Reflection from Fr. Joseph

Next week we celebrate our annual All Souls’ Day, when we can gain an indulgence for the Holy Souls in Purgatory.

Indulgence? I thought that went out with the Middle Ages?

Not at all! We still believe in indulgences (we just don’t sell them anymore – which was actually an abuse, not a Church teaching). But what is an indulgence?

First we must understand the idea of temporal punishment. Imagine that your soul is a block of wood, and sinning is driving a nail into that block of wood. We go to Confession, and the sin is forgiven (the nail is removed). But is the wood back to its original state? No, it still has a hole – a wound – in it. That wound would need to be “filled in” with putty or something to restore the wood to its original shape.

In the same way, we are forgiven of sin when we go to Confession, but some of the effects of that sin still remain. We still may have broken relationships, or have developed addictions or bad habits, or have discovered a delight for sin. This woundedness due to sin is called temporal punishment. We need some sort of spiritual “putty” to heal the dings and wounds and scratch marks that sin has caused on our soul. If these wounds are not healed in this life, they must be healed in Purgatory.

Our soul can be restored to its original state through prayer, fasting, good works, almsgiving…and indulgences. Indulgences are different than the other methods because they rely upon the merits of Our Lady and the saints, and not our own efforts. It’s like we are acquiring the “putty” to heal our soul’s wounds from the overflowing of the good deeds of the Church Triumphant (those in Heaven). There is a treasury of graces that the saints have stored up – indulgences allow us to access those graces and apply them to our soul or the souls of others.

Here is what the Catechism says: An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which the faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain prescribed conditions through the action of the Church which, as the minister of redemption, dispenses and applies with authority the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints. An indulgence is partial or plenary

according as it removes either part or all of the temporal punishment due to sin (CCC #1471).

This upcoming week, we have the opportunity to obtain indulgences for the souls in Purgatory – our loved ones who have gone before us. The Church teaches that we can gain an indulgence for the Holy Souls in Purgatory in one of two ways:

Visiting a Cemetery – As we celebrate All Souls Day on November 2, we can gain an indulgence by visiting a cemetery and praying for the souls of the dead any time between November 1-8.

Visiting a Church – We can also visit a church on All Souls Day (Nov 2) and pray for the souls of the dead there.

To gain these plenary (full) indulgences for the Souls in Purgatory, one must: 1. Perform the grace-filled action (visiting a church or a cemetery), 2. Take part in Confession any time a week prior or a week after to the visit, 3. Receive Holy Communion any time a week prior or a week after the visit, 4. Pray for the intentions of the Popes, and 5. Be free of any desire to sin.

Our Church truly has a treasury of graces that await us – indulgences being one beautiful example. Let’s take advantage of these graces and obtain indulgences for the souls of the dead this coming week!

Closing Mass of the St. Jude Novena

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28th

9:00 A.M. MASS

Please join us as we celebrate the closing Mass of the St. Jude Novena in honor of all St. Jude 's Parishioners.

Following the Mass and Novena, please join us for a Continental Breakfast in the Social Hall.

"A Concert of Praise, Meditation, and Thanksgiving"

50th Anniversary Pipe Organ Concert & Recital

Sunday, November 12th - 4:00 P.M.

Here is yet another exciting St. Jude 50th Anniversary event! In August, our beautiful French Cassavant Freres pipe organ underwent a considerable retrofit. Over 2,000 man hours went into electronic upgrades and expert craftsmanship work on the console of the instrument, that is, where the organist sits to control the sound output. All work was done by renowned organ builder Sean O'Donnell and Associates. Now, in its restored glory, our Diocesan and Cathedral Director of Music, Dr. William Atwood, will join us for an afternoon of all styles of organ repertoire to show the many tones and colors this instrument has. Works by Bach, Biery, Buxtehude, Phillips, Karg-Elert, Widor and others will be featured. All are invited to the recital and "Coffee &" reception in the church hall. I look forward to welcoming Dr. Atwood to St. Jude and hope you will join me for this Sunday afternoon. If you would like to bring a goody to the reception, please reach out to the parish office. I hope to see you there. This is not to be missed. A free-will offering taken at the door.  -Lou Vollono, Jr., Director of Music & Organist

We have had an amazing first nine months of our 50^thAnniversary Year!

Many more events and celebrations to come!

SAVE THE DATES

October 28:  Closing of St Jude Novena

                      9:00am Mass and celebration of St Jude Parishioners

                             Coffee social

October 28: Dinner Dance to celebrate 50^th Anniversary of our Parish

November 18: 9:00am Mass of Thanksgiving – Pastors, Priests and Deacons

                          who have served in our parish

                           Social to follow

December 3: Rededication of our Church by Bishop Frank Caggiano

                        Blessing of new relics for our altar

                        Social to follow

Please join us for any and all these events

MEMORABILIA

As our 50th Anniversary year is drawing to a close, we have some interesting memorabilia available for you to enjoy!

Each week we will have one or two posters in the Lobby highlighting events or celebrations which occurred over the years.



All of these posters will also be available on December 3rd at our Rededication Mass and Reception.

It is our hope that they bring back fond memories of the history of our wonderful Parish.

Thank you from the Knights of Columbus

A tremendous THANK YOU to all our St Jude parishioners for their donations to the Domingo Arribas Memorial Needs Drive on October 21st. Your donations went to the St Jude food pantry, Blessed Sacrament parish, Hopeline (diapers/wipes), and the Bridgeport Rescue Mission. These donations mean so much for the less fortunate in our community and are distributed to the poor & needy at no charge unlike other organizations. 

Thanks to all the Knights who sponsor this twice a year food & clothing drive and to Father Joseph for supporting our efforts. See you next April!!

Rocky Scali & Frank Flynn

Parish News

On Saturday, November 25, Join us for an inspiring Parish Pilgrimage to the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Waterbury followed by a visit to the Abbey of Regina Laudis. The schedule of timing will be posted soon.

E-mail Jessica if you're interested in joining us!

Check out the New Saint Jude Catholic Book Exchange!

Feel free to take a book!

Feel free to donate a book!

Bookshelf is located in the Saint Jude Social Hall

next to the kitchen

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. 7-9pm at St. Jude Social Hall. Coming next Friday 10/27 - our Fall Festival - you won't want to miss this one!

Mom's Group Announcements

Our next monthly mother's Zoom rosary is Wednesday 11/1 at 9 pm and will continue on the first Wednesday of every month e-mail Jessica Iannotta for more information. To submit prayer intentions for our monthly Rosaries, click here.

Next meeting is Thursday, 11/30 (NOTE THIS WILL BE THE ROSARY MAKING EVENT)- email if you're interested in helping with set up or clean up or bringing an appetizer or snack.

Bring home Saint Jude's traveling statue of

the Holy Family.

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

Dash Through the Creed & Sacraments

Every week we profess the Creed, but do we really know what it means? Every week we receive a Sacrament, but why do we do what we do? All parishioners of all ages are welcome to join Fr. Joseph for the third installment of the "Dash" series - this time dashing through the Creed and the Sacraments! Learn all about those fundamental truths that we believe about the Trinity, Jesus Christ, the Church, Mary, and the Afterlife...and dive into the Seven Sacraments which apply those truths to our lives! Every Monday from September 18 until Easter, all adults and teens are invited to join Fr. Joseph in the Social Hall from 7-8:15pm to learn more about our Catholic Faith!

Need more peace? Searching for love and meaning? Broken and in need of healing? All are welcome to join us for a powerful encounter with our Eucharistic Lord. Every Monday from 9:30am-9pm, the Lord will be exposed in the monstrance for Eucharistic Adoration. Stop by for five minutes, or stay for an hour - in Him will you find the peace you need! No need to sign-up, just show up. He has been awaiting you!

Knights of Columbus

Family Rosary

Sunday October 29th

Following 11:30AM Mass

Open to all Parishioners

Adults and Children

Please Join Us

                               Pope Francis October 2023 prayer intention



For the Synod



We pray for the Church, that she may adopt listening and dialogue as a lifestyle at every level, and allow herself to be guided by the Holy Spirit towards the peripheries of the world.

Sponsored by the K of C to Help Promote the Praying of the Rosary on a Regular Basis.

Silver Rose Prayer Service

Hosted By

St. John XXIII Council 5987

Knights of Columbus

  Tuesday November 14^th at 6:30 PM in the church

Prayer service to share the message of our Lady of

Guadalupe and promote respect for life.

Prayer service consists of prayers, scripture readings and litany.  

Food Pantry Update

Items of most pressing need at this time are canned soup, oatmeal, pancake syrup and jarred pasta sauce. Of course, boxed children’s cereal is always appreciated. Thank you all for your continued support!

Hopeline Pregnancy Center Diaper Needs

Hopeline Pregnancy Center has a need for disposable diapers. They are currently low on sizes newborn, 3,4,5,6 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.

Please remember in your daily prayers:

Marge Tranzillo, 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

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 October is:

On this Respect Life Sunday and for the

Month of October, we pray God might grant

us the wisdom and courage to protect His gift of all human life...

        We pray to the Lord

Upcoming Mass Intentions

Mass Intentions for  October 28 – November 5

Sat    Oct 28       4:30pm                Vincenzina and Pasquale Pontoriero

Sun   Oct 29        7:30am                 Andrew Henn

Sun   Oct 29        9:30am                 St Jude Parishioners

Sun   Oct 29        11:30am               Peter Bendlak and Lorraine Miller

Mon  Oct 30        9:00 am                James Tierney, Sr.

Tue  Oct 31        9:00am                 Domenico Liberati         

Wed  Nov 1         9:00am                 Vittoria and Nunzio Guerrera

Thu   Nov 2         9:00am                 All deceased Mason and Olivia family

                                                         members

Sat   Nov 4         8:30am                 Deceased members of the Antony family

Sat    Nov 4        4:30pm                Jose Dantas

Sun   Nov 5         7:30am                 St Jude Parishioners

Sun   Nov 5         9:30am                 Maximino Monteiro

Sun   Nov 5         11:30am               William Lucas

Tabernacle Candle: In memory of Isabel Dantas-Teixeira during the month of

                              October and in memory of Marie Goss during the month of

                              November

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

                             October and November

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.