Reflection from Fr. Joseph

We recently ran some statistics here at St. Jude and found that, out of the 44 babies that were baptized here in 2022, only one family (that we know of) continues to practice their Catholic Faith and attend Mass. This is, sadly, not a good ratio! Baptism is more than just a sign or symbol – it is the most powerful, life-changing Sacrament we have, as the soul is brought to grace, rescued from the power of darkness, reconciled to the Divine Life of God, made an adopted Child of God and an heir to the Kingdom, destined for everlasting life.

We recognize that people baptize their children for a variety of reasons: custom and culture, pressure from grandparents, a belief that their child will go to Hell if they aren’t baptized. We would like to refocus baptism on what it is – a response to a living faith in the Lord Jesus and a desire for a life lived in union with Him.

That is why, starting this January, we have launched a new Baptism Preparation course for couples. Rather than a quick sit-down meeting, this program recruits eight “Mentor Couples” – couples who are raising (or have successfully raised) kids in their Faith, to mentor the families who are coming to our church for Baptism. We are using a mixture of two programs: “Seek” from Faith and Family Life Catholic Ministries (www.fflcm.org) and the Knights of Columbus’ new series on marriage, “Into the Breach: Mission of the Family” (which I highly recommend for all of our parishioners – you can find the video series on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzEP3gSL3LE&list=PL8dhS0o-trLjif_DIzMn1zbN5iaannC14 ). There are four sessions for the parents to sit down with the mentor couples and be formed through their example, testimony, and these videos and programs.

Both of these programs are meant to help parents to grow in and develop their own personal relationships with the Lord Jesus Christ. Without a personal faith in Jesus, baptism doesn’t mean much! Plus, we are hoping that through the personal connection with the mentor couple, the parents presenting for baptism will be more immersed and deeply rooted in the community of St. Jude’s. The mentor couples will be able to invite them to Mass, and to continue to mentor them even after the child is baptized.

It is definitely a big time commitment for the parents, especially with a newborn (or toddler!) in tow. But we believe that the commitment of baptism is even bigger – parents are committing to help their child become a saint! Our Church has always taught that “parents are the primary educators of their children in the ways of faith.” As such, we have a duty to give them the support, resources, and formation necessary to live out their calling.

Please pray for the mentor couples and all those preparing for baptism, that the power of this Sacrament may have an effect in their lives and bring them to a living, personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ!

Parish News

Do you make GREAT chili? Join the contest!  

All kinds of CHILI welcome-beef, chicken, pork, white beans, vegetarian, etc.

Sign up online below or on the sheet in the Lobby next weekend.

  LET'S SEE IF LAST YEAR'S WINNER'S

     CAN RETAIN THEIR TITLES!!

PRE -SUPERBOWL PARTY:

Football Tailgate-type foods requested:

Chips, dips, cheese and crackers, mini  hotdogs, fruit and veggies trays.

Desserts: Cookies, Brownies, Munchkins.

Please join us for this wonderful event

      ALL ARE WELCOME!

PRO-LIFE MINISTRY

January is National PRO-LIFE Month.

There are many opportunities for everyone to participate in saving the lives of our precious preborn babies.

You may wish to participate in the 9-Days-for Life Novena from January 16-24.

(9daysforlife.com)

Please pray for the safety of all those participating in the MARCH FOR LIFE in

Wash., D.C. on January 19th.

On January 22nd, please join in praying with

the USCCB, the DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE UNBORN.

Through the intercession of Our Blessed Mother, may we soon see an end to the tragedy of abortions in our Country and our World.

Family News and Updates

Save the Dates for 2024 Family Ministry Events!

Feb 13, 5:30 pm: Mardi Gras Family Game night is back! Pizza will be served.

March 10: Family Formation Bible Workshop

May 5, 2:30 pm: 2nd Annual Bingo with the Sisters of Nazareth

May: Women's Craft Night - Making Wooden Wall Rosary Holders! Date coming soon

June 17-21: Camp Adore VBS for children entering grades 1-6 (registration will open next month)

email Jessica if you have any ideas for events you would like to see in 2024!

Youth Encounters

All of our young people grades 6-12 are invited to join us for our Youth Encounters! These nights of games, food, fun, prayer, fellowship, and honest conversation about our Catholic Faith have been awesome...come and join us for a new year! This year for the first time, we'll be having separate tracks for high school and middle school. 7-9 pm at St. Jude Social Hall.

Please click on the image to view the flyer.

Knights of Columbus News

All Saint Jude Parishioners and families are invited to join the Knights of Columbus to visit the the Blessed Michael McGivney Pilgrimage Center and Saint Mary's church, his final resting place.

Schedule:

9:15 AM: Meet at Saint Jude to carpool

10:00 AM: Tour of McGivney Center

1:00 PM: Tour of Saint Mary's Church

The McGivney Center welcomes visitors to learn about this holy priest’s life and legacy, imitate his benevolent outreach to the needy and outcast, and invoke his heavenly intercession for needs great and small in their own lives. There are many beautiful exhibit to visit (see here)

St. Mary’s Church in New Haven, Connecticut, is deeply tied to both Blessed Michael McGivney and the organization he founded – the Knights of Columbus. It is a special place of prayer and pilgrimage that contains the sarcophagus where the bodily remains of Father McGivney are entombed.

Red Cross Blood Donation Drive

The Knights of Columbus are sponsoring a blood donation drive in the Social Hall on Saturday, January 27th, from 8 AM until 1 PM. Those parishioners who wish to donate may schedule a donation time by visiting www.redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-733-2767 (1-800- RED CROSS).

Mom's Group Announcements

INVITING ALL PARENTS (mothers and fathers) to our 2024 monthly Zoom Rosaries on the First Wednesdays at 9 pm. Please email Jessica Iannotta for more information. To submit prayer intentions for our monthly Rosaries, click here.

Next Mom's Group meeting Thursday January 25 at 7:30 pm in the social hall. New members are always welcome!

Saint Jude's traveling statue of

the Holy Family is in need of hosts for 2024!

Materials will be included to do a 7-day preparation for Consecration to the Holy Family. To learn more, visit: https://afc.org/family-consecration/ May God bless you and your family through the intercession of the Holy Family!

Click here to sign up

NEW ON FORMED.ORG!

Do you ever feel like it's almost impossible to raise holy kids who love God (and sit still in Mass!) in our modern world? You're not alone.

This six-episode series features real Catholic families like yours sharing their daily struggles and victories and aims to encourage you as a mom or dad as you embrace your God-given role to form your family in the richness of the Catholic faith.

Watch the series with your spouse, with friends, on your own, or as part of a small group! The participant guide includes questions for group discussion, topics for personal reflection, and ideas to try at home.

Camp Adore 2024 

June 17-21 8:30 am - 12:30 pm

For children entering Grades 1-6

~Registration will open in February~

E-mail Jessica if you are an adult or teen interested in volunteering

(In the case of excessive snow days, our backup dates are August 19-23)

Hopeline Pregnancy Center has a need for disposable diapers. They are currently low on size newborn and wipes, as well as bottles and pacifiers. Should you wish to help you can leave the diapers 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. As always, your continued support is greatly appreciated by Hopeline and our Knights of Columbus Council.

Should you wish to provide a gift to Hopeline that would help save a life here is the link to their Gift Catalog:

Gift Catalog | Hopeline PRC | Bridgeport, CT

Food Pantry



Our Christmas distribution was a great success! This would not have been possible without your continued support. However, our pantry is now depleted of many staple items. Please consider dropping off the following items of greatest need as you come to Mass this Christmas season: peanut butter and jelly, pancake mix and pancake syrup, canned tuna, oatmeal and pasta, pasta, pasta. Blessings and a joyous Christmas to all. 

Please remember in your daily prayers:

David Nicolett, Maria Bertone, Vincent Daniello, Joe Pinto, Zoey Frigo, Daniel Louis Bianco, Max, Hung Vu, Alfred Zawadski, Dr. John Kezel, Francisca Testa & family, Catherine Belanger, Stephen Henn, Manny Cambra, Bennett Gulyas, Tom Pleva, James Buturla, John Sansone, Paul Verespej, Patti F. , Anne DeVita, Anna Harper, Jack Lane, Robert Freeman, Frank Kerekes, Marian Nanchy, Rosario Pacheco, Antonia Tedeschi, Charles Metoyer, Liz Guaglianone, Mary McDonald, Douglas Stanley, Jenn Katz, Judy Thomas, Barbara Tranchese, Ed Brady, Mary Lopresti, Lou DiMartino, Lor C., Viola Cleo Bradshaw, Susan W. and Janet C, Larry Pisani, Vincent Pisani, Greg, Kaiti and Cameron Kessler, Michael Merola & Family, Martha Mencseli, Mildred Blasko, Father Krzysztof, and Baby Henry Taylor, Garren Kiett, Becky M., Flo Guite, George Goss, Michael J. Russell



All healthcare workers, first responders, caregivers and the men and women in the military.

If you have anyone that you would like to add to the list, please call the office or email with the name to be added.

Please join us in praying our Monthly Parish Intention.

Our Petition for January is:

For those who will be participating in the March for Life and witnessing to the rights of our pre-born babies, that God may guide and protect them...

     We pray to the Lord

Upcoming Mass Intentions

Mass Intentions for  January 20 – January 28

Sat    Jan 20         4:30pm       Jose Rosa

Sun  Jan 21         7:30am       St Jude Parishioners

Sun   Jan 21         9:30am       Robin Bova

Sun  Jan 21         11:30am     Harriet Kilpatrick

Mon  Jan 22         9:00am       Maria Emilia Monteiro

Tue   Jan 23         9:00am      Todd Buzi  

Wed  Jan 24         9:00am      Joe Buturla, Jr.

Thu   Jan 25         9:00am       Mary Jane Spede

Sat    Jan 27         4:30pm       Joseph Mende

Sun  Jan 28         7:30am       St Jude Parishioners

Sun   Jan 28         9:30am       Sime and Drina Jovic

Sun  Jan 28         11:30am     Ralph and Anna Lavenziana

Tabernacle Candle: In memory of Dom Arribas during the month of January

Adoration Candles: In memory of Mary Charlotte Braccio during the month of   

                              January

Weekday Masses (Monday thru Thursday) 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.

(Live-streamed Masses may be viewed at https://www.stjuderc.org/view-masses ) Please note that the link is slightly changed from the previous link due to the change in the website.

Men’s Bible Study

The Men’s Bible Study will begin meeting September 23, on Saturday mornings at 8:00 AM, in the school building. Each week we will take up the readings for that weekend. All men of the parish are welcome. For more information, contact Bob Lux at mjrob08@gmail.com.

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.

Mary's Messengers Prayer Group . Email Jessica for more information

We learn to say the Rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet, and other special prayers for the intentions of our families and Parish.

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

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.