PARISH OFFICE REQUEST

Do you have a new address? Are you moving? Are your envelopes getting lost in the mail? We’re still receiving undeliverable envelopes at the parish office with postage due. Please take a moment to let us know so we can ensure prompt delivery! Contact the Parish Office at 973-691-1561 or send your updated information to [email protected].
 

ONLINE GIVING

We are pleased to announce that Online Giving is available to our parish family. Online Giving is a convenient and safe way to make a one-time or recurring donation. Getting started is easy—just click this link. When you participate, your gift will be securely transferred directly into the parish bank account. And you won’t have to remember to write a check or stop by the ATM on your way to Mass! If you still want to place something in the offertory basket, just pick up one of our “I Gave Online” cards on your way into church (table by the missalettes in the Narthex) and use that at offertory time. As always, thank you for your support of our St. Jude community.

To All Those Who Have Signed Up For Online Giving

We are not automatically stopping delivery of envelopes to those who have signed up for Online Giving. However, please be aware that if you wish to make all your gifts online and do not need envelopes anymore, it will save the parish printing and mailing costs. Please notify the Parish Office if you are willing to stop receiving monthly envelopes. Note that all our regular and special collections will be available for giving online. We appreciate your consideration.
 

LEGACY GIFTS

Our Lord reminds us of the abundant blessings that come from a generous heart. “Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.” When you give your time, talent and financial resources to our parish, it strengthens our faith community in so many wonderful ways!

Did you know that there are also opportunities to make a legacy gift to our Saint Jude Parish that will touch the lives of parishioners for generations to come? Please prayerfully consider remembering our parish in your will and estate plans. For more information, call our parish at 973-691-1561, Ext. 13 for further assistance and to discuss options that might work for you. Thank you so much for all you do for Saint Jude Church – now and in the future!

 

ST. JUDE INFORMATION OFFICE

The Parish Information Office is open after all weekend Masses. Stop by for religious articles, Catholic literature, to register for the parish or to have questions answered. The Information Office is located in the Narthex of the church. See the Information Office page for more details.
 

SEATING LATECOMERS AT LITURGY

Our hospitality ministers (ushers) request that latecomers refrain from walking into the worship area at sacred moments of liturgy that include spoken prayer, scripture readings, song, and homilies. We do this out of respect for all ministers, members of the assembly, deacons, and priests. Seating of latecomers at these sacred moments provides a great distraction to the ministers who proclaim, sing, or preach, as well as members of the assembly who seek to pray. Therefore, to avoid these distractions, hospitality ministers (ushers) wait for the conclusion of the prayer, reading, song or homily before they guide you to a seat. Although this may disturb those who arrive late for liturgy, the situation could be avoided if all who gather for prayer make a greater effort to arrive for liturgy at least five minutes early. This permits both ministers and the assembly a few minutes of quiet time before the gathering song.
 

USE OF CHURCH ENVELOPES

If you receive church envelopes from our envelope company, you will receive a record of your contributions for the year. For safety’s sake, whenever possible make your contribution by check. Also, for accuracy in recording the amount of your donation, please always remember to write the amount on the outside of the envelope.
 

ST. JUDE CHOIR

St. Jude Choir is directed by Deacon Tony Siino. The choir rehearses on Thursday evenings at 7:00 PM. For more information, please contact Deacon Tony at 973-691-1561, Ext. 19, or [email protected].
 

CONTEMPORARY CHOIR

The Contemporary Choir sings year round at the Noon Mass on Sundays. Their repertoire includes contemporary hymns and some traditional hymns done with a contemporary flair. Rehearsals are every Monday at 5:30 PM and Sundays at 11:15 AM. Make one or both! Instrumentalists and vocalists are always needed and welcome! Please contact Sherry Ottoson if you are interested in joining us.

BECOMING CATHOLIC

Do you know an adult who has never been baptized, confirmed, or received First Eucharist? Is there a spouse or friend who has been pondering becoming a Catholic but needs a gentle nudge? Is there a possibility that you will be asked to become a godparent of a niece or nephew at Baptism or their Confirmation sponsor? Are you baptized but have had no religious education? Now is the time! The three sacraments of initiation, Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation, are required for a Catholic to be fully initiated into the Church. They are also required for someone to act as a godparent or sponsor for the Baptism or Confirmation of someone else. Our RCIA process is, above all, a tool of education and formation in the Catholic faith. Apart from preparation for the sacraments, anyone can join the classes to just brush up on Catholic teachings or to fill in the gaps on a particular topic. The Inquiry Phase of RCIA begins on October 6th, 2019. For more information, please contact Fr. Antonio at 973-691-1561 Ext. 13, [email protected], or call the Parish Office.
 

VOCATIONS

Have you ever considered life as a priest, sister, brother, deacon, or lay minister? Please contact the Pastor, a member of the Pastoral Staff or the Diocesan Vocations Office at 973-777-8818, Ext. 711.
 

LOST AND FOUND

Please check the LOST and FOUND area in the Narthex of the Church for items you might be missing. This area is located on the left as you enter the church, on the table with the "I Gave Online" cards next to the missalette rack.
 

VISITING THE SICK

If admitted to a hospital or confined at home, please call the Parish Office to arrange for a visit, Communion and/or Anointing of the Sick.
 

YOUTH MINISTRY

9th-12th grade teens are welcome to participate. For more information please call the Parish Office at 973-691-1561.
 

BULLETIN DEADLINE

Entries for the weekly bulletin are due Monday 9:00 AM in writing. If a holiday occurs during the week, the deadline is the prior Thursday at 9:00 AM.
 

MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER

Worldwide Marriage Encounter offers tools of communication that have kept many marriages strong and happy through the ups and downs of everyday life. Click here for more information.
 

LIGHTING OF CHURCH CANDLES

Please be aware that there are candles located throughout the church. This  is one way we bring our prayer to God. However, please do not bring in your own candles for placement in the candle stands or inside the glass containers that hold the candles. It is against safety/fire regulations.
 

BABY CHANGING TABLE

A changing table for infants has been installed in both the ladies’ and men’s restrooms that are located in the hallway next to the Parish Center. Many people have requested changing tables due to the number of infants who are brought to church and other parish activities.
 

USING THE HYMNAL BOARD

Two hymnal boards have been placed on the pillars to the right and left of the sanctuary in church so that music selections and biblical readings can be found with a quick glance. In referring to the hymnal board, please be aware of the following: song selection that comes from the hymnals is indicated by the number of the song selection. Biblical readings for liturgy are indicated with an “R” that precedes the page number of the readings, and music that comes from the red binder supplement is preceded with an “S”. For those who need to follow the Order of the Mass, there are missalettes in the Narthex of the church. Please return them when Mass has ended.
 

BRINGING UP THE GIFTS

Families, individuals and guests are always welcome to bring up the gifts during the Offertory Procession at Sunday liturgy. Anyone wishing to bring honor to God in this manner should mention it to one of our ushers or ministers of hospitality in the back of church. They will be happy to guide you in this important part of the liturgy.
 

SECOND COLLECTION

On the First Sunday of each month a second collection will be taken up at Mass for debt reduction. This is to reduce the amount of our church mortgage so that we are able to pay it off sooner and avoid additional interest charges. On the Fourth Sunday of each month a second collection will be taken up at Mass for the building and grounds. This is to maintain our facility and take care of necessary improvements that come from usage of the church complex. Preventive maintenance is necessary, as the church grounds  receive a great deal of wear from the numerous activities in which we are involved at the parish. Ongoing improvements are always part of keeping the facility in good shape.
 

RINGING CELL PHONES

It is common courtesy to shut off cell phones prior to entering church for liturgies. Keeping a phone on makes a statement that YOU are more important than God or your neighbor. This is a sad statement and a BAD example to our children. Ringing cell phones become great distractions to the prayer of ministers and the assembly. Please observe this courtesy so that a prayerful spirit can be maintained at all liturgies.
 

THE QUIET ROOM

Please be mindful that a “quiet room” is available for “crying infants” and small children that you may feel need special attention at Mass or bring distraction to others in the church. The room is located on the far right side of the church near the altar server sacristy. A sound system has been added to the room so that liturgical prayers/songs can be heard as a person participates in liturgy. The room is also a perfect location in church to teach your child about liturgy as services take place. Please know that priority for people with infants and small children should be given to this location.