Reflection from Fr. Joseph | | |
Maybe we’ve got a family member or friend whom we would like to bring closer to Christ, but we don’t know how to do it. Maybe they’ve felt estranged from the Church or just drifted away apathetically, but you know that they are seeking the peace, hope, and love that only Jesus Christ can bring. If that’s the case, we have an opportunity for you to bring your friend to Christ: Welcome Home Sunday.
On the weekend of December 6 & 7, our parish is hosting Welcome Home Sunday. This weekend is the perfect weekend to welcome back our family members and friends to check out St. Jude’s Parish and to consider becoming a practicing member. There will be a special homily at all of the Masses about the Gospel message, meant specifically to welcome back those distant from the Church. We will also have pew cards available to allow people to contact a member of the Parish Council to speak about getting reengaged with Catholicism, or to give them resources to deepen their own walk with Christ (such as podcasts, blogs, and other media suggestions).
But we need YOUR help! It’s up to you to invite people to join you for Mass that weekend. Sometimes we can find it to be an uncomfortable or awkward conversation, but pray that the Holy Spirit gives you the courage to speak, and gives you the words to say. It doesn’t have to come across as judgmental – we can simply say something like, “Hey, I love my parish of St. Jude’s, and I think you would love it too. Would you like to come to Mass with me this weekend?” Most people would be very flattered by the invitation, and it can even spark a further discussion about faith.
And for all parishioners, let’s make this a welcoming experience for those who are hopefully returning! Maybe that means parking further from the church to allow others the better spots, or squeezing into the center of the pews so that our visitors can easily find seats. It definitely means smiling at and welcoming those we may not recognize. We really do have a warm and loving parish – let’s put that on full display that weekend (and always, of course)!
So, the Parish Council and clergy are providing the context to welcome back your family and friends – but we need you to actually do the welcoming! Please make sure to invite your friends and family, and be charitable to all the guests who come. It may be enough to bring a soul back into a friendship with God.
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Christmas Eve Children’s Choir!
Students, young and old, from our CCD Program and the parish, are invited to sing at the 5:30 P.M. Mass this year. Wear your “Christmas Best” and lift your voices for Jesus at one of our Vigil Masses. It will be a beautiful time!
The music is not complicated or complex - pretty much straightforward and common Christmas Carols. My hope is to have one big rehearsal before Christmas at a time convenient for all. Students of reading age and up are invited to sing and music is an amazing way to improve those reading skills! All are welcome to participate.
Please contact Lou, our Parish Director of Music via email to confirm and RSVP at louisvollono@aol.com
Song List - 5:30 P.M. Vigil Mass of Christmas with Children’s Choir
“O Come, Little Children” Helpful YouTube Link here
“O Come! All Ye Faithful” Helpful YouTube Link here
“The First Nowell” Helpful YouTube Link here
“Silent Night” Helpful YouTube Link here
“Joy to the World!” Helpful YouTube link
"I would teach children music, physics, and philosophy; but most importantly music, for the patterns in music and all the arts are the keys to learning."
— Plato
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Last Call this weekend!
Boy Scout Troop 203 is selling fresh wreaths this Christmas Season.
Let us help you decorate!!
We will be offering large wreaths with red bows.
Large Wreath (22” diameter) - $25
Order forms can be found inside the church
Please leave the completed order forms and checks made out to: Scouts, BSA Troop 203, in the designated boxes.
THE LAST DAY FOR ORDERS is November 23
Wreaths will be available for pick-up before/after masses: Sunday December 7
Thank you for your support!
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Advent is Approaching!
SALE THIS WEEKEND
The Saint Jude Gift Shop will be selling Advent Wreaths, Advent Candles, Advent Calendars and OPLATKI Christmas Wafers (donation $2.00 each wafer). Cash or check accepted.
Look out for these items after the following Masses:
- The weekend of November 22-23
- Thanksgiving morning Mass, November 27
- The weekend of November 29-30
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Save the Dates - 2025 Homebound Christmas Caroling
Sunday, December 14 - after 11:30 Mass (meet at 12:30 in vestibule)
We would love to have enough volunteers to send two caroling groups out to homebound parishioners, who cherish our caroling visits each year! Locations and routes will be provided to groups
Sunday, December 7 at 3 pm - Children & Young Family Caroling
Join Saint Jude Kids Club and parish young families for caroling to seniors at Hidden Knolls off of Elm street
Email familyminstry@stjuderc.org if you are interested in joining our caroling groups!
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What are some of your favorite Catholic Resources?
We are doing a Welcome Home Campaign for Advent and Christmas to welcome back parishioners who have not been to Church in a while. We created these pew cards to share enriching Catholic resources.
We would love to to hear some of your favorite resources - podcasts, books, articles, websites, etc. Email us to share any that you think would be helpful to add to our list of Catholic resources for the whole family!
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Saint Jude Moms Group
Fall Meeting Dates:
Friday 12/12 - Rosary Making
Thursday, 12/18 - 7:30 pm Christmas Gathering and "Secret Saint" exchange.
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Email stjudemomsgroup@gmail.com for more information
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Parent Bible Study - THIS SUNDAY
11/23 during 10:30 AM Religious Education
Parents are welcome to join our Parent Bible study, Thrive: an 8 Week Study to Grow with Christ in Your Life. All are welcome to join anytime! There is no homework or preparation required and no Bible experience is necessary. Email familyministry@stjuderc.org to join us!
| Youth Encounter TONIGHT 11/21! | | |
NEXT KIDS CLUB - SUNDAY 12/7
Meet for Christmas Caroling at Hidden Knolls on Monroe at 3:00 PM
Then Kids Club Christmas Party at 3:30 pm in the Saint Jude Social Hall
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Blessed Sacrament Gift Card Donation Drive
Donate Gift Cards for Teens
Father Skip prefers gift cards to fast food places and Dunkin Donuts.
Gift cards will be collected the weekend of October 23rd and ending on the weekend of December 7th.
It will be greatly appreciated if you can be as generous as possible.
Thank you.
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St Jude Blood Drive Information
Earlier this year, our Knights of Columbus Council and the Columbiettes began co-sponsoring the blood donation drives with IBEW, Local 488, it's offices at 721 Main Street, Rte 25 in Monroe. With this new association, there will be two drives a year here at St. Judes (May and September) and two at IBEW (January and July).
So, as we soon begin 2026, the first drive of the year will be on Saturday, January 3 at the IBEW location. We hope you will be able to come to the drive and donate a pint of life-giving blood for those in need - a great way to start the New Year. If you wish to donate, access www.redcrossblood.org, find this drive and select a donation time.
Thank you for your continued support.
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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.
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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.
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Hopeline Pregnancy Center has a continued need for disposable diapers, etc. They are currently low on sizes Newborn,1, 3, 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 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.
This week the Knights delivered an SUV full of diapers, wipes, baby clothes, blankets, crib sheets, etc. to Hopeline for which they were most grateful.
Please contact Bob Lux at mjrob08@gmail.com with any questions you may have.
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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, Lucy Hanson, Debbie Dragonetti, 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
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Please join us in praying our Monthly Parish Intention..
MONTHLY PARISH PETITION
Our Petition for November is:
For the Holy Souls in Purgatory
We pray for our deceased loved ones and for those who have no one to pray for them.
May we also remember on Veterans Day all those who have died protecting our Country...
We pray:
Eternal rest grant unto them Oh, Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen
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Mass Intentions for November 22 – November 30
Sat Nov 22 4:30pm Elvira Ferreira
Sun Nov 23 7:30am Andy and Flo Amalfitano
Sun Nov 23 9:30am St Jude Parishioners
Sun Nov 23 11:30am Stephanie Stanley
Robert Wheelin
Elsa and Gustav Lemos
Mon Nov 24 9:00am Mildred Cole
Tue Nov 25 9:00am Edward Burns
Wed Nov 26 9:00am Jennifer Sirillo
Thu Nov 27 9:00am Isabel Dupont
Fri Nov 28 9:00am Francesco Chiappetta
Sat Nov 29 4:30pm Maria Emilia Monteiro and
Artur Fernandes Monteiro
Sun Nov 30 7:30am St Jude Parishioners
Sun Nov 30 9:30am Ruth Staub
Sun Nov 30 11:30am Stephanie Stanley
Mia Morse
Hav Tweedy
Tabernacle Candle: In memory of Basilio and Maria Pinto & Fernando and Maria Andrade
Adoration Candles: In memory of Harry M. Peters
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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
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
See above for 2025 Advent offerings!
Come in and browse. Call Fran Cambra 203-261-2573 or Parish Office 203-261-6404.
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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.
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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.
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St Jude Parish
707 Monroe Tpke
Monroe, CT 06468
203-261-6404
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