Reflection from Fr. Joseph

Recently there was an article in the Wall Street Journal about a growing trend: adult children cutting off all contact with their parents (https://www.wsj.com/health/wellness/why-are-so-many-adults-cutting-off-their-parents-d4e1190c). It is becoming more common – unfortunately I have this issue in my own family, as one of my sisters hasn’t spoken with any of us in six years (we’re not sure why, as she won’t communicate her reasons to us). I know many families struggle with the same situation.

Young adults who estrange themselves from their parents call it, “Going No-Contact”. They usually cite that their parents are “toxic” and that they need “space” for their mental health. Sometimes they had a political or lifestyle disagreement, and this led to a seemingly-unhealable rift. Other times, therapists will identify parents as the source of all angst and trial in someone’s life, and this prompts them to cut themselves off. And it is a sad reality that, at times, parents can be truly abusive – and this is a tragedy. But such instances of genuine abuse are very rare. Rather, what people call “toxic” generally means that they are difficult to love, because they are imperfect – but aren’t we all?

What a sad society we live in if we only love people who are pleasant and charming! What an empty world when we cut out from our lives people who sacrificed everything for us, simply because it is too much effort to love them! Sadly, our narcissistic culture has legitimized a person prioritizing their mental health and peace of mind over the very real duties and obligations that we have as children to love and care for our parents.

Love of one’s parents is one of the most essential parts of the Judeo-Christian ethos. In fact, it is the only Commandment with a promise: “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which the Lord your God gives you.” And the book of Sirach instructs us, “For kindness to a father will not be forgotten, and will be credited to you against your sins; in the day of your distress it will be remembered in your favor; like frost in fair weather, your sins will melt away. Whoever forsakes a father is like a blasphemer, and whoever angers a mother is cursed by the Lord.”

Interestingly, a Connecticut woman is fighting back. Going by the moniker “Doormat Mom”, Laura Wellington has amassed a significant following of thousands of parents who are equally brokenhearted that their children have decided to cut them out of their lives. (See https://www.foxnews.com/health/doormat-mom-cut-off-daughter-amid-estrangement-trend-completely-blindsided ).

She advises not to hound or bother wayward children, but to keep the door open so that if they return to a relationship, they will not find recrimination but a real desire to heal. I would add that prayer and fasting are essential, as are hope and trust in God. Unfortunately there are no guarantees of a happy ending, but we must never give up hope.

Disagreeing with our parents isn’t toxic – it’s the sign of a healthy relationship of mutual respect. Loving someone who is challenging isn’t abusive – it’s sanctifying. Love is not easy, and family are the people what we do not get to choose – they are chosen for us by God, so that we may learn to love when it costs. Yes, we can put boundaries on relationships to keep them healthy – but to forsake a loved one, especially in their older years, is a grievous sin. In the words of the Book of Proverbs, “If someone curses his mother or father, their lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness!”

SAINT JUDE NOVENA BEGINS LATER THIS MONTH!

Our annual nine days of prayer and Masses is quickly approaching, as we prepare to celebrate our patronal feast of St. Jude's! Here are the schedule of Masses and preachers:

Oct 20 - Deacon John DiTaranto

Oct 21 - Canon Francis Altieri

Oct 22 - Fr. Sean Kulacz

Oct 24/25 - Deacon John and Deacon David Preach at weekend Masses

Oct 26 - Fr. Sam Kachuba

Oct 27 - Deacon Pat Toole

Oct 28 - Fr. Joseph Gill

The weekday Masses take place at 7pm and are followed by the St. Jude's Novena. Please join us for this wonderful feast for our parish!

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.

October is World Mission Month

One in Christ, United in Mission

Each October, which is World Mission Month, the Church invites us to reflect upon our missionary vocation. This year’s theme, One in Christ, United in Mission, chosen by Pope Leo XIV, invites us to rediscover the profound unity we share in Christ through baptism and how our baptismal missionary identity overflows into the mission of the Church to bring all creatures into communion with God and us.

The highlight of World Mission Month is the annual celebration of World Mission Sunday,

which this year will take place on October 18th. Pope Leo XIV has stressed how important World Mission Sunday is for the Church. He spent a large part of his priestly ministry as a missionary in Peru and has noted how dependent he was on the prayers and financial support of the universal Church through World Mission Sunday.

Let us pray this week for those missionaries who bring Christ’s love to far-off places, often

at great personal cost and risk. And let us ask the Holy Spirit to rekindle a zeal in our own

hearts, that we may also be missionaries, wherever we are.

Pope Leo XIV's Message for the 100th World Mission Sunday

Please join St. Jude Pro-life Ministry as we gather to pray in front of Planned Parenthood for an end to abortion and for a greater awareness of the sanctity of all life.

PRO-LIFE VIGIL

Sunday, October 18th

1:00-3:00 p.m    

Commerce Park

4697 Main St.

Bridgeport

Please contact Karin Tierney, kjt1046@att.net if you will be joining us.

Resources for the Month of the Rosary

Click here are some great resources from the Diocese of Bridgeport

You can also join in on the One Million Rosary Campaign by clicking here!

Family News and Events

Parent Bible Study each Sunday during Religious Ed


We meet during religious education on Sunday mornings

from 10:30 am to 11:15 AM

We are doing the study Living Joy by Chris Stefanick. All are welcome!

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

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 11/4

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.

All are welcome to join our November Kids Club which will be an All Saints Day Costume party - open to all children of the parish grades 1-5! Email Jessica for more information

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

October Rosaries

will be held on

October 12, 15, 20 and 28

6:30 PM

Location will be outside at the Mary Madonna statue

Please bring your own chairs. 

The McGivney Pilgrimage Center will be hosting the Relics of St. Bernadette of Lourdes on Wednesday, October 14 as part of a nationwide pilgrimage being undertaken by the Sanctuary at Lourdes.October 14 is one five days the relics will be in Connecticut, with the other locations being St. Mary Church in New Haven and the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Waterbury. More details about those dates are available in the online bulletins from each parish, or at the website https://bernadette-usa.lourdes-france.com/ip.php?pg=St-Bernadete-Relics-Tour-Map

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, Robert P

Please join us in praying our Monthly Parish Intention.

Our Petition for October is for: Increased Devotion to Our Blessed Mother

May we pray to honor our Blessed Mother, Our Lady of the Rosary, by praying the rosary more frequently...

We pray to the Lord

Mass Intentions for October 10 – October 18

Sat Oct 10 9:00am - Barbara Tranchese

Sat Oct 10 4:30pm - Elvira Ferreira

Sun Oct 11 7:30am - Francis H. Keegan

Sun Oct 11 9:30am - Carlo Longo

Sun Oct 11 11:30am - St Jude Parishioners, Angelo Mancini, Stephen Krehley

Mon Oct 12 9:00am - Anthony Felice

Tue Oct 13 9:00am - Deceased members of the Thibodeau and Bergin families

Wed Oct 14 9:00am - The Wasilewski Family

Thu Oct 15 9:00 am - Tony Costello

Fri Oct 16 9:00am - Rich Stephens

Sat Oct 17 4:30pm - The Lluch Family

Sun Oct 18 7:30am - Francis H. Keegan

Sun Oct 18 9:30am - The Andrade and Pinto Family

Sun Oct 18 11:30am - St Jude Parishioners, Helen Ryan. Robert Fallon 

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.