Reflection from Fr. Joseph

Perhaps it’s because it’s cold outside, but I’ve been thinking about heated seats.

Many of your cars have them. My 2010 Ford Focus does not, but as I’m in the market for a car this summer, I’m considering it. Many times they come standard, but it’s also possible to add them later, at a cost. Would you pay $250 for a heated seat? $500? $1,000? The cost would certainly make me think twice – is it really that important?

By contrast, we would want a car engine to function properly. Without a rightly-working engine, the car is meaningless and useless. We would certainly be willing to pay a high cost to make sure our engine stayed in functioning condition.

What does this have to do with anything? It occurred to me, on these frigid mornings, that for many people, their Catholic Faith and relationship with Jesus is like a heated seat. It’s a nice add-on, but if it costs too much, they feel like it really doesn’t add as much value as the cost, so they can do without it.

Recently I had a conversation with a non-practicing Catholic who explained why her kids were faithfully going to religious education: “I want to provide a foundation for my kids to have faith, even if they don’t need it yet. And they’re fortunate that they don’t yet need to rely upon it.” Her response struck me with its clarity: for her, Jesus was something to have in your back pocket when life got tough – she didn’t believe He was the very reason for our existence, and certainly not something that we should make a sacrifice for.

But our faith in the Lord Jesus and what He accomplished on the Cross is more like an engine than a heated seat. Without the Lord Jesus, we’re not going to get where we’re trying to go (Heaven).

I feel like one of the challenges to faith in the modern world is that, frankly, it’s pretty easy to be decently happy without it. Hundreds of years ago, everyday life was pretty rough. Hunger, disease, backbreaking labor, cold, danger, and suffering was the lot of almost everyone, and death was right around the corner for most. So the hope of everlasting life, along with the beautiful Sacramental life and feast days of the Church, were the one pinprick of joy in the midst of a pretty tough existence. Nowadays, however, modern man doesn’t need to suffer too much anymore. We’ve never been truly hungry, and any time we have an ache or pain we just take a pill. We have comfortable houses and entertainment and a circle of polite friends in a safe society – so why do we need Jesus, if we can be quite happy without Him? After all, to really follow Jesus costs a lot – where is the “value” added to our lives that makes up for the cost?

Sometimes people tell me that I focus too much on Heaven and Hell and not enough on the advantages to following Jesus here. But I guess, for me, what it boils down to is that the only happiness that we cannot obtain on our own is everlasting life. I can have a moral code without Christ; I can work on self-improvement without Christ; I can have friendships and community without Christ; I can “figure out my own meaning to life” without Christ; I can deal with suffering without Christ, through medicine and therapy. But I cannot save myself from eternal damnation without Christ.

Without a doubt, Jesus is critical to moral codes and self-improvement and community and life’s deeper questions, when we see them all in His light. But He did not come to give us a moral code or help us just be better individuals. He came to redeem us from sin and open the gates of everlasting life to those who believe in Him.

Through this lens, it is clear that a personal relationship with Jesus Christ through the Church He established and the Sacraments He gave us is essential for eternal life, not incidental.

Do you see your Catholic Faith and relationship with Jesus Christ as heated seats (that add a sense of well-being to your life) or as an engine (which drives your entire being towards the goal of Eternal Life)?

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!

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.

Diocesan Confession Monday updlate

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 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 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

New Business Manager/Bookkeeper!



St. Jude Parish welcomes Mary Beth Rauser as our new bookkeeper/business manager! She has many years of experience working in parish administration - formerly at St. Jude's, and most recently at Our Lady of Peace in Stratford. She is a longtime parishioner and will be a wonderful fit for our parish.

News from the Floral Ministry

Urns: Jesus' first miracle at the wedding at Cana. Start of His ministry.-John 2:1-12

Rocks: One of the three temptations of Jesus in the desert.-Matthew 4:1-11

Baskets: Parable of the loaves and fishes -Matthew 14:13-21

Purple Cloth: symbolic of royalty.

Driftwood and dried branches: symbolic of the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert.

We hope that your Lenten journey will be enhanced as you view the display.

Medical Look At Crucifixion

We all know that Jesus was crucified for us, but what is crucifixion? How was it practiced during Jesus' day? What, exactly, are the physical sufferings that Jesus endured for us and for our salvation? Please join Fr. Joseph for an enlightening talk on A Medical Look At Crucifixion on Thursday, March 14 at 7pm in the Social Hall. It will help you approach Good Friday with a deeper appreciation of what Jesus endured for love of us!

March 2024 St Jude-St Stephens Seniors Meeting

The St Jude-St Stephen Seniors will meet on Thursday, March 14^th.

The meetings are at 1:00 PM on the 2^nd Thursday of each month in the Msgr. Sabia Social Hall. The entrance is in the back of St Jude Church.

 All are welcome. No need to register.

We will continue celebrating our joyful journeys as together we draw closer to our Lord at this very special time in the liturgical year.

The topic for the month of March will be Holy Week.

There is always more to learn about the most important week in the liturgical year!

Special note: We will again reach out to younger parishioners to help them celebrate Easter by providing Easter bags and candy to the children in the Religious Ed. program at Blessed Sacrament Church in Bridgeport as well as the young children whose families are aided by the St Jude Food Pantry. 

Like last year, Easter bags and candy will be provided by the parish as well as the members of the seniors group. Please bring wrapped candy if you are able.

Any questions, or if you need a ride, contact Ellen or Doug Stevens at 203-268-9229

DIOCESE OF BRIDGEPORT

PROJECT RACHEL MINISTRY

Are you suffering from the wounds of abortion? Do you feel shame, guilt, regret?

Begin the healing journey

Come to an Entering Canaan

Women’s Day of Prayer and Healing

For women who have experienced the pain of abortion.

SATURDAY, MARCH 16, 2024

Spiritual Director: Fr. Joseph Gill

For confidential registration or more information contact:

Maureen at projectrachel@diobpt.org or 203-416-1619

God’s love and mercy are waiting for you!

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!

March 10 3:00 pm: Family Formation Bible Workshop

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

PALM CROSS ORDER FORM

OUR KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS COUNCIL 5987 WILL

BE SELLING THIS BEAUTIFUL 24” X 12” PALM CROSS DURING LENT FOR PICKUP THE WEEKEND OF March 23/24

DECORATED WITH 60 PIECES OF PALM, COLOR RIBBON, 2 ARTIFICIAL LILIES AND INDIVIDUALLY BAGGED, AT THE SAME COST AS LAST YEAR OF $12.00 EACH.

Proceeds To Benefit Msgr. John Sabia Scholarship Fund

Supporting St. Jude Students at Holy Trinity Academy

PLEASE FILL OUT THE ATTACHED ORDER FORM AND RETURN IT WITH PAYMENT BY WEEKEND OF MARCH 16 & 17. 

QUESTIONS? KEVIN 203-570-4372

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.

The Saint John XXIII Council 5987 Knights of Columbus

Invites You to A St. Patrick's Day Celebration with

KELTIC KICK

Cabaret style

Concert Saturday, March 9th at 7:30 p.m.

Rev. Monsignor John Sabia Social Hall

BYOB

Corned Beef Sandwiches, Hot Dogs Will be Sold

Tickets $20 Reservations Required

Bill Davoren (203) 521-5445

Eric Terkildsen (203) 240-3141

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, 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, Mary Ann Voytek



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 9 – March 17

Sat    Mar 9         4:30pm       The Carlson and DelMastro Families

Sun  Mar 10       7:30am       St Jude Parishioners

Sun   Mar 10       9:30am       Jean and Reno Piccioli

Sun  Mar 10       11:30am     Rita Benoit

Mon  Mar 11       9:00am       The Holy Souls in Purgatory

Tue   Mar 12       9:00am       Renee Doenias

Wed  Mar 13       9:00am      Deceased members of the Cunningham Family      

Thu   Mar 14       9:00am       Mary Charlotte Braccio

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.

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 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.