Reflection from Fr. Joseph

We have something new at St. Jude’s – new Stations of the Cross! Thanks to the generosity of parishioner Betty Henn, we now have beautiful new Stations which are spread out throughout the church so that people can make a spiritual pilgrimage as they trace the path that Jesus walked on the way to Calvary. Many people could not even find the old Stations, which were tiny and placed in an inconspicuous niche in the church, so we wanted to help people to access this beautiful devotion in a more evident way.

The Stations of the Cross is a very ancient devotion. Many of the mystics have said that Mary herself, after Christ’s Ascension into Heaven, walked the Via Dolorosa (Way of Sorrows) every day, remembering His sacrifice. The Romans, however, tried to eliminate any evidence of Jesus’ Crucifixion, bulldozing many of the sites that had become pilgrimage places for early Christians. Once Christianity became legal in 313AD by the Emperor Constantine’s famous Edict of Milan, the emperor’s mother St. Helen traveled to Jerusalem to discover where Jesus walked. She brought back many relics from Christ’s Passion, such as the staircase that he walked up to meet Pontius Pilate (the entire staircase is now housed in a church in Rome, where pilgrims walk up the stairs on their knees). She and her team also excavated a cistern, where oral tradition held that Jesus’ Cross had been unceremoniously tossed by the Romans. She found several wooden beams in the cistern, and according to tradition, had a leper touch every piece of wood until he was miraculously cured upon touching a certain one – hence, the relic of Christ’s Cross is with us today. After this, pilgrims used to travel to the Holy Land to retrace the footsteps of Christ.

Once the Muslims took over the Holy Land in the 700s, it became impossible for pilgrims to make that journey, so many churches back in Europe began building Stations in their churches. But it didn’t really catch on until the Crusades. When the Holy Land was liberated from Islamic occupation, the Franciscan order was granted custody of all churches there in 1342. Since the Franciscan were worldwide at that point, news of this beautiful devotion began to spread like wildfire.

But it was still very much a free-form devotion. There could be as few as seven Stations or as many as 30+. It wasn’t until 1729 that Pope Clement fixed the number at 14 Stations. Five of the Stations are not actually in the Bible, but only in Tradition (Jesus meets His Mother…Veronica wipes the Face of Jesus…Jesus’ three falls).

Stations of the Cross are a devotion, not a liturgy – which means that there is no one standard way of praying them. Some people use the beautiful meditations of St. Alphonsus Liguori, or meditate on the life of Christ through the eyes of Mary, or use Scripture to go through the Passion. There is no “official” way to pray the Stations – pray them however you wish! During Lent we celebrate Stations every Friday (tonight at 5:30pm; next week at 7pm; Good Friday our young people will be putting on a Living Stations at 7pm), but you are welcome to pray Stations whenever you wish (and wherever you wish – no need even to come to church!). We also have some beautiful outdoor Stations of the Cross along the driveway leading to Abbey Road; these were installed in 2020 as an Eagle Scout project by Bobby Hancox. They have gotten good use!

This Lent, if you haven’t done so, pray the Stations at least once – it will help you enter more deeply into the mystery of God’s love this holy season!

Heart to Heart Adoration Nights

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!

Tonight, March 15 from 7-9pm at St. Jude's Parish. 

SENIORS: If you no longer drive or do not drive at night and would like to attend, please contact Betty Henn, 203-261-0762 or ehennsr@gmail.com to arrange for a ride.

Last weekend to order!

Diocesan Confession Monday Update

PLEASE NOTE:

THE DIOCESAN CONFESSION MONDAY CHURCHES

LISTED IN OUR MARCH CALENDAR ARE INCORRECT

IT SHOULD READ:

CONFESSION MONDAY 

MARCH 25

3 – 9 PM

ST. LAWRENCE CHURCH, SHELTON

ST CATHERINE OF SIENA, TRUMBULL

Ash Wednesday and Fridays Fasting & Abstinence

Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fasting and abstinence. This means:

Fasting - All Catholics ages 18-59 are obligated to have only one meal (and up to two small snacks, not equaling one meal) on Fast Days.



Abstinence - All Catholics ages 14+ are obligated to abstain from meat on every Friday during Lent. Fish is allowed.

Remember why we fast and abstain - by doing some sort of penance, we unite ourselves to Our Lord Who sacrificed everything for love of us.



Stations of the Cross Schedule

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 7:30pm

SENIORS: If you no longer drive or do not drive at night and would like to attend, please contact Betty Henn, 203-261-0762 or ehennsr@gmail.com to arrange for a ride.

Parish News

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!

Living Stations of the Cross

Join us at 7:30 p.m. on Good Friday for St Jude’s 32nd presentation of the Living Stations of the Cross, presented for the second year in a row entirely by the parish youth. More than two dozen young people will lead us in this deeply moving and prayerful devotion that has a tradition in our parish stretching back more than three decades.  

OUTDOOR STATIONS OF THE CROSS

Good Friday

March 29^th

10 A.M.

Hosted By The Knights of Columbus

Family News and Updates

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)

REGISTER BY 3/15 TO BE ENTERED INTO A RAFFLE FOR ONE FREE REGISTRATION FEE!

Save the Dates for 2024 Family Ministry Events!

April 7, 12:30 pm: Divine Mercy Family Event

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

May 31, 6:30 pm: Women's Craft Night - Making Wooden Wall Rosary Holders.

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.

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.

*Zoom Rosary will be offered weekly during Lent.

Next Mom's Group meeting Thursday March 21 at 7:00 pm in the social hall to attend Soul Core together (note one week earlier (AND EARLIER TIME) due to Holy Week). 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.

Food Pantry Update

Arrangements are underway for the Easter grocery distribution to our fifteen families. At this time, we are in need of pancake mix, pancake syrup, coffee, and condiments (mayo in highest demand).

Please note that for Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas we provide our families with perishable goods so they can have “traditional” holiday meals. If you are interested in donating a spiral ham, please contact Liz Romeo via email at lizromeo65@gmail.com for more information. 

Thank you again for your constant and continued support.

St. Stephen Bereavement Support Group

For anyone grieving a loss, St. Stephen Church, Trumbull is offering a 10 week support group starting on Tuesday, March 12 from 2:30-4:00. Registration is required. Call rectory at 203-268-7217.

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, 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, Michael J. Russell, Mary Ann Voytek, Michael, and Donna



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 Intention for March is:  

For each expectant mother considering abortion, may the Lord give her the grace and support to chose life for her child...

   We pray to the Lord 

Mass Intentions for  March 16 – March 24

Sat    Mar 16       4:30pm       Luis Ferreira

Sun  Mar 17       7:30am       St Jude Parishioners

Sun   Mar 17       9:30am       The Pinto and DeAndrade Family

Sun  Mar 17       11:30am     James Tierney, Sr.

Mon  Mar 18       9:00am       Margaret Tranzillo

Tue   Mar 19       9:00am       Michael Gallant

Wed  Mar 20       9:00am      Joan Dellolio        

Thu   Mar 21       9:00am       Danuta Polkowski

Sat    Mar 23       4:30pm       Jose Rosa

Sun  Mar 24       7:30am       St Jude Parishioners

Sun   Mar 24       9:30am       Anne McCabe

Sun  Mar 24       11:30am     Maria Emili Monteiro

Tabernacle Candle: In memory of Angelo Magliocco during the month of March

Adoration Candles: In memory of Margaret Tranzillo during the month of March

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 meet 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.