Reflection from Fr. Joseph

Last week we discussed the many advantages to sending one’s kids or grandkids to a Catholic school. But there is a unique subset of Catholic schools which offer an even better education than a regular Catholic school: the Classical Catholic School.

What is a classical school? Classical education is a long tradition of seeking the good, true, and beautiful by reading original works and discussing them. It educates children in the best of Western civilization, culling the best texts from the greatest wise men and women.

Classical education uses a very different model with very different goals than regular education. Rather than filling young people’s minds with knowledge for the sake of purely pragmatic purposes (i.e. getting into a good college or a good job), classical education seeks to teach young people how to think critically and how to express themselves.

Many of the classes are not done in a lecture-style where the teacher is imparting knowledge. Rather, many classes are seminar-style, where the teacher facilitates the discussion about some profound text that has been read and digested. In true Socratic style, the teacher leads the students to truth through questions, asking them to analyze and understand what they have read.

We have two truly excellent Classical Catholic Schools in our diocese: Regina Pacis Academy in Norwalk (https://www.reginapacisacademy.org/) for grades K-8, and Cardinal Kung Academy in Stamford (https://www.cardinalkungacademy.org) for grades 7-12. I have been blessed to be associated with RPA for about 8 years now, and have been chaplain and theology teacher at CKA for five years, so I’ve been blessed to see first-hand how this education works – and boy, does it work!

At our school of Cardinal Kung Academy, students are reading Homer and St. Augustine’s “Confessions” in Freshman Year! By the end of their academic career, they will have read and wrestled with St. Thomas Aquinas, Winston Churchill, Ovid, Shakespeare, Mark Twain, Chesterton, and more. Classical schools are technology-free – which has been shown to actually enhance learning since there are fewer distractions which allow for more concentrated study and better interpersonal skills, as students are challenged to articulate their thoughts using reason and logic.

While all Catholic schools emphasize their Catholic identity to a greater or lesser degree, classical Catholic schools live and breathe our Catholic faith. Our student body at CKA is about 95% practicing Catholic – and the school culture is such that it leads students closer to Christ. Our peer pressure is overwhelmingly positive – where else can you overhear students at the lunch table talking about their favorite saints, or kids encouraging other kids to go to Adoration!

I know both schools are a bit of a hike (although we have one student at CKA from Naugatuck!) but they are worth it. If you’re looking for a Catholic education with more intellectual rigor, more focus on Catholicism, no technology, solid Catholic peers and faculty, perhaps check out one of the classical Catholic schools in our diocese!

Solemnity of the Assumption



We have the great privilege of celebrating the Holy Day of Obligation on Tuesday, August 15 - the Solemnity of the Assumption, celebrating Mary being taken up body and soul into Heaven. All Catholics are obliged to attend Mass that day. Our feast day Masses will be Monday, August 14 (vigil Mass) at 7pm...Tuesday, August 15 at 9am and 6pm (please note the change in Mass time, different from the printed monthly calendar). See you there!

We have had an amazing first six months of our 50^thAnniversary Year!

Many more events and celebrations to come!

SAVE THE DATES

July 23:   Our Youth Group sponsored a very successful Car Wash with

           donations going to the Missionaries of Charity in Bpt.

August 23-26: Fantastic St Jude Italian Festival is back with all the

delicious foods from past festivals

September 17:  Sunday, Funday, Sundaes

                             Bounce House, Lazar Tag, Axe throwing, many other games

                             Ice Cream Sundaes

October 28:  Closing of St Jude Novena

                       9:00am Mass and celebration of St Jude Parishioners

                             Coffee social

October 28: Dinner Dance to celebrate 50^th Anniversary of our Parish

                      Details to follow

November 18: 9:00am Mass of Thanksgiving – Pastors, Priests and Deacons

                           who have served in our parish

                            Social to follow

December 3: Rededication of our Church by Bishop Frank Caggiano

                         Blessing of new relics for our altar

                         Social to follow

Please join us for any and all these events

One In Christ – The 2023 Bishop’s Appeal

Your gifts at work

Future priests of the Diocese of Bridgeport receive comprehensive formation in theology, pastoral ministry, personal growth, and, most importantly, the spiritual life at seminaries chosen by the Bishop to best suit the needs of the seminarian and of the diocese. Preparation for the Priesthood takes anywhere from six to eight years, depending on the age and educational background of the man when he enters. All of our seminarians receive graduate degrees in theology prior to their ordination.  Through your generous gift to the Bishop's Appeal, the Diocese will be better able to support men who are discerning priesthood and may respond generously and courageously to that call. 

Thank you for your gift.

To make a gift, or for more information, please visit us at 2023BishopsAppeal.org, call (203) 416-1470 or scan with your phone.

Annual Bishop's Appeal Brochure and Home QR

Parish News

Virtus (Safe Environment) Training for the Festival Volunteers.

The Diocese requires that all volunteers for any parish event be Virtus Certified. Virtus Certification allows you to volunteer at any Catholic Church or School in the Diocese of Bridgeport.

We are holding a special training session for our Festival Volunteers. It will be held at St Jude on Friday August 18 starting at 7 PM and will run approximately 2 hours.

If you are not sure of your Virtus Certification status or have any questions about the Virtus Program, please contact Deacon John Tuccio at deacon.tuccio@stjuderc.org.

Now that school is out, keep the faith alive this summer with our Summer Family Rosary Challenge - open to all families with children/teens.

Use this link to maintain a "Living Rosary" by adding your prayers onto the previous family's (even if just a few Hail Mary's or a single decade - anyone can participate!).

Participants will receive one of these beautiful Marian rosary pouches (while supplies last)!

Mom's Group Announcements

Our next monthly mother's Zoom rosary is Wednesday 9/6 at 9 pm and will continue on the first Wednesday of every month e-mail Jessica Iannotta for more information.

Next meeting is Thursday 8/31 at 7:30 pm in the Social Hall

If you are interesting in joining our summer book club, email Jessica Iannotta

Bring home Saint Jude's traveling statue of

the Holy Family.

Materials will be included to do a 7-day preparation for Consecration to the Holy Family. To learn more, visit: https://afc.org/family-consecration/ May God bless you and your family through the intercession of the Holy Family!

Click here to sign up

Hopeline Pregnancy Center Diaper Needs

Hopeline Pregnancy Center has a need for disposable diapers. They are currently low on sizes 3, 4, 5 & 6 and baby wipes. 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.

St Jude-St Stephen Seniors

The St Jude-St Stephen Seniors will resume their monthly meetings on Thursday, September 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 who consider themselves seniors are welcome. No need to register. 

We will continue celebrating our joyful journeys as together we draw closer to our Lord.

Special note: If you have unwanted religious “treasures” that you don’t know what to do with but aren’t sure of how to dispose of them, bring them to the September meeting. Many of us have items that we received in the mail or picked up in our travels.  

Let’s collect them and make our homes “lighter”.



Any questions, call Ellen or Doug Stevens at 203-268-9229

Or bring your questions to the meeting!

Please remember in your daily prayers:

Marge Tranzillo, David Nicolett, Maria Bertone, Marie Micholovich, 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, Bennett Gulyas, Tom Pleva, James Buturla, Violeta Shala, Vito Melfi, Paul Verespej, Patti F. , Anne DeVita, Anna Harper, Jack Lane, Robert Freeman, Frank Kerekes, Marian Nanchy, Rosario Pacheco, Antonia Tedeschi, Charles Metoyer, Liz Guaglianone, Tip B., Mary McDonald, Douglas Stanley, Jenn Katz, Judy Thomas, Lewis Family, John Sansone, Barbara Tranchese, Joe Tavella, Ed Brady, Mary Lopresti, Lou DiMartino, Lor C., Viola Cleo Bradshaw, Susan W. and Janet C

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 August is:

We give thanks for the many programs and events which enhance our Spirituality and Community, and for our Clergy and volunteers who make them possible.



We pray, especially, for the success of St.Jude Parish Italian Festival.....

    We pray to the Lord

Upcoming Mass Intentions

Sat    Aug 12       4:30pm                Thomas M. and Mary Ellen Mason

Sun   Aug 13      7:30am                 Sue Feller

Sun   Aug 13       9:30am                 St Jude Parishioners

Sun   Aug 13      11:30am               Daniel DiStefano

Mon  Aug 14       9:00am                 

Mon Aug 14       7:00pm                Maria DeLeo

Tue  Aug 15       9:00am                 Patrick Ryan

Tue   Aug 15       6:00pm                Melissa Bonomo            

Wed  Aug 16       9:00am                 Juanita McLaughlin

Thu   Aug 17       9:00am                 Angelina Medeiros                  

Sat    Aug 19       4:30pm                Bobby Gioscia

Sun   Aug 20     7:30am                 St Jude Parishioners

Sun   Aug 20      9:30am                 Marica Jovic and Gojko Jovic

Sun   Aug 20      11:30am               Maria Emilia Monteiro

Tabernacle Candle: In memory of Andrew Henn during the month of August

Mass times for Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

                              AUGUST 14 VIGIL 7:00PM

                              AUGUST 15 HOLY DAY 9:00AM AND 6:00PM

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.html )

Men’s Bible Study

The Men’s Bible Study is currently on a Summer break. We will resume meeting in September. 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.

Mary's Messengers Prayer Group . Since RE is finished for the year, a new time will be announced soon.

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.