Reflection from Fr. Joseph

When you come to Mass this weekend, you will notice a few new things in the sanctuary! First of all, you will notice a new tabernacle. This has been donated by Bishop Caggiano to St. Jude’s Church in honor of our fiftieth anniversary. It is a truly beautiful tabernacle, which will be a fitting way to honor our Eucharistic Lord. We are immensely grateful to the Bishop for his amazingly generous gift!

Second, our altar has recently had some work done and we now have relics in our altar! It is an ancient tradition to celebrate Mass on the bones of the saints – at times, early Masses were celebrated in catacombs on or near the niches where martyrs’ relics lay asleep in death. Since then, permanent altars have always had relics, which connect us to the past and to the Church in Heaven.

When I arrived at St. Jude, I found that our altar did not have any! It was a long and arduous journey to obtain them, but we now have seven relics for our altar. Six of them reside in a small wooden box within the altar. These relics can be removed and displayed for the saint’s feast day. They are the bones of St. Jude, St. Therese if Lisieux, St. Gemma Galgani, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, St. Maria Goretti, and St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Virgin. In the New Year, I will do a series of bulletin articles about who these saints are, but for now I am grateful that we have these new intercessors for our parish!

In addition, we have an “altar stone” which is marble slab placed into the altar, in which a relic of a saint has been sealed. It is this “altar stone” that priests kiss at the beginning and end of Mass when they reverence the altar. We had one sitting on a shelf, and have just now installed it into the altar. Sadly, we have no documentation about which saint is sealed inside of the altar stone – but this anonymous saint will certainly and surely pray for our parish!

Also new this weekend is a return to actual wax candles. After a hiatus of approximately ten years, during which time we used oil candles, we are returning to the more ancient tradition of beeswax candles for Mass. It is a rich symbol of being “consumed” by the fire of Christ, pouring our lives out for Him. It is also a connection to the interlocking web of creation, as we are using another creature’s handiwork to provide light for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Rather than artificial oil, we are using an all-natural candle, allowing creation to participate in our act of worship!

Please come and join us as Bishop Caggiano celebrates our 11:30am Mass this weekend, to commemorate our fiftieth anniversary as a parish and to ask God’s blessings on the next fifty.

December 3, 11:30 am Mass

Rededication of our Church by Bishop Frank Caggiano

Blessing of new relics for our altar

Social to follow

Please join us!

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.

OUR "GALA" PHOTOS ARE HERE!!

Please join us this Sunday, Dec. 3rd at the 11:30 Mass with Bishop Frank Caggiano for the Rededication of our Parish!

Many photos will be available for viewing at the Reception following in the Social Hall.

50th Aniversary Mass of Thanksgiving

Photos by Fran Cambra

Candlelight Advent Mass

It has been an ancient tradition to celebrate the Third Sunday of Advent Mass completely by candlelight. Called the "Rorate Mass" (after the first word of the Latin introit, "Rorate Caeli", asking God to "drip down the Heavenly dew" of peace and mercy in Jesus Christ), this Mass is celebrated by candlelight, with beautiful chant singing God's praises. An evocative, powerful, solemn evening of praise, to prepare our hearts for the coming Messiah. All are welcome to our first Rorate Mass on Saturday, December 16 at 7:30pm!

Parish News

Immaculate Conception Masses

This Holy Day of Obligation celebrates the day that Our Lady was conceived without original sin, in the womb of St. Anne, her mother. Catholics must attend Mass to celebrate this Feast Day! Our Mass times are:

December 7 - 7pm

December 8 - 9am

December 8 - 7pm, followed by the lighting of our Christmas Tree.

Advent Adoration

Join us for Adoration in anticipation of our Newborn King:

Every Monday from 9:30am-9pm (except Christmas Day and New Year's Day)

Friday, December 1 from 7-8pm

Friday, December 15 from 7-8pm

Friday, December 22 from 7-8pm (with Confessions offered)

Christmas Eve/Christmas Day Masses

Fourth Sunday of Advent Vigil - Dec 23: 4pm

Fourth Sunday of Advent - Dec 24: 7:30am, 9:30am, 11:30am

Christmas Eve - Dec 24: 4pm, 5:30pm, 10pm

Christmas Day - Dec 25: 7:30am, 9:30am, 11:30am



Please note: as Catholics, we are obligated to attend Mass for the Fourth Sunday of Advent on either Dec. 23 (Vigil) or Dec. 24 in the morning, in addition to attending Mass for Christmas (either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day). Attending an afternoon/evening Mass on Christmas Eve doesn't "count" for both obligations!

Advent Confessions

Confessions are offered:

Every Saturday from 3:30-4:20pm

Friday, December 22 from 7-8pm

Before and after every Mass on December 23 and December 24 (in the morning Masses).

Family News and Updates

Advent Family Newsletter is now available!

Children in grades K - 8 are invited to submit a poster centered around the theme “Keep Christ in Christmas”. This is a wonderful opportunity for children to be creative, to be involved in their faith, and to have fun while experiencing the true meaning of Christmas! Posters must 11×17. (If pastels, chalk, or charcoal are used, the poster must be laminated or covered in clear plastic).

Deadline extended to January 2 for poster submission. Prizes will be awarded for winning entries. Winning entries will also be advanced to the district and then to the state.

Materials can be picked up at the Family Ministry Table, at the Parish Office or at Religious Education. For entry form and rules, see here

Save the Dates for Christmas Caroling!

Sunday, December 3rd - 3:00 pm Join Kid's Club Families to sing Christmas Carols to the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth in Monroe!

Tuesday, December 19th - Homebound and Senior Caroling. 3:30 pm Spring Meadows in Trumbull across from Saint Stephens and homebound caroling to follow.

Email Jessica Iannotta to RSVP and for more information. Join us in bringing Christmas cheer to our community!

Advent Wreath Lighting Sign Up

Families are invited to sign up in the Church foyer to light the Advent wreath before Masses beginning next weekend through the season of Advent.

E-mail Jessica Iannotta for more information

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.

Mom's Group Announcements

Our next monthly mother's Zoom rosary is Wednesday 12/6 at 9 pm and continues the first Wednesday of every month e-mail Jessica Iannotta for more information. To submit prayer intentions for our monthly Rosaries, click here.

E-mail Jessica if you would like to join our Advent journal study group.

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

Check out New Upcoming Advent Resources!

Blessed Sacrament Gift Card Drive for the TEENS

November 26th—-December 4th.

We are collecting Gift Cards and Monetary donations for the TEEN’S at Blessed Sacrament Church.

Fr. Skip suggestions were—Gift Cards to Chipotle Mexican take out—Subway, McDonalds, Burger King, Dunkin Donuts, Walmart or Target.

Thank You!

New Friendly Visitor Ministry - Please volunteer!

Do you have a few hours a month to visit a homebound Monroe resident?  St Jude Parish would like to begin a ‘Friendly Visitor’ program and is seeking volunteers.  Think of what it might mean to your fellow citizen and/or parishioner to spend a little time with someone who is lonely and might enjoy your company. ‘Without cost you have received, without cost you are to give’ Matt 10:8  If you are interested in joining this new mission, please contact….

Elizabeth Lynch 203-270-9072

Columbiettes

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS

A party for children with their ‘grown ups’,

focused on the real meaning of Christmas.

Saturday, December 2, 2023

10am to 12:30 pm

in the St. Jude social hall

Sponsored by the Columbiettes

Arts and crafts*****Games *****Caroling

The Christmas story***** Birthday Cupcakes

Christmas/Nativity set drawing

No admission, but please bring a food or toiletry item for Blessed Sacrament’s pantry as a gift to Jesus for his people in need. Thanks!   

Knights of Columbus

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, Garren Kiett, Becky M., Flo Guite

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 December is:

     We pray for World peace

Jesus, Prince of Peace, with great hope in

Your infinite Mercy, and through the intercession of Our Most Holy Mother Mary,

we pray for an end to terrorism and for the gift of peace in our troubled World...

    We pray to the Lord.

Upcoming Mass Intentions

Mass Intentions for  December 2 – December 10

Sat   Dec 2         8:30am                 Angela Carey

Sat    Dec 2        4:30pm                 Maryanne Gromish

Sun   Dec 3        7:30am                 St Jude Parishioners

Sun   Dec 3        9:30am                 Maximino Monteiro

Sun   Dec 3       11:30am                Rita and Ronald Broderick

Mon  Dec 4        9:00 am                Maria DeLeo

Tue  Dec 5         9:00am                 Deceased members of the Nicolett family    

Wed  Dec 6        9:00am                 Lori Conwell

Thu   Dec 7        9:00am                 Louis Nicholas Abriola

Thu   Dec 7        7:00pm                Harriet Kilpatrick

Fri    Dec 8          9:00am                St Jude Parishioners

Fri    Dec 8          7:00pm                Columbiettes deceased members        

Sat    Dec 9         4:30pm                Thomas J. Mason

Sun   Dec 10        7:30am                Garry Gasso

Sun   Dec 10        9:30am                St Jude Parishioners

Sun   Dec 10        11:30am              Maria Emilia Monteiro

Tabernacle Candle: In memory of Jose Dantas during the month of

                             December

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.

Bookstore News



Advent items are in. We will be selling wreaths, candles, calendars, ornaments, cards, Fr Joseph’s books and CD’s after Thanksgiving Day Mass, 11/23, weekends of 11/25 &26, 12/02 & 03. More information call Fran - 203-400-5119. 

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.