Reflection from Fr. Joseph

As is customary, on Good Friday I invite one of the great saints to share his or her reflection on the Crucifixion. This reflection comes from St. Ephrem, a Doctor of the Church and a great poet from the fourth century who wrote great hymns for the Lord. Here he reflects upon Jesus, true God and true Man.

If he was not flesh, whom did the Jews arrest? And if he was not God, who gave an order to the earth and threw them onto their faces?

If he was not flesh, who was struck with a blow? And if he was not God, who cured the ear that had been cut off by Peter and restored it to its place?

If he was not flesh, who received spitting on his face? And if he was not God, who breathed the Holy Spirit into the faces of his Apostles?

If he was not flesh, who stood before Pilate at the judgement seat? And if he was not God, who made Pilate’s wife afraid by a dream?

If he was not flesh, whose garments did the soldiers strip off and divide? And if he was not God, how was the sun darkened at the cross?

If he was not flesh, who was hung on the cross? And if he was not God, who shook the earth from its foundations?

If he was not flesh, whose hands and feet were transfixed by nails? And if he was not God, how was the veil of the temple rent, the rocks broken and the graves opened?

If he was not flesh, who cried out, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me”? And if he was not God, who said “Father, forgive them”?

If he was not flesh, who was hung on a cross with the thieves? And if he was not God, how did he say to the thief, “Today you will be with me in Paradise”?

If he was not flesh, to whom did they offer vinegar and gall? And if he was not God, on hearing whose voice did Hades tremble?

If he was not flesh, whose side did the lance pierce, and blood and water came out? And if he was not God, who smashed to gates of Hades and tear apart it bonds? And at whose command did the imprisoned dead come out?

If he was not flesh, whom did the Apostles see in the upper room? And if he was not God, how did he enter when the doors were shut?

If he was not flesh, the marks of the nails and the lance in whose hands and side did Thomas handle? And if he was not God, to whom did he cry out, “My Lord and my God”?

Confession Times for Holy Week

Good Friday (March 29) - Confessions from 1-2:15pm at St. Jude's

Holy Saturday (March 30) - Confessions from 3:30-4:30pm at St. Jude's

Please take advantage of this wonderful sacrament to cleanse your soul before the holy feast of Easter!

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 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.  

The program will be livestreamed for those who would like to participate from home.

The Feast of Mercy is Next Weekend! Take Advantage of the Greatest Day of Grace!

Did you know that Easter is an eight-day feast? Next weekend we celebrate the reason the Lord came to earth, suffered, died, and resurrected – to redeem our souls. On this day, the "greatest day of the feast," all sin and punishment can be wiped away by those who worthily receive the Eucharist, trust in the Lord's mercy, and are merciful to others. What could be a more extraordinary gift? The Lord also generously answers many prayers. Every family needs God's mercy. Every family should take full advantage of what the Lord is offering the whole world at this time. Visit MercySundayMomentum.org to discover

the gift of Divine Mercy Sunday!

The Divine Mercy Novena Starts Today! See below for the novena schedule.

NOTE: This year's Divine Holy Hour will be Saturday at 3 pm instead of Sunday at 3 pm.

Family News and Updates

All parishioners and families are invited to join our family Divine Mercy celebration! We will be praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet together after 11:30 Mass and then head down to the social hall for hospitality.

Crafts and coloring will be available for the children.

To RSVP or if you would like to donate an item to bring, sign up below!

CAMP ADORE REGISTRATION

SPACE IS FILLING QUICKLY, REGISTER NOW!

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

Join us in praying a novena to our Camp Patron Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati! His birthday novena is March 28 - April 6. Click here for novena prayers or pick up a copy at the Family MInistry Table in the church foyer.

Upcoming Family Ministry Events!

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

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

May 31, 6:00 pm: Women's Craft Night - Making Wooden Wall Rosary Holders. Sign up 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 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 weekly Zoom Rosaries on 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 April 25 at 7:30 pm in the social hall. New members are always welcome!

Knights of Columbus News

Parishioners that toured the Blessed Father Michael McGivney Pilgrimage Center and Saint Mary’s. Photo of the mortal remains of Blessed Father Michael McGivney reverently placed in a sarcophagus at Saint Mary’s church. 

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.

A message from Hopeline:

In 2023 we administered 807 free pregnancy tests. Of the positive tests, 97.1% of those women chose LIFE for their unborn children.

Thank you for all the ways you support Hopeline and the unborn! Your prayers are coveted, and your gifts are cherished.

Food Pantry Update

A change in weather brings about changes in our weekly requirement. We are currently in need of: pasta sides, tuna, coffee, and snack foods. As always, boxed children's cereal is appreciated. 

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, 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, Evan Tedesco



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 30 - April 7

Sat    Mar 30       8:00pm     The Lluch Family

Sun  Mar 31       7:30am       St Jude Parishioners

Sun   Mar 31       9:30am       Ljuba Jovic and Dragica Jovic

Sun  Mar 31       11:30am     In Thanksgiving – Al and Rita Melissano

Mon  Apr 1          9:00am       The Holy Souls in Purgatory

Tue   Apr 2          9:00am       Edmund Mc Carthy

Wed  Apr 3          9:00am      Harry D. Schroeder        

Thu   Apr 4          9:00am      Timothy Grant Wyllie, Sr

Sat    Apr 6          8:30am      Andrew Henn

Sat    Apr 6         4:30pm       Jennifer Cannon

Sun  Apr 7          7:30am       Maximino Monteiro

Sun   Apr 7          9:30am       St Jude Parishioners

Sun  Apr 7          11:30am     Anthony D’Angelo

Tabernacle Candle: March: In memory of Angelo Magliocco

                              April: In memory of Vittoria & Nunzio Guerrera

Adoration Candles: March: In memory of Margaret Tranzillo

Wine And Hosts: April: In memory of Marie Goss

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.

COMMUNION ITEMS ARE IN!

Call Fran Cambra for more information:

203-400-5119

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.