Reflection from Fr. Joseph

Recently our news has been filled with heartbreaking photos and articles about the immigration crisis in our nation. In fact, a recent poll showed that immigration is the #1 concern for many Americans (https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4422273-immigration-overtakes-inflation-top-voter-concern-poll/). As with many social issues, the answer to the problem is complex and multifaceted. But our Catholic Faith sheds some light on where we ought to go as a nation.

There are two important values at stake in the immigration debate. On one hand, we are our brothers’ keeper. A fundamental principle of Catholic Social Teaching is solidarity – we have a duty to care for the physical and spiritual well-being of our neighbor. And who is our neighbor? Every human being on this planet, since we are all made in the same image of God and bear the same human dignity. For this reason, our compassion should move us to welcome the stranger, feed the hungry, and find ways to bring those in dangerous countries to a safe asylum.

At the same time, the Church teaches that nations have a sovereign right to defend and protect their own borders. A nation’s first obligation is to its citizens, before helping others. A down-to-earth example would be: a father and mother should not open their house to become a homeless shelter if they have young children at home, because their first duty is to protect and raise their own kids, before they look outside of their family to help the stranger. Likewise, our country has a right and a duty to care for its own citizens and not to impoverish or endanger them in the laudable pursuit of welcoming the stranger.

So, how do we balance both important principles: solidarity and the duty to take care of our own citizens first? The first thing we need to do is to take the extreme positions off the table. As Catholics we cannot be in favor of completely closing our borders; nor can we have the position that all are indiscriminately welcome in our country. Rather, the best solution is somewhere in the middle. We need to practice reasonable hospitality and welcome to immigrants. We ought to have higher quotas, welcoming more and more into our wonderful land, while also making the path to citizenship easier and quicker. Currently we have about 11 million illegal immigrants in our country (with 2.3 million coming in last year alone) – perhaps we can find a solution to expedite the legalization process for those immigrants who have lived here for more than a few years and who have not been convicted of crime. There is no reason why they need to continue to live in the shadows for fear of deportation – let them become productive, tax-paying citizens through a more streamlined, easier legal immigration process. At the same time, we need a way to stem the flow of migrants into our country so that we can allow for background checks and an orderly entrance into our nation.

Of course, it is the bombastic rhetoric that makes the headlines, not the reasoned and balanced proposals. But only if “cooler heads prevail”, informed by the principles of our Catholic Faith, will we be able to come up with a solution that loves our neighbor without sacrificing our own nation’s resources and safety.

For a fuller discussion of this topic, I urge you to read the short document from the USCCB about Immigration Reform here: https://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/immigration/churchteachingonimmigrationreform

Back by popular demand! Please join us for a powerful night of Adoration, praise and worship music, prayer teams, and a dynamic talk from the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal. A great way to experience the love of Christ this Lent! February 16 and March 15 from 7-9pm at St. Jude's Parish. 

Ash Wednesday Schedule

7am - Service with Ashes

9am - Mass with Ashes

5:30pm - Service with Ashes

7pm - Mass with Ashes

8:30pm - Service with Ashes

Stations of the Cross Schedule

February 16 - 5:30pm Stations, Heart-to-Heart Adoration begins at 7pm

February 23 - 7pm, followed by silent Adoration until 8:30pm

March 1 - 7pm, followed by silent Adoration until 8:30pm

March 8 - 7pm, followed by silent Adoration until 8:30pm

March 15 - 5:30pm Stations, Heart-to-Heart Adoration begins at 7pm

March 22 - 7pm, followed by silent Adoration until 8:30pm

March 29 - Living Stations of the Cross at 7pm

Parish News

Youth Encounter Sky Zone Trip!

Youth Encounter is taking a trip to Sky Zone Trampoline Park in Trumbull (formerly Rockin' Jump). Please note that we have a new date: February 18 from 2-4pm. Drop off at 2pm with the permission slip (attached!) at Sky Zone. Cost is $20 per person. We do need Virtus-trained parents to chaperone - let us know if you're available!

Please note: only kids who attend Youth Encounters are eligible for this trip.

Camp Veritas Catholic Summer Camp!

It's time to start signing up for Camp Veritas Catholic Summer Camp! Each year we get a group to go to the best week of sleep-away camp you will ever experience. Camp Veritas (www.campveritas.org) combines sports, swimming, boating, zip-lines, go-karts, and all the fun camp activities with daily Mass, Rosary, Adoration, spiritual talks, and a powerful encounter with Jesus. Every single kid who went last year had a blast and we hope to double attendance this year! We are offering a special scholarship for kids who are part of Youth Encounter - $300 off! Sign-up online and experience the fun!

Join Our Special Candlemas

Holy Hour this Evening!

Do you make GREAT chili? Join the contest!  

All kinds of CHILI welcome-beef, chicken, pork, white beans, vegetarian, etc.

Sign up online below or on the sheet in the Lobby this weekend.

  LET'S SEE IF LAST YEAR'S WINNER'S

     CAN RETAIN THEIR TITLES!!

PRE -SUPERBOWL PARTY:

Football Tailgate-type foods requested:

Chips, dips, cheese and crackers, mini hotdogs, fruit and veggies trays.

Desserts: Cookies, Brownies, Munchkins.

Please join us for this wonderful event

      ALL ARE WELCOME!

The Living Stations of the Cross, which returned triumphantly to St. Jude’s last year after a three-year hiatus, is again looking for young people (school age through high school) to serve as actors, readers and members of the stage crew. Participation is a great way to grow closer to Jesus as we prepare to lead the parish in prayer on Good Friday. 

Rehearsals will be on five Sunday evenings during Lent beginning Feb. 25.

Fill out this form by Feb. 16 if you wish to participate, or email Pete at peter.j.blair@gmail.com with any questions. 

OUTDOOR STATIONS OF THE CROSS

Good Friday

March 29^th

10 A.M.

Hosted By The Knights of Columbus

Family News and Updates

Save the Dates for 2024 Family Ministry Events!

Feb 13, 5:30 pm: Mardi Gras Family Game night is back! Pizza will be served.

March 10: Family Formation Bible Workshop

May 5, 2:30 pm: 2nd Annual Bingo with the Sisters of Nazareth

May: Women's Craft Night - Making Wooden Wall Rosary Holders! Date coming soon

June 17-21: Camp Adore VBS for children entering grades 1-6 (registration is now open - see below)

email Jessica if you have any ideas for events you would like to see in 2024!

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. 7-9 pm at St. Jude Social Hall.

Please click on the image to view the flyer.

CAMP ADORE REGISTRATION IS OPEN

Camp Adore 2024 

June 17-21 8:30 am - 12:30 pm

For children entering Grades 1-6

E-mail Jessica if you are an adult or teen interested in volunteering

(In the case of excessive snow days, our backup dates are August 19-23)

Mom's Group Announcements

INVITING ALL PARENTS (mothers and fathers) to our 2024 monthly Zoom Rosaries on the First Wednesdays at 9 pm. Please email Jessica Iannotta for more information. To submit prayer intentions for our monthly Rosaries, click here.

Next Mom's Group meeting Thursday February 29 at 7:30 pm in the social hall. New members are always welcome!

Knights of Columbus News

All Saint Jude Parishioners and families are invited to join the Knights of Columbus to visit the the Blessed Michael McGivney Pilgrimage Center and Saint Mary's church, his final resting place.

Schedule:

9:15 AM: Meet at Saint Jude to carpool

10:00 AM: Tour of McGivney Center

1:00 PM: Tour of Saint Mary's Church

The McGivney Center welcomes visitors to learn about this holy priest’s life and legacy, imitate his benevolent outreach to the needy and outcast, and invoke his heavenly intercession for needs great and small in their own lives. There are many beautiful exhibit to visit (see here)

St. Mary’s Church in New Haven, Connecticut, is deeply tied to both Blessed Michael McGivney and the organization he founded – the Knights of Columbus. It is a special place of prayer and pilgrimage that contains the sarcophagus where the bodily remains of Father McGivney are entombed.

Hopeline Pregnancy Center has a need for disposable diapers. They are currently low on size newborn 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 by Hopeline and our Knights of Columbus Council.

Should you wish to provide a gift to Hopeline that would help save a life here is the link to their Gift Catalog:

Gift Catalog | Hopeline PRC | Bridgeport, CT

Food Pantry



Our Christmas distribution was a great success! This would not have been possible without your continued support. However, our pantry is now depleted of many staple items. Please consider dropping off the following items of greatest need as you come to Mass this Christmas season: peanut butter and jelly, pancake mix and pancake syrup, canned tuna, oatmeal and pasta, pasta, pasta. Blessings and a joyous Christmas to all. 

Please remember in your daily prayers:

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, 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, Antonia Tedeschi, 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, George Goss, Michael J. Russell



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 February is:

 THE VOCATION OF CONSECRATED LIFE

World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life Feb. 2nd ( Celebrated in Parishes Feb. 4-5).

May we pray for all Sisters and Brothers who have committed to the Consecrated life, that they may have the grace to persevere and serve with open hearts and willing spirits...

    We pray to the Lord

Mass Intentions for  February 3 – February 11

Sat    Feb 3          8:30am       Michael Gallant

Sat    Feb 3          4:30pm       Art Bellanger

Sun   Feb 4          7:30am       St Jude Parishioners

Sun   Feb 4          9:30am       Anthony D’Angelo

Sun  Feb 4          11:30am     Maria Emilia Monteiro

Mon  Feb 5          9:00am       Robert Donofrio

Tue   Feb 6          9:00am      Ray Schwartz, Sr. 

Wed  Feb 7          9:00am      Sharon Lockshier

Thu   Feb 8          9:00am       Mary Charlotte Braccio

Sat    Feb10         4:30pm       Luis Ferreira

Sun  Feb 11        7:30am       St Jude Parishioners

Sun   Feb 11        9:30am       Carolyn and Peter Radman & Vera Brkic

Sun  Feb 11        11:30am     Michael McAtee

Tabernacle Candle: In memory of Luis Ferreira during the month of February

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.