Reflection from Fr. Joseph

We’re only three days into Lent – perhaps you’re still struggling to find the right Lenten Penance? There’s the ever-fallback “giving up dessert” – but perhaps you want to be more creative this year? If so, here are some good ones to consider:

1. Drink only water

2. Take cold showers

3. Pray the Rosary daily

4. Read Scripture daily

5. Don’t make unnecessary purchases, and give the money you saved to

the poor

6. Write a thank-you note to someone every day of Lent

7. Take on an extra chore around the house

8. Don’t season your food (no condiments, salt, or spices)

9. Exercise daily

10. Turn off the music, or only listen to instrumental music (without lyrics)

11. Give up social media or unnecessary media consumption,

and read a book or take a walk instead

12. Sleep on the floor (really, it’s not so bad!)

13. Learn how to pray the Liturgy of the Hours

14. Don’t speed while driving

15. Learn how to make a new recipe, and then make it every week and

give it away to someone in need

16. Don’t hit the snooze button

17. Go on a retreat, or take a pilgrimage to a holy site (we have so many

within a day’s drive!)

18. Visit a cemetery weekly and pray for the souls of the dead

19. Clean your house/car weekly

20. Visit the Blessed Sacrament frequently (stop by St. Jude’s Church to

make a visit to the Lord throughout the week!)

The three elements of Lent – prayer, fasting, almsgiving – can help us to grow in holiness so that when Lent ends we find ourselves more surrendered to God and overflowing with virtues!

There will be a once/month Sunday evening Solemn High Mass on the Fourth Sunday of every month, starting February 22, at 5:30pm. It is scheduled from February to May.

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.

Lenten Supper and Stations:

6:00 PM ~ DINNER
7:00 PM ~ STATIONS OF THE CROSS

Friday, February 20 - Tortellini with Roasted Mediterranean Vegetables

Friday, February 27 - Vegetarian Tacos

Friday, March 6 - Stuffed Portabella Mushrooms

Friday, March 13 - TBD

Friday, March 20 - Soup Night

Friday, March 27 - Pierogies

New Additional Weekly Confession Time!

We have had such a beautiful renaissance of God's mercy as more and more souls take advantage of the Sacrament of Confession that we have added an additional weekly time for the Sacrament!

Confessions will now be on Saturdays from 3:30-4:30pm and on Monday nights from 8:00-9:00pm. Please come and have your sins forgiven - now available on Mondays too!

We are once again looking for parish youth (school age through high school) to serve as actors, readers and members of the stage crew for the Living Stations of the Cross. Participation is a great way for young people to grow closer to Jesus as we prepare to lead the parish in prayer on Good Friday. Rehearsals will be on five Sunday evenings in March. Fill out this form by Feb. 22 if you wish to participate, or email Pete at peter.j.blair@gmail.com with any questions. 

St. Stephen Bereavement Support Group

Have you suffered the loss of a special person in your life? St. Stephen Bereavement Ministry can offer you hope in coping with your grief. It is open to anyone you may know who needs help. The 10-week course, with a guidded workbook provided, will begin on Wednesday March 11 from 2:00 to 3:30 pm. Registration is required.

Please call the Parish Office at 203-268-6217. A call will be returned to you with more information.

If you have never attended a Heart to Heart Adoration, we highly encourage you to attend! It is a powerful night of Adoration, music, healing prayer, preaching and revival. There will be preaching from the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, Confessions, beautiful praise music, and an encounter with Jesus like none other! Next one coming up this weekend! All are welcome to join us! Free childcare will be available in the social hall.

We look forward to celebrating our

5th Anniversary next February with

additional contestants and many more families!

Our 4th Annual Chili Cookoff Contest was a great Parish Event! 100+ people joined in the fun! We had 10 contestants and 67 voters.

Congratulations to our winners this year:

    1st Place - Lisa Gydus (2 nd time)!

     2nd Place - Jim Cramond

     3rd Place - Dan Loud

Apologies for the delay in announcing the winners!

INTRODUCING A NEW WOMEN'S STUDY ON SAINTS

  "LOVE LIKE A SAINT"

  CULTIVATING VIRTUE WITH HOLY WOMEN

      In Love Like a Saint, you are invited to be inspired by remarkable saints - virtuous, flawed, and real women who teach us how to surrender to God and be open to his grace. These women have cultivated virtue through a life of surrender and love in the midst of deep sorrows and trials. They are students, wives, employees, friends, mothers, and will be your companions in your faith journey.

This 7 week study begins on Wednesday March 18

 And meets from 6-7:30 in the SJ Social Hall

Please email us by March 4 if you can join us. Books are $15 each.

 Contact: Regina Schwartz at regschwartz@gmail.com

Family News and Events

February Rooted Magazine

Here is the link for February's Rooted Magazine with a link to past issues here.

It is full inspiration for the feasts of February, the month of the Holy Family and beginning of Lent.

The Winter Saint Jude Family Newsletter is also hot off the press this week! Check it out here - full of inspiration for Lent.

Saint Jude Moms Group

Next Meeting Date:

Thursday, 2/26 - 7:30 pm

Email stjudemomsgroup@gmail.com for more information!

PARENT BIBLE STUDY

Parent Bible Study during 10:30 AM Religious Education is resumes this Sunday 2/22. Join us next Sunday in the social hall while your child in in religious education. No experience necessary and you can join us any week!

NEXT KIDS CLUB - SUNDAY 3/1

Join us for the next Kids Club at 3 pm on Sunday, March 1 in the Social Hall. We will have a special guest!

April's Kids Club on 4/5 will be a Divine Mercy Family event

May's Kids Club on 5/3 is Pizza Bingo with the Sisters of Nazareth

CLICK BELOW TO RSVP!


Saturday March 7, 20206

A Mother Daughter Lenten Retreat: "Journey with Mary"

Join us on Saturday evening March 7 from 5:30-8 pm in the St Jude Social Hall for dinner, rosary making and craft time, Mary's Stations of the Cross, prayer and time for mothers and daughters to reflect and bond in a relaxed retreat setting. Open to mothers and daughters of all ages! Find more information and sign using the button below.

Volunteers are needed! Email Jessica if you would like to help with this event!

Knights of Columbus News

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.

Food Pantry update

Items in greatest need currently are peanut butter, canned soup, canned tuna and mac and cheese. Thank you for your continued support and generosity.

Hopeline Pregnancy Center has a continued need for disposable diapers, etc. They are currently low on sizes Newborn,1, 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7,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.

Their biggest need right now is girls’ winter clothing 0-3, 3-6, 9-12 and 12-18.

 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 , 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, 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, Sal Guerrera, Anne Gulia, Raymond Gosselin

Please join us in praying our Monthly Parish Intention..

Our Petition for February is for:

  THE YEAR OF CONSECRATED LIFE

  WORLD DAY FOR CONSECRATED LIFE         Sunday, February 1, 2026

We pray that those who are Consecrated to God by vows of chastity, poverty and obedience always reveal the love of Christ, and continue to enrich our world by their dedicated lives of prayer, open hearts and willing spirits.

      We Pray To The Lord

Mass Intentions for February 21 – March 1

Sat      Feb 21            4:30pm           Mary and Pasquale D’Amore

        Sun      Feb 22            7:30am            Jeffrey Loesch

Sun     Feb 22             9:30am            Antonio Silva

Sun     Feb 22             11:30am          St Jude Parishioners

                                                           Maureen O’Keefe

                                               Mary Sinkewicz

        Sun     Feb 22            5:30pm            Debbie Dragonetti

Mon    Feb 23            9:00am           Holly Flynn

Tue     Feb 24            9:00am           Tom Fino and Howie Tassitano

Wed    Feb 25            9:00am           Laura Burns

Thu     Feb 26            9:00am           Anthony Martinez Lemus

Fri       Feb 27            9:00am           Margaret Baranosky,

Cathy Klosky and Karen Paradis

Sat      Feb 28             9:00am          Blessings for all women to find hope in

difficult times

Sat      Feb 28            4:30pm           Jose Dantas

        Sun     Mar 1             7:30am           Helen Matis

Sun     Mar 1             9:30am           Thomas McMullen

Sun     Mar 1             11:30am          St Jude Parishioners

                                                           Thomas Fino

                                                Alan Delfavero

Tabernacle Candle: (March): In memory of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph B. Piazza

Wine and Hosts: (March): In memory of Elaine Duschang

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

There will be a once/month Sunday evening Solemn High Mass on the Fourth Sunday of every month, starting February 22, at 5:30pm. It is scheduled from February to May.

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.

Confession Hours

We are adding an additional Confession time starting February 1, through Easter (at least - if it is popular we will keep it). Monday nights from 8-9pm (the last hour of Adoration). 

Confessions will now be on Saturdays from 3:30-4:30pm and on Monday nights from 8-9pm. 

Confessions are also by appointment, please call 203-261-6404, to set up an appointment or email the office.  

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.