Reflection from Fr. Joseph

I love how our Catholic Church is so multicultural. Recently when I was saying Mass at Cardinal Kung I realized that three of the four altar servers had both parents that were not born in this country (one family from Armenia, one from Hong Kong, and one from El Salvador). After all, the word “Catholic” means “universal” (from the Greek kath-holon, “according to the whole”).

Even our parish of St. Jude’s has many families from other cultures, who have enriched and blessed our parish by bringing in some of their faith traditions. This past summer, two of our parishioners, Diana Balbin and Marcela Bento, approached me to share the Latino tradition of elaborate “Christmas manger villages” which they grew up with, and asked if they could bring it here to St. Jude’s. I was very curious and enthused about the idea!

Thanks to the generosity of their time, talent, and treasure, we see the empty space on the left side of the sanctuary transformed into a miniature Bethlehem! I have heard extremely positive feedback from all parishioners about this new addition which helps us meditate on the Incarnation in a deeper way this Advent and Christmas season. I think it looks beautiful and is a helpful aid to prayer. I have always been opposed to Christmas decorations during Advent in the sanctuary, as I think Advent should be a time of austerity and preparation for the great feast to come, but this display is located in such a place that it does not detract from the simplicity and barrenness of the altar and tabernacle, as we await the coming of the King.

Special thanks to Marcela and Diana, along with their families, for bringing this Latino tradition to our parish of St. Jude’s!



To prepare our hearts further for the coming of the King, I invite you all to our second annual Rorate Candlelight Mass! Last year was a hushed, sacred, and reverent time of worship on this Gaudete Sunday (Gaudete means “rejoice” in Latin, and it is the first word in the Entrance Antiphon for the Third Sunday of Advent). It does count for the Sunday obligation, and it features beautiful polyphonic music from the Schmitt family (who sang last year), candlelight worship, great reverence and beauty. Please join us this Saturday at 7:30pm for this beautiful tradition!

Mark your calendars!

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 Christmas tree lighting

The Christmas tree lighting will take place after the 4:30pm Mass on Saturday, December 14. It will be in the same location as last year across from the School entrance. All are invited to attend!!!

Dash Through Catholic Spirituality - Now Online!

Did you miss this year's "Dash" session, our adult faith formation helping us deepen our faith? They are now all available online! This year we had an eight-week session looking at Catholic spirituality and how to pray - you can listen and download the sessions at http://aflameforchrist.podbean.com . A new session will be released every Wednesday!

Inclement Weather Policy

As the weather turns colder and snowier, please take note of the Inclement Weather Policy for St. Jude's Parish:

Weekday Mass is cancelled if Monroe public schools are cancelled (the Mass will be said and the intention will be prayed for, but privately). If school is on a 2-hour delay, Mass is as usual.

Saturday Vigil/Sunday Mass are never cancelled.



Religious Education on Wednesdays are cancelled if Monroe Public Schools are closed OR if the will have no after-school activities.

Religious Education on Sundays - please check your email. We will make the determination by 8am that day.  



All other evening meetings, events, and groups - please contact the leader of your group/event to see if it will still meet. Do not contact the parish office.

Parish News

St. John XXIII Council 5987

Invites You To

The Blessing Of The Crèche

 The Monroe Town Green

Dec. 15^th at 12:30 p.m.

MEN'S CLOTHING DRIVE

We are looking for coats-especially men's work type jackets and work shoes - sizes 7, 8 1/2 , 9 and 9 1/2 

Contact Father Ukaj or Karin Tierney for details 

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.

From the Floral Ministry: Advent, Christmas, and decorations…

December 1^st was the first Sunday in Advent, the beginning of the Church Liturgical Year. It is a time of waiting in anticipation, preparing our hearts and souls for the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ on Christmas day. We prepare during Advent, by confession, prayer, and reflection, almsgiving, and sacrifice (not unlike during Lent). The church interior should help us in those efforts by remaining somewhat somber. Flowers and decorations will be kept to a minimum. Although there will be exterior church decorations, the interior of the church will remain decoration free (except for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8^th/9^th). 

The beautiful Nativity Scene that was created, built and installed last weekend, a gift from a group of parishioners of Columbian Heritage, is a reminder of what we are waiting for. Not until December 25^th will the remainder of the sanctuary and church be full of poinsettias, Christmas trees, sparkly lights, and garlands and the baby Jesus will be placed in the manger.

On Christmas Day and through the next year, may our Advent preparation fill our hearts and souls with peace, joy and hope as we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Family News and Updates

Join us for more

Christmas Caroling

this Sunday!

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

See photos below from our homebound caroling this past Tuesday and Sunday at the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth

EMAIL JESSICA TO RSVP

Attention Parents!

If you are interested in an at home study along with other parents this Advent, email Jessica!

Check out the He is Goodness Advent study here

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

NO ENCOUNTER TONIGHT

Knights of Columbus News

Blood Drive



The Knights of Columbus and the Columbiettes are sponsoring a blood donation drive at St. Judes Church on Saturday, January 4th, at 707 Monroe Turnpike. 

We are happy to announce that Monroe Volunteer EMS will now join with us as a co-sponsor. At this blood donation drive, they will briefly teach you hands-free CPR and "Stop the Flow", techniques for controlling blood loss from most types of injuries.  

We are very excited about us all being able to expand our community outreach. Please access www.redcrossblood.org and select a donation time. And, accept our wishes for a peaceful and blessed holiday season. Hope to see you on January 4th.

Food Pantry - Important Update

PLEASE NOTE: that as an unintended consequence of the sale of the school building we had to make the difficult decision to close our food pantry. We have provided our families with other outlets/sources for assistance. They understand the circumstances and are thankful for your generosity and support over the many years of our operation. Since charity is a pillar of our faith we are also making arrangements to carry on our ministry in modified fashion. Arrangements have been made to deliver any donations you still wish to make to Blessed Sacrament or another local pantry. Please prayerfully consider continuing to bring non-perishable food items to Mass each week and as has been the case - leave them in the baskets provided in the foyer knowing that they will be collected and provided to those in need. Again, thank you again for your continued generosity and understanding.

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, Hav Tweedy, Andrea Paddock, Joseph Laveneziana

Please join us in praying our Monthly Parish Intention.

Our Petition for December is:

May we remember and celebrate that the greatest gift we could receive on Christmas 

was the birth of Jesus Christ coming into the world...

           We pray to the Lord 

Mass Intentions for  December 14– December 22

Sat   Dec 14        4:30pm       Ida and Julius Servadio

Sat    Dec 14        7:30pm       The Holy Souls in Purgatory

Sun  Dec 15        7:30am       St Jude Parishioners

Sun   Dec 15        9:30am       Maximino Monteiro

Sun  Dec 15        11:30am     Jonathan and Lucas Sideleau

11:30am     Emanuel Cambra

11:30am     Irma and Antonio Camacho

Mon  Dec 16        9:00am       Robert Fox

Tue   Dec 17        9:00am       Joseph Scali

Wed  Dec 18        9:00am      Mary and Margaret Gallagher

Thu   Dec 19        9:00am      Noella Sidarweck

Fri    Dec 20        9:00am       Nancy Young

Sat   Dec 21         4:30pm       Luis and Elvira Ferreira and Jennifer Cannon

Sun  Dec 22         7:30am       St Jude Parishioners

Sun   Dec 22        9:30am       Maria Emilia Monteiro

Sun  Dec 22        11:30am     Father Joseph Palmisano

11:30am     Emanuel Cambra

                            11:30am     Laura Donovan

Tabernacle Candle: In memory of Jose Dantas and Isabel Dantas Texeira

Adoration Candles: In memory of Andrew Henn

Wine and Hosts: 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

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.

Christmas Wafers

Oplatki

Considered the most ancient and beloved Easter European tradition the sharing of the Oplatki thin wafers, similar to communion hosts, before The Christmas Eve meal, symbolizes the unity of the family and forgiveness and reconciliation.

Wafers are available in the Parish Office Monday-Thursday during office hours 9-3 

Donation: $2.00

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.