Reflection from Fr. Joseph

It is with mixed emotions that we must announce the closing on the sale of the former St. Jude’s School Building. The Town of Monroe has purchased the building on November 7, for $1.77 million, to be used as a recreation center for their many classes, basketball and pickleball leagues, and offices. The money has already been invested in a Knights of Columbus fund for future capital needs.

The process of selling the building predated my time here – in fact, it was back in 2018, immediately following the closure of the school, that the town approached us and inquired about its availability. It has been a tremendous amount of negotiating, but we were able to finally settle and close. We still have up to 10 years of use of the second floor of the building for our Religious Education program, and we can “rent back” the school for special events. We will have use of the parking lot in perpetuity for Sunday and holiday Masses.

In many ways, this makes a lot of financial sense. We had been spending over $90,000 annually to keep the school open, with heating oil costs and electricity costs being astronomical. The building, although still serviceable, is over 60 years old, and has an inefficient boiler, windows that needed to be replaced, a wall in the gym that is leaning and will need replacement, and asbestos everywhere. The cost to update the building would be in the millions.

Of course, it is bittersweet. Many of us remember the days when Sunday Masses were held in the school gym – how many times did those folding chairs go up and down! We have so many alumni from the 50+ years of education that occurred on this campus – fond memories which they will always treasure. And it’s always a sad moment to close the chapter on one part of our property.

What’s next for the parish? In the short term, we need to clean out part of the building so that it can be occupied by the school. To that end, I’d like to invite all parishioners to a School Clean-Up Day on Saturday, November 30 at 9am where we can move items and discard unused items in the school.

In the long term, we will need to pastorally plan for how best to sustain our very-robust Religious Education classes (we have over 450 kids who attend weekly) and how to continue our myriad of ministries. To that end, I’d like to invite all parishioners to a Town Hall Meeting at St. Jude’s on Monday, December 9 at 7:45pm (after the Immaculate Conception Mass) in the Social Hall. Please let your voice be heard – we would like to know where the Spirit leads as we plan for the future of our parish and the souls in Monroe!



I know that this decision is quite bittersweet for many parishioners. I, too, feel conflicted about it. But I must surrender this to God – since it was started before my tenure, much of this school sale process has been out of my hands. But I trust that God has allowed it for a reason, and we have to have hope that He has good things in store for us. After all, one of His most famous promises in Scripture is: “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord; plans to prosper you, and not harm you; plans to give you a future, full of hope.” (Jeremiah 29:13). These “good plans” are what we put our hope in – even if we don’t necessarily see it at the moment. To walk by faith means that “all things work for good for those who love God”. Trust Him with this – and please help give feedback as we rally together to move forward as a parish!

Mark your calendars!

Day of Service - November 30

This Saturday, please come and help serve around the Parish! We need help preparing for Advent and Christmas, and with the completed school sale, we need help clearing out the school building. We will meet at 9am at St. Jude's. Coffee and donuts will be provided! All ages needed!

Town Hall Meeting - December 9

With the school sale completed, we'd love to hear your thoughts about next steps! Do we build a new building? If so, where, and what should it look like? Please join us for a Town Hall meeting in the Social Hall at 7:45pm on Monday, December 9 (after the 7pm Immaculate Conception Mass) to voice your thoughts on where we go from here as a parish!

Immaculate Conception - Holy Day of Obligation - December 9

Did you know that the Immaculate Conception is the Patronal Feast of the United States of America? As such, it is one of our holiest days in the church year, celebrating when Mary was conceived in her mother's womb without any stain of Original Sin. It is a Holy Day of Obligation, where Catholics are obliged - and blessed! - to attend Mass. Mass will be on Monday, December 9th at 9am and 7pm. See you there!

Candlelight Rorate Mass - December 14

Our annual Candlelight Rorate Mass (a traditional Mass in Advent which awaits the birth of the Light of the World, Jesus Christ) is coming up on Saturday, December 14th at 7:30pm. It will feature choral polyphony music and a solemn, sacred Mass celebrated entirely by candlelight. Last year was stunningly beautiful - please come and experience the hushed awe of beauty and solemnity this Advent!

Parish News

PARISH MASS INTENTION BOOK

Our Parish Mass Intention book opens for requested masses

after Easter each year.

Our 2025 Book opened last April 8, 2024.

We have 4 masses each weekend, but only 3 are available for requested intentions .

By Papal decree a mass every weekend is to be said for the

Parishioners of St Jude.

Even with our limiting the number of intentions per person,

the 2025 book is almost totally filled.

To help open up more intentions

we are designating our 11:30am Sunday mass as a Collective Mass.

This means that starting December 1 we will make available

three (3) requested intentions at the 11:30am Mass.

This will only be available at that Mass.

If you have any questions call the office during office hours.

Family News and Updates

Upcoming Christmas Caroling Opportunities!

SAVE THE DATES!

Sunday 12/8 - Join the Kid's Club for Caroling, Crafts and Adoration with the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth. Perfect for families!

Tuesday 12/10 - Caroling to our Homebound Parishioners. Meet at Saint Jude at 3:45 pm

Sunday 12/15 - Caroling to our Homebound Parishioners. Meet at Saint Jude after 11:30 Mass

EMAIL JESSICA TO RSVP

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 this summer!

Please click on the image to view the flyer.

Youth Encounter TONIGHT!

Knights of Columbus News

Food Pantry

Thanksgiving is quickly approaching and preparations for our holiday distribution have begun. For those who are unaware, we provide the fixings for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner to our pantry families. At this time we are asking for items such as stuffing mix, gravy, chicken broth, canned vegetables of any kind, and cranberry sauce. We will also be accepting donations of turkeys. If you wish to donate a turkey, please contact Liz Romeo atlizromeo65@gmail.com or text to 203-427-5298. Thank you to all who continue to contribute to our ministry.

Hopeline Pregnancy Center has a continued need for disposable diapers. They are currently low on all sizes Newborn to size 7, wipes and jars of baby food as well as Baby clothes, bottles and pacifiers and car seats. 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. 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, Zoey Frigo, Daniel Louis Bianco, Max, Hung Vu, 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, Barbara Tranchese, Mary Lopresti, Lor C., Viola Cleo Bradshaw, Susan W. and Janet C, Larry Pisani, Vincent Pisani, Greg, Kaiti and Cameron Kessler, Michael Merola & Family, Mildred Blasko, Father Krzysztof, and Baby Henry Taylor, Garren Kiett, Becky M., Flo Guite, Michael, and Donna, Darryl Patterson, Louise Noll, Chrystal Archuletta and Alice Gumpert, Diane Cummings, Chloe Capra, Lucy Hanson, Mia, Jesse Hurst & Family and Hav Tweedy

Please join us in praying our Monthly Parish Intention.

Our Petition for November is:

As we give thanks for all the blessings God has bestowed on us, may we remember those who founded our great Country as we uphold our Constitutional Rights of Life, Liberty and Religious Freedom during this election year...

   We pray to the Lord

Mass Intentions for  November 23 – December 1

Sat   Nov 23       4:30pm       Elvira Ferreira

Sun  Nov 24       7:30am       St Jude Parishioners

Sun   Nov 24      9:30am       Anthony & Josephine Capozziello and Al Amendola

Sun  Nov 24       11:30am     Maria Emilia Monteiro

Mon  Nov 25       9:00am       Edward Burns

Tue   Nov 26       9:00am       John Cardozo

Wed  Nov 27       9:00am      Peter Cafaro

Thu   Nov 28       9:00am      Isabel Dupont

Fri    Nov 29       9:00am       Paul Verespej

Sat   Nov 30       4:30pm       Isabel Dantas Teixeira and Jose Dantas

Sun  Dec 1         7:30am       Carmine Richard Polzello

Sun   Dec 1         9:30am       The Pinto and DeAndrade Family

Sun  Dec 1         11:30am     Penny Bernath

                           11:30am     Emanuel Cambra

11:30am     Laura Donovan

Tabernacle Candle(Nov) In memory of Elvira Ferreira

                            (Dec) In memory of Jose Dantas and Isabel Dantas Texeira

Adoration Candles(Nov & Dec) In memory of Andrew Henn

Wine and Hosts(Dec) In memory of Charles Metoyer

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

"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 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.

Advent Wreaths, Candles & Calendars will be on sale weekend 11/23-24, Thanksgiving Day, 11/30-12/01. Blessing!!!

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.