5^th. You can find them in front of Stop & Shop, Capital Spirits and Dunkin Donuts in Monroe and Stop & Shop in Newtown. 100% of the donations collected will go toward Knights of Columbus programs, including the Southbury Training School, a local home for individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Volunteers are still needed to make this year’s campaign a success. The Knights of Columbus should check their email for the link to sign up.

Domingo Arribas Memorial Needs/Food Drive

The Knights of Columbus are once again sponsoring a Needs/Food, clothing, & diapers drive on Saturday October 25, 2025 from 8AM to 10:30AM. NO FURNITURE items are being collected. Please bring your donated items to the Monsignor Sabia Social Hall behind the Church. These items will be distributed to Bridgeport Rescue Mission, Blessed Sacrament parish, & Hopeline. Since we no longer have a food pantry at St Jude's, all food collected for the drive will go to the Blessed Sacrament parish community which has a critical need for food.

To simplify our distribution process during the day of the drive, it would be much appreciated if you labelled your donated items in boxes & bags for Blessed Sacrament/Father Skip, Hopeline & Bridgeport Rescue. Please review the attached flyer for specific items needed for each.  Any questions, please contact Rocky Scali, 203-767-6053 or Frank Flynn, 203-556-5016. THANK YOU

Men’s Bible Study will resume on Saturday September 27th. All men are invited to join for a discussion-based Bible Study on Saturday mornings at 8am in the Monsignor Sabia Social Hall, as we study the week’s Sunday readings.

For more information, contact Bob Lux at mjrob08@gmail.com.

Blood Donation Drive Save the Date

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

GIFTOBERFEST! 

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

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, 2025. 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 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.

For additional information, please call (203) 258-3354 or e-mail eaedgerton24@gmail.com.

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. 

On Wednesday of last week your Knights of Columbus Council #5987 delivered a check to Hopeline Pregnancy Center in the amount of $5,235 from the recent Baby Bottle Drive. Thank you for your generous and continued support.

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 gently used 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.

On Wednesday of last week your Knights of Columbus Council #5987 delivered a check to Hopeline Pregnancy Center in the amount of $5,235 from the recent Baby Bottle Drive. Thank you for your generous and continued 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, George N., Milenka Gospic, Benjamin Gray, Chris McCarthy, Leo B.

Please join us in praying our Monthly Parish Intention..

Our Petition for September is:

  for Catechists and Students

We pray for all students as a new school year begins. 

We celebrate and honor the Ministry of Catechists who teach and form others in our Catholic faith. Our Religious Education classes begin September 21st,

Catechetical Sunday, dedicated this year to "Christ Our Hope".  

We ask Christ to bless all those attending Faith Formation Programs...

     We pray to the Lord

Mass Intentions for September 27 – October 5

Sat      Sept 27           4:30pm           Mary and Margaret Gallager

Sun     Sept 28           7:30am           Ben Seamons

Sun     Sept 28           9:30am           Edward Fagan

Sun     Sept 28           11:30am         St Jude Parishioners

                                                           Doug Stevens

                                                           Helen Tuccio

                                                           Deceased members of the

Knights of Columbus

   Mon   Sept 29            9:00am           Cletus Roh

Tue     Sept 30         9:00am          Alice Aprea

Wed   Oct 1              9:00am         Lucy Galati

Thu     Oct 2              9:00am          Maximino Monteiro

Fri      Oct 3              9:00am         Carl A. Massaro, Sr

Sat      Oct 4              9:00am           Margaret Mende

Sat      Oct 4             4:30pm           Rick D’Amore

Sun     Oct 5             7:30am           St Jude Parishioners

Sun     Oct 5             9:30am           Gertrude M. Mason

Sun     Oct 5             11:30am         Bobby Smarz

                                                          Gladys Jass

                                                Rose Marie “Pat” Roman

Tabernacle Candle(Sept): In memory of Andrew Henn

                             (Oct): In memory of James Tierney, Sr

Adoration Candles(Oct): In memory of Luis and Elvira Ferreira and Jennifer Cannon

Hosts and Wine(Oct): In memory of Denise Borrs

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.