Reflection from Fr. Joseph

Since the Fourth Sunday of Advent overlapped with Christmas Eve this year, many parishioners asked me, “Father, may I receive Communion twice in one day?” I realize that this is a question many may have! 

The answer is: yes, you may receive Communion twice as long as you attend two separate Masses. The current Code of Canon Law addresses this in Canon 917: 

A person who has already received the Most Holy Eucharist can receive it a second time on the same day only within the eucharistic celebration in which the person participates. 

When I lived in Italy I was surprised to see people enter a church in time for Communion, receive Communion, and immediately leave – it was, and sometimes still is, very much a custom for some people to receive Communion without actually attending Mass. This is why the Church did at one time restrict the faithful to one reception of Holy Communion – so that it didn’t become a competition (or superstition) of just “racking up” as many Communions as possible in one day. 

But thankfully that is less of an issue today, so in 1983 the new Code of Canon Law allowed Catholics to receive Communion more than once per day. Good to know!  

Thank You!

St. Jude’s was blessed with donations for the Christmas floral display and would like to thank Scott Mason of Mason's Farm Market and Brad and Trish Wells of Fairview Farms, Shelton for their generosity. 

All of our beautiful poinsettias on the altar would not have been possible without the help of Scott Mason of Mason’s Farm Market on Main St. in Monroe. His donation of ten of those poinsettias is in honor of his wife Kathy’s parents, Kay and Bill Lennon. Scott delivered all of the poinsettias free of delivery charge. Thank you Scott!

Thanks to Brad and Trish Wells of Fairview Farms in Shelton we have two big beautiful wreaths on either side of the front door on the plaza side of the Church. Thank you Brad and Trish for your donation! 

A very healthy and happy Christmas to all from the Floral Ministry !

Parish News

Rectory Open House (Cancelled due to expected weather)

All parishioners are invited to join us for our annual Rectory Open House on Sunday, January 7 from 1:30-4pm at the St. Jude's Rectory (down the hill from the church). It's a potluck, so bring some goodies - and come and enjoy the company of fellow parishioners as we close out the Christmas season!

Epiphany House Blessing

Every year, it is customary for families to bless their own homes on Epiphany using special chalk blessed for that purpose. Pick up chalk and instructions in the back of church during the weekend of January 6-7!

The St Jude-St Stephen Seniors

The St Jude-St Stephen Seniors will resume our joyful journeys on Thursday, January 11th at 1:00 PM in the Msgr Sabia Social Hall at St Jude Church.

All are welcome.

No need to register.

If you have any questions or need a ride to the meeting, call Ellen or Doug at 203-268-9229.

Happy New Year to all!

Ellen & Doug Stevens

Women of the parish – are you making a resolution this year to get closer to God; perhaps to read more of the Bible? If so, we invite you to join us for the WWP Bible Study, Opening Your Heart. It is a journey closer to God that will point us to principles to help us manage life’s pace and pressure while living with calm and steadiness, through the study of Scripture and the teachings of the Catholic Church. 

We offer two sessions, both meeting in the Msgr. Sabia Social Hall:

Friday mornings from 9:30 - 11   (beginning Jan. 5)

OR Wednesday evenings from 6 – 7:30 (beginning Jan. 10)

To join Friday contact Mary Beth Rauser at [email protected]

To join Wednesday contact: Annette Bonomo  at [email protected]

Family News and Updates

Save the Dates for 2024 Family Ministry Events!

Feb 13: Mardi Gras Family Game night is back! More details coming soon

March 10: Family Formation Bible Workshop

May: 2nd Annual Bingo with the Sisters of Nazareth (more info to be announced 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

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS PASTA DINNER

HOSTED BY THE 4^TH DEGREE

SATURDAY Jan. 13th at 5:30 pm

Msgr. John Sabia SOCIAL HALL

$12.00 per person; $10.00 for seniors

$30.00 for a family of 4 ($5.00 each additional family member)

Ziti, Meatballs, Sausages & Pepperoni

Salad, Garlic Bread, Desserts, Drinks, BYOB

Tickets Will Be Sold After Masses On Jan. 6 & 7

Tickets at the door Or PLEASE CALL KEVIN DONOVAN - 203-570-4372

50% of net proceeds will be donated to The Homes for the Brave

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!

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

Check Advent and Christmas Resources!

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 6 – January 14

Sat   Jan 6          8:30am       Robert Anthony Donofrio, Sr.

Sat    Jan 6          4:30pm       Luis and Elvira Ferreira

Sun  Jan 7          7:30am       St Jude Parishioners

Sun   Jan 7          9:30am       Anne McCabe

Sun  Jan 7          11:30am     The Pinto and DeAndrade Family

Mon  Jan 8          9:00am       Anna Loretta Tartaglia

Tue   Jan 9         9:00am       Deanna Hoffman  

Wed  Jan 10         9:00am      Maximino Monteiro

Thu   Jan 11         9:00am       Rita Venables

Sat    Jan 13         4:30pm       Beverly Roh

Sun  Jan 14         7:30am       St Jude Parishioners

Sun   Jan 14         9:30am       Ellen Claire White

Sun  Jan 14         11:30am     Ashe and Eddy Family Members

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 [email protected].

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.