Reflection from Fr. Joseph

Tomorrow the Diocese of Bridgeport – and specifically our parish – celebrates an event of great joy – the ordination of Fr. Jozef Ukaj! All are invited to the ordination at the Cathedral in Bridgeport at 11am Jozef has been with us for the past year, which has been a great grace (and a great help to me!) and we are tremendously blessed to have him assigned here as Parochial Vicar! We will just have to figure out a way of distinguishing between us, since we are both Fr. Joseph! (Maybe the tall one and the short one? The bald one and the one with hair?)

One of the most countercultural practices of the Catholic Church has been the male-only priesthood. I have had a few parishioners question me about it – isn’t it misogynistic to restrict ordination to men only? What about equality? Will the Church ever change this teaching?

Here are five reasons why men alone are admitted to Holy Orders:

First, because Jesus willed it. This is not a later teaching of the Church, but rather one that comes from Jesus Himself. He chose only men as His Apostles (the first Bishops) and at no time during the Apostolic years did they ordain women. Sometimes people argue that this was simply Jesus conforming to a patriarchal culture, but Jesus broke all sorts of cultural norms regarding women – allowing them to touch Him even when they were ritually unclean, making women the first witnesses to the Resurrection, having familiar friendships with them – so, clearly Jesus was not bound by the restrictions of His own culture regarding His relationship with women. Rather, Jesus chose men to carry out His ministry in a unique way. Even the Blessed Mother, Who is the greatest creature God has ever created, was not called to be a priest.

Second, because a priest stands in the place of Jesus, Who was a Man. We call a priest an “alter Christus” (another Christ) because he takes to himself the words of Jesus: “This is MY Body….I absolve you of your sins…”. The priest is “in persona Christi” – in the Person of Christ – when he speaks these words that belong properly to Christ, words that change bread into His Body and that forgive sins. As Christ is bridegroom to the Church, so a priest is called to be a Groom to his Bride, the Church.

Third, because the essential role of the priest is spiritual fatherhood. A priest is called to be a father to the children of God, and fatherhood is rightly the role of the man.

Fourth, because of the archetype of male and female. All throughout creation we see the duality of male and female, masculinity and femininity. The masculine principle is that which gives, while the feminine principle is that which receives. Yes, it is played out in the “nuptial orientation” of our bodies, but it is more than that – it is a duality seen all throughout creation. In Latin (and all other Romance languages), the word for “soul” (anima) is a feminine noun – feminine because it primarily receives the graces given to it by God. This is why God portrays Himself in Scripture as a father, not a mother – because He is the giver of all things, and we are the receiver. In the Church, then, the priest is called to be the “giver” – the dispenser of grace – while the souls of believers are primarily “receivers” of the graces given. Of course this is not a perfect analogy, as all archetypes limp, but it is a helpful framework.

Finally, the call to the priesthood is a call to service and laying down one’s life. It is actually to the great dignity of women that they are not called to such service. Consider – when God created the world, it became more and more complex, beautiful, glorious with each passing day. Darkness and light…then the sun and moon…then the earth…then plants…then animals…then man. But the pinnacle of God’s creation is not man, but rather woman – the perfect reflection of Love and Beauty, which is God Himself. Thus it would not be fitting for a woman to have to lay down her life for a man, but for a man to lay down his life for a woman (see Ephesians 5 for the rich symbolism behind that), because of her great and awesome dignity. Unfortunately the world sees Holy Orders merely in terms of “power” – but Christ sees it in terms of dying-to-self.

So, can the Church change this teaching? No, it cannot. Pope John Paul II in his 1995 document “Ordinatio Sacerdotalis” made it clear: “The Church has no authority whatsoever to confer priestly ordination on women and... this judgment is to be definitively held by all the Church's faithful.” Can’t get any clearer than that.

But what about female deacons? It is true that the early Church had female deacons (one is mentioned in the Book of Romans, a woman named Phoebe). But they had two roles. First, the wives of deacons were sometimes called deaconesses (but had no liturgical or ministry function). Second, because baptisms were done in the nude, it was customary for women to baptize other women. These women only had the authority to baptize, never to preach or to serve at Mass. Once baptisms began to involve the recipient fully clothed, there was never a need for female deacons.

Finally, though, what about equality? Men and women are indeed equal in dignity…but equality does not mean “sameness”. There is a beautiful complementarity between the genders, which means that they have gifts and roles that are NOT the same, but that work together for the building up of families, the Church, and the world. We ought to rejoice in that!

In sum, God’s mysterious and beautiful plan ordained that some men would be called to give their lives away to continue the Apostolic missio

Bob the Gold Man - A Huge Success!

Thank you to everyone who brought gold for our fundraiser with Bob the Gold Man! Over three days, he was visited by 55 people, and handed our parish a check for $16,000 - what a huge benefit to our parish! Most of those who brought jewelry also benefited, sometimes walking away with a check for hundreds or even thousands of dollars! I am most grateful to all who participated - we plan to have the same fundraiser next year as well!

THANK YOU to Wonderful Parishioners!

You may have noticed how nice the church flowerbeds and office walkway looks - over the course of this past month, Bob Frawley, the Bissells, Cathy Ritch, and many more parishioners from the Buildings and Grounds committee gave up two Saturday mornings to weed and mulch to keep our church looking fantastic. Thank you to them for their sacrifice of time and effort, for the glory of God and the beautification of His house!

We also want to extend a huge thanks to Brian and Jana Veo, Karin Tierney, Bonnie Kellogg, the Colvilles, and all of our parishioners on the committee who put together the very successful St. Jude/St. Stephen parish picnic! It was truly a beautiful day and everyone had fun and got to know each other more. The food was terrific and the weather couldn't be beat. Thanks to all those who worked tirelessly to make this fun day an eagerly-anticipated annual event. Put next year's picnic on your calendar - Sunday, June 1, 2025 from 1-5pm at Holy Ghost Park in Shelton!

Fr. Joseph Releases New CD of Christian Folk-Rock Music!

Recorded right here at St. Jude's, Fr. Joseph has released a new CD of original Christian music. Entitled "Out of Darkness", it is his fifth studio album. Hard copies will be available in the St. Jude Religious Articles store, but one can also stream it on Spotify, iTunes, Youtube Music, or other streaming websites. They can be found here:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/6huIBvWoRWqs7x1WYZMbZa

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCki07thX3bL4Zjbt7awzCOQ

All for the glory of God and the salvation of souls!

Does anyone own large box fans or industrial strength fans that we can borrow for next week's camp? With the impending hot weather we want to make sure we can keep everyone as cool as possible! Email Jessica if you have a fan that might work!

Parish News

Italian Festival News

Family News and Updates

Join us in a novena to this year's patron saint - Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati to help us take our faith to new heights this year at Camp Adore - which starts this coming Monday!

Please pray for all of our volunteers and campers.

Verso L'Alto!

Click here to find the novena which we will pray from June 8 - June 16.

Summer Events - Save the Dates

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

Sunday, July 14 - Parish Softball Game - 2pm Wolfe Park Field 4

Sunday, July 28 - Backyard Family Adoration

Monday August 26 - Backyard Family Adoration

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.

Mom's group dinner gathering: Friday June 28 email Jessica for more information

Friendly Visitor Program 

If you, a loved one, or someone you know, would like a visit at home from a St Jude parishioner once a month

please contact Elizabeth Lynch 203-270-9072. 

If you are available to be a volunteer please join this group.

Knights of Columbus News

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

Items in greatest need at this time are oatmeal, chili, coffee, condiments of any kind, canned tomatoes and boxed children’s cereal.



Thank you again 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, Chrystal Archuletta and Alice Gumpert

Please join us in praying our Monthly Parish Intention.

Our Petition for June is: 

  Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus 

We consecrate ourselves to Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament as we pray...

      JESUS, I TRUST IN YOU

Mass Intentions for  June 15 – June 23

Sat   June 15       4:30pm       The Lluch Family

Sun  June16        7:30am       St Jude Parishioners

Sun   June 16       9:30am       John Cappella

Sun  June 16       11:30am     Mary Jane and Richard Spede

Mon  June 17       9:00am       Joseph and Margaret Mende

Tue   June 18       9:00am       Helen Nipert

Wed  June19        9:00am      Jose Rosa

Thu   June 20       9:00am      Isabel Dupont

Sat   June 22       4:30pm       Deceased members of the Henn family

Sun  June 23       7:30am       St Jude Parishioners

Sun   June 23       9:30am       Nicholas Scorza

Sun  June 23       11:30am     Rita and Ronald Broderick

Tabernacle Candle: 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.

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.