Reflection from Fr. Joseph

I’ve been thinking recently about a four-letter word. It might as well be one of the dirty ones, considering how allergic people have become to using it. The word is “duty”.

We don’t like the idea of having duties. It implies an impingement upon our freedom. It hints at drudgery, unpleasant tasks, obligation, being forced into something against our will. To have a duty is to have a responsibility to others, and our culture – with its emphasis on “follow your dreams” and “find your happiness” – is allergic to any sort of responsibility possibly hampering our personal fulfillment.

But, alas, as we are not the center of the universe and must live in civil society, we will always have duties. In many ways, duties are the flip-side of rights – if we wish to have rights (the right to life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, the right to freedom of speech and press and religion), then conversely we also have duties that go along with it.

But duties are helpful to us in several ways. First, duties make it clear what we must do. At times we are hampered because we have too many choices in our world – but duty gives us a clear path of what we ought to do. Second, duties free us from the vagaries of emotions. If all of our choices were made “just ‘cause we feel like it,” society would grind to a halt and we would ultimately be at the mercy of our fickle feelings. We need something stronger to fall back upon – and our commitments and duties are precisely that. Third, duties invite us into practical love. Any time we fulfill our duties, it is an opportunity to love those that we sacrifice for. Love is most proven when we don’t feel like doing something – so to do it anyway makes our love very rich.

I suppose I have been thinking of this due to Memorial Day coming up this weekend. It’s easy to forget the purpose of this day, as we go in our pools and fire up the backyard barbecue. But we celebrate this day because men and women fulfilled their duty to their country and their neighbor by paying the ultimate price. It wasn’t fun, and they often didn’t feel like a hero – but they fulfilled their duty, so that we may celebrate in peace and freedom.

What are some of the duties that we all have?

Duties to God

We have a duty to worship God weekly. Going to Mass is not us “doing a favor” for God, as if He’s lucky that we showed up. Rather, it is a basic duty to our Creator, as His creatures, and in thanksgiving for His many blessings, most of all the blessing of His Son upon the Cross. Catholics have shied away from saying we have an “obligation” to attend Mass since we should want to attend, but I find that “obligation” is actually helpful, because if we only fostered a relationship with God when we felt like it, it would be a very shallow relationship indeed.

We also have a duty to obey His commandments. Remember – His commandments are not burdens, but benefits for us. Nevertheless there are times when every temptation is shouting in our mind to disregard His laws, and we feel like we have no interior motivation to do so – this is where we fall back on “duty” – we have an obligation to be obedient because He is our Father.

Duties to Country

We have a duty to participate in the civil life of our country. This means voting, obeying just laws, volunteering, praying for our leaders, and doing what we can to improve our local town.

For many of us, this duty also includes the sacrifice of defending our country in the military. It is indeed a noble task to join the armed forces, and this weekend we remember the sacrifices they have made, and still make, in defense of our great country.

Duties to Church

All the baptized have a duty to seek holiness in their everyday life. Our sanctity impacts everyone else in the Church! The Church is the Body of Christ, and if a finger has a splinter in it, the entire body suffers. If we are not living our vocations with radical holiness, the entire world is deprived of our example and prayers.

We also have a duty to evangelize. Every Christian should be on the lookout for those in their family, friends, schools, workplace, and neighborhood who need to know the message of Christ and be invited into the Church. Try inviting someone to Mass this weekend – you’d be surprised by the (mostly-positive) reactions you will encounter!

Finally, we have a duty to financially support the Church and its mission. This is not just a “nice” thing to do, but rather a true obligation out of justice – as we receive the immeasurable riches of Christ through the Sacraments and the Word of God, so we can pay back the much-less-important money to participate in the Church’s mission.

Duties to Family

When we took our wedding vows, we promised that we would live them out generously and wholeheartedly. This is our primary duty – to love and honor our spouse in fidelity, generosity, sacrifice. We also have duties to our children – to bring as many of them into the world as God allows, and to give them food, shelter, love, and to prepare their souls for eternal life by teaching them about the Lord.

Children, likewise, have a duty to obey their parents, who are given to them as stand-ins for God. They ought not to live lives that bring them dishonor, but try to make them proud by being young people of honesty, integrity, faith, and courage. When our parents are weighed down by the burdens of old age, we have the duty to support and care for them, and not to abandon them to loneliness.

On this Memorial Day, we thank those servicemen and women who embraced their civic duty for our country and our freedom, and we rededicate ourselves to being faithful to our duties. It’s not a dirty word, but a direction and a guidepost to a happy, fulfilled life!

Corpus Christi Procession

We are bringing back our annual Corpus Christi Eucharistic Procession on June 2nd! Join us immediately following the 11:30am Mass as we process with our Eucharistic Lord around our campus, giving Him the honor that is His!

Confession Weekend

Spring into summer with a clean conscience! Confessions will be offered before and after every Mass on the weekend of May 25/26. Take advantage of the lavish mercy of God!

Please support Service Corps missionaries!

Parishioners Marguerite and Philomena Lock will have the privilege of serving this summer at the Apostolate for Family Consecration’s “Catholic Familyland” as Service Corps missionaries! Catholic Family Land offers seven one-week-long spiritual retreats for families offering encouragement and growth in relationship with Our Lord and Our Lady - it’s like Camp Adore or Camp Veritas, but for whole families. In order to serve the 5,500 people coming this summer, they have been asked to raise $2,000. Any support raised will go toward the Apostolate to cover the basic costs of hosting a missionary, such as food and lodging. Any donations above their goal will go towards funding other missionaries. Donations can be made at https://rootfunding.com/campaigns/philomena-and-marguerite-lock-afc-missionary-campaign-2024 or by the QR code underneath. Marguerite and Philomena wrote, “We humbly ask that you consider supporting us during our time of missionary service. We are truly grateful for any way you can support this mission!” You can contact us at margueritelock1@gmail.com for more information, or visit afc.org. Thank you for your support and prayers! Please be assured of ours!”  

1,000 Friends of Blessed Sacrament

To the Friends of Blessed Sacrament Church and Father Skip:

The fundraising committee of Blessed Sacrament invites you to become one of the “1,000 Friends of Blessed Sacrament”. Over 100 years old, the Church needs many improvements and repairs to keep the buildings safe and functioning, and to keep the Food Pantry open which distributes 700 bags of groceries to the hungry each week. The cost to do this is substantial.

Father Skip, amazingly, by all his hard work physically, and in so many other ways, has given tirelessly to keep Blessed Sacrament open and well maintained for almost 12 years. In order to continue doing so, he needs our help. That is why the Parish’s Fundraising Committee is reaching out to friends and asking 1,000 people to donate $100 each to help with these needs, and to become one of the “1,000 Friends of Blessed Sacrament”. In Thanksgiving for your gift, a permanent memorial will be erected outside the church with your name engraved on it.



To donate online click the link below.  https://www.osvhub.com/blessedsacramentbpt/giving/funds/1000-friends-of-blessed-sacrament

Or, make your check out to Blessed Sacrament Church, and in the memo write

                       1,000 Friends of Blessed Sacrament

Mail to: Blessed Sacrament, 275 Union Ave. Bridgeport, CT 06607

In the Notes section online, or with your check, please indicate how you would like your name displayed (ex: John Doe, Doe Family, Mr. and Mrs. John Doe) 

If you have any questions, please contact Lori Black at 203-258-6380.

Blessed Sacrament, and Fr. Skip, are very appreciative of your support. God bless you for your help!

Parish News

Italian Festival News

Family News and Updates

Seeking children who just received First Communion to help carry flowers for our May Crowning after 4:30 Mass on Saturday, 5/25

Email Jessica if your child is interested!

Summer Events - Save the Dates

Wednesday, June 19 - Family Hike at Great Hollow Lake - 6pm

Sunday, July 14 - Parish Softball Game - 2pm

Sunday, July 28 - Backyard Family Adoration

August Backyard Family Adoration - date coming soon!

COMING UP NEXT WEEK!

Join us on the Feast of the Visitation 5/31

WOODEN ROSARY HOLDER CRAFT NIGHT!

The Painted Plank Studio is coming to the St. Jude’s Social Hall to create personalized wooden rosary hangers!! 

Open to all and hosted by Saint Jude Mom's Group

When: Friday 5/31 at 6 pm (you can arrive any time after 6 pm)

Where: Saint Jude Social Hall

Advanced sign up required by 5/28- see below

You can order a premade sign or kit to go even if you can't make it!



Email Jessica to donate an appetizer to share!

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 this summer!

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 Friday, May 31 for Rosary Holder Making Night

Mom's group dinner gathering: Friday June 28

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!

Knights of Columbus News

Msgr. Sabia Communion Breakfast Celebration

St. Matthew's K of C in Norwalk is having their annual communion breakfast 6/2 & Msgr. Sabia is the guest speaker. Msgr. Sabia will be celebrating his 90th birthday, 60 year ordination anniversary & 10 yrs of helping at St. Matthew's. Attached is the flyer/order form if you would like to attend. 

May Crowning

Mary, Madonna of Peace Statue

Saturday, May 25 After 4:30 PM Mass

May Crowning is a ritual celebrated in the month of May where the statue of Mary is crowned with a wreath of flowers and honored as the Queen of Heaven and the Mother of God.

Hopeline Pregnancy Center has a continued need for disposable diapers. They are currently low on all sizes from Newborn to size 6, wipes, as well as bottles and pacifiers. They have also requested baby formula such as “Similac 360 Total Care”. Should you wish to help you can leave the diapers, etc. 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.

Food Pantry Update

Pantry items in greatest need at this time are pasta, pasta sauce, Mac & cheese, snack foods and the always needed boxed children's cereal. Thank you for your continued support.  

Pray the Rosary with SoulCore at St. Jude!

SoulCore is now offered at St. Jude Church!

Sessions are held the 1^st and 3^rd Thursday of each month at 7 pm

St. Jude Social Hall – 707 Monroe Tpke, Monroe CT

Please wear comfortable clothing; bring an exercise mat and water

(Please enter the social hall through the rear doors of the church, adjacent to the parking lot)

Every fitness level is welcome – participants are encouraged to honor their mobility and capabilities during prayer

A $10 donation to St. Jude is welcome but not required

Sessions will be led by Christine Peterson, Certified SoulCore Leader and Personal Trainer



Please contact Christine.Peterson@snet.net with questions or to register

Please remember in your daily prayers:

David Nicolett, Maria Bertone, Vincent Daniello, Joe Pinto, Zoey Frigo, Daniel Louis Bianco, Max, Hung Vu, 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, 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, Darryl Patterson, Michael, Debra and Mike Patten, Louise Noll



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 May is:

As we celebrate our own Mothers this Mother's Day, may we always be grateful 

for the gift of Our Blessed Mother Mary,



Queen of Peace, as we pray for peace in our Country and our World....

     We pray to the Lord

Mass Intentions for  May 25 – June 2

Sat    May 25       4:30pm       Deceased members of the Grabiac and Tavella

                                               Family

Sun  May 26       7:30am       St Jude Parishioners

Sun   May 26       9:30am       Robert Kilpatrick

Sun  May 26       11:30am     The Bernath Famil

Mon  May 27       9:00am       Margaret Tranzillo

Tue   May 28       9:00am       The Holy Souls in Purgatory

Wed  May 29       9:00am      Denis and Michael Gallagher

Thu   May 30       9:00am      Paul Reynolds

Sat    June 1         8:30am       Michael Gallant

Sat   June 1         4:30pm       John and Olga Saad

Sun  June 2         7:30am       St Jude Parishioners

Sun   June 2         9:30am       Ivan Gospic

Sun  June 2         11:30am     Trudy C. Gardecki

Tabernacle Candle: May: Elvira Ferreira and Jennifer Cannon

                             June: Isabel Dantas Teixeira and Lucinda Dantas

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.

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



Divine Mercy Chaplet

Wednesdays at 3 pm in the Church

"Jesus we Trust in You"

thedivinemercy.org

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.