Reflection from Fr. Joseph

Hard to believe that in less than a month, schools will resume their usual schedule and kids will be back at it again for another year. Have you considered sending your kids or grandkids to a Catholic school?

We are blessed with many Catholic schools in the area. Holy Trinity Catholic Academy in Shelton is our local K-8 Catholic grammar school – it formed in 2018 when St. Jude’s, St. Lawrence, and St. Joseph’s in Shelton merged. I have visited there on a number of occasions and have been very impressed with the principal, who is a strong leader and a woman of faith, and the faculty, who deeply live out their Catholic faith. The students are very bright and inquisitive, polite and hungry to learn. I must say that I’m quite impressed with the school. We also have parishioners who attend St. Rose in Newtown and St. Theresa’s in Trumbull, both of which are excellent Catholic schools.

For high school, we have many options in the area – St. Joseph’s in Trumbull, Notre Dame in Fairfield, and even Immaculate High School in Danbury isn’t too far. All of them have their plusses and minuses, and one has to prayerfully discern where you feel called to attend.

But why Catholic education, especially when Monroe public schools are very good? Catholic education is about more than just having prayer during the day and a religion class. Catholic schools provide a worldview that is deeply steeped in Catholicism. A good Catholic school allows the Faith to permeate every aspect of the curriculum and culture of the school.

For example, in mathematics, a Catholic school can make the connection that math involves objective truths. Concepts in math are immaterial, showing that there are things that are true that are more than just the material realm (2 + 2 = 4 and “Human beings have a soul” are both true, but not material). Thus, math taught from a Catholic perspective can open the mind to the reality of an immaterial, objective world.

Science can show that physical reality is marked by patterns and designs and laws, which point the way to a Lawgiver and a Designer. The natural world is too complex and elegant to be the product of random chance; thus, from a Catholic perspective, science can lead to an appreciation of the Creator’s works.

In most non-religious schools, history is presented as a series of facts…but historians also like to look for cause-and-effect when seeing the trends and themes of history. From a Catholic worldview, history is not a series of unconnected and random events, but part of a Larger Story, one which has its crux not in the Enlightenment or the Fertile Crescent but in the Paschal Mystery of Christ’s death and Resurrection. Thus, history becomes His Story, unfolding throughout the life and times of men and women.

In a Catholic school, music and the arts show that many of the greatest works of art were crafted to glorify God, in the context of the liturgy and churches. Physical education is seen as “glorifying God with our bodies.” Literature can include some of the great works of our Faith, which would be excluded from a Catholic school. Recently a parent was telling me that their son asked to read the Book of Genesis for a summer reading assignment, and their public school teacher said that they couldn’t do so, even though the assignment specifically stated that any book was considered “fair game”! This wouldn’t happen in a Catholic school, where students would be encouraged and not discouraged in their Faith. 

Add to this the avoidance of many of the “woke” issues that seem to permeate many educational systems of today, the relatively small class sizes, the safety, the family atmosphere, and the comfort of being able to live out one’s relationship with Jesus…and this is all a ringing endorsement for the Catholic school system! If you are able, consider sending your children or grandchildren to be formed in their Catholic faith through Catholic schools!

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

Check out the Summer Edition of the Saint Jude Family Newsletter!

Save the Date - Summer Family Game Night

August 7th - 6:30 pm

Saint Jude Social Hall

RSVP Here

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)!

Join us and meet other young couples and learn 7 Steps to a Superabundant Marriage - a series of talks to enhance your marriage and your spirituality. There is no cost.

Next meeting will be this Sunday, July 30, 5:30-7:00 PM. Pizza and wine will be served.

RSVP: Mike Bonomo phone/text 203-257-3224. Email: [email protected]

Please indicate if childcare needed at the event.

Mom's Group Announcements

Our next monthly mother's Zoom rosary is Wednesday 8/2 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

Food Pantry update

As the school year closes out and the weather warms our requirements also change. Items in greatest need at this time are: jarred pasta sauce, canned tomato products, pasta, snack foods and boxed children’s cereal. Thank you again for your continued support of our ministry!

Hopeline Pregnancy Center Diaper Needs

Hopeline Pregnancy Center has a need for disposable diapers and Baby Wipes. They are currently low on the Newborn size. Should you wish to help you can leave the diapers in the outer vestibule of the church. Your continued support is greatly appreciated by Hopeline and the Knights of Columbus.

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

Please note that the Friday morning Mass will no longer be offered.

Sat   Aug 5         8:30am                 St Jude Parishioners       

Sat    Aug 5         4:30pm                Luis & Elvira Ferreira and Jennifer Cannon

Sun   Aug 6        7:30am                 Sofia Cardona

Sun   Aug 6         9:30am                 Maximino Monteiro

Sun   Aug 6        11:30am               Stephanie Rossi

Mon  Aug 7         9:00am                 Vincent J. Capoccitti

Tue  Aug 8         9:00am                 Nicholas Boland

Wed  Aug 9         9:00am                Vittoria and Nunzio Guerrera

Thu   Aug 10       9:00am                 Margaret Schwartz                            

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

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 [email protected]

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.