St Jude Parish

This retreat is coming up! Get your high schooler registered : )
This is open to ALL 9-12th graders.
www.stjudes.net/antiochretreat

Today is the deadline to register and receive the early registration rate. If you register after today, the fee will be $95 per student.

Please flood Mary Ellen with your registration forms this afternoon!

In case you’ve missed the bulletin announcements for the last few weeks, our Faith Formation classes for grades 1-8 will begin on September 22 at 5:30pm.

This includes Sacramental prep for 2nd graders (First Communion/Reconciliation) and 8th graders (Confirmation).

Registration forms can be picked up at the parish office or found on our website: https://stjudes.net/registration-forms/

Please register by August 30 to receive the early registration discount. Registering early helps us save money so we don’t have to expedite supplies at the last minute.

We look forward to another exciting year of growing together in faith!

Don’t forget to stop by the church and spend some time with Jesus today. Adoration is ongoing until 7:00pm.

Our OCIA classes are beginning on September 22 as well!

Please contact Marty Smith for more information at [email protected].

In case you’ve missed the bulletin announcements for the last few weeks, our Faith Formation classes for grades 1-8 will begin on September 22 at 5:30pm.

This includes Sacramental prep for 2nd graders (First Communion/Reconciliation) and 8th graders (Confirmation).

Registration forms can be picked up at the parish office or found on our website: https://stjudes.net/registration-forms/

Please register by August 30 to receive the early registration discount. Registering early helps us save money so we don’t have to expedite supplies at the last minute.

We look forward to another exciting year of growing together in faith!

Such a beautiful sight! Many prayers for these women!

This week St. Ann's and the Carmelite Sisters here welcomed Sisters from several other Carmelite congregations, to celebrate the Jubilee of Profession with Sister Mary Kathleen of Jesus, and with Sister Maria Concepta of the Mother of God.

The Rev. David Sacha, from the Basilica of St. Adalbert, led the Sisters in an afternoon Mass on the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Registration for this year's High School Antioch Retreat is open! This is a great weekend that your teen will not regret!
Find out more information or register at www.stjudes.net/antiochretreat

Happy feast of the Assumption!

See you at Mass on Thursday!
St. Jude will be celebrating Mass at 8:30am and 7:00pm on this Holy Day of Obligation. If you cannot make either of those Masses, there are several other options nearby:

St. Alphonsus, Grand Rapids: 12:30pm

St. Isidore, Grand Rapids: 7:00am, 12:10pm, 7:00pm

Holy Trinity, Comstock Park: Noon and 6:30pm

Holy Family, Sparta: Noon and 7pm

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Belmont: 9am and 6:30pm

St. Anthony of Padua, Grand Rapids: 8:30am

Our Lady of Consolation, Rockford: 9am and 7pm

Join us today, and the first Wednesday of every month, to pray for all those affected by cancer.

Learn more: bit.ly/aug24cancer
Send your petitions: http://bit.ly/cancerprayerpetition

Join us tonight at 7:00pm for a Mass of Faith, Hope and Healing! Invite your friends and family. If anyone is in need of spiritual, mental, physical, emotional or other healing, please come. If you are not in need of healing, please join us and pray for those who are in need. All are welcome!

Sue is looking for a male and female chaperone for the August 7 Michigan's Adventure trip for middle thru high school students.
Please let Sue know if you are available! [email protected]
We need chaperones to make these trips possible!

Can't join us in Indianapolis but would like to participate? There are three ways to watch/listen at home!

National Eucharistic Congress website: https://rebrand.ly/NECwebsite
EWTN website: https://rebrand.ly/EWTNwebsite
Relevant Radio website: https://rebrand.ly/RelevantRadioWebsite

Please see the websites for more information.

It's almost time for this year's annual Michigan's Adventure trip! This is open to all incoming 6-12th graders.
Spaces are limited!
Go here for more info or to sign up!
https://giving.parishsoft.com/App/Form/f745899d-808a-41fd-b216-57ea9a2d4b41?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR1J3Ne0BaGoWh23OeFjweiBHyYPpNbAomNvzLeXhmG65r6v72q1GGXKTyY_aem_t5VPqaYY35A_EyAOzFJ8fQ

Bishop Walkowiak's statement on assassination attempt of former President Trump - Diocese of Grand Rapids The Diocese of Grand Rapids’ Office of Communications issues the following statement from Most Reverend David J. Walkowiak, bishop of Grand Rapids,...

On Monday, Bishop Walkowiak was able to meet with Fr. Ayub and Cardinal Joseph Coutts, the Archbishop emeritus of Karachi, Pakistan. He is in the United States visiting some of the priests serving here from Pakistan and was able to visit with Fr. Ayub, Bishop Walkowiak, and the faithful of St Jude Parish.

Happy birthday, United States of America!
Have a safe and enjoyable Independence Day!

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.—That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, —That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.”

Highlights from This Week on FORMED! You have a FREE subscription waiting for you at Formed.org (St. Jude has paid for it; we’d love for you to use it!)

Check out this and more great content to enrich your life and grow in faith. https://watch.formed.org/this-week-on-formed

Setting up an account is easy! If you have any questions, please reach out to Marty Smith at [email protected].

VBS is right around the corner and we could use your help!

We are seeking donations of Amazon, Hobby Lobby, JoAnns and Meijer gift cards
to help offset costs and make this an event to remember for the kids.

Your donations will be going towards craft projects, Christ-themed activities and delicious snacks to fill their bellies so we can fill their hearts and minds with the love of Jesus.

If you can help, please drop off any donations at St. Jude or Blessed Sacrament parish offices or contact Becky Thelen ([email protected]) for more information.

Sign up for VBS (July 29, 30 & 31st) is open until July 5th. Visit stjudes.net/VBS for registration information.

On behalf of St. Jude & Blessed Sacrament parishes, we appreciate your support!

Vacation Bible School St. Jude & Blessed Sacrament parishes are teaming up for Vacation Bible School 2024 Who: Kids age 4 up to […]

VETERANS HOME COLLECTION
As we approach Independence Day, please remember our Veterans who have bravely defended our country! We are collecting for local Veterans home residents until July 1. Please consider donating items from the list below, or a Meijer gift card, and return your donations to the narthex or parish office by July 1.
Suggested Donations: Individually packaged nonperishable snacks (trail mix, chips, fruit cups, jerky, Little Debbie snacks); candy bars; sugar-free sweets; individual drinks & pop; men’s deodorant).
If you have any questions, contact Diane Brewster at (616)648-0515.

Join us in wishing a very happy birthday to our shepherd, Bishop Walkowiak! May the Lord continue to bless and keep you always.

Today, he also celebrates his episcopal anniversary! He has served our diocese well as our bishop for the past 11 years.

We pray that you and your loved ones have had a Happy Father’s Day!

God our Father, in your wisdom and love you have created us and called us your own. Bless our fathers, that they may be strengthened as Christian fathers. Let the example of their faith and love shine forth. In moments of joy, rejoice with them. In times of struggle, give them your courage and perseverance. Grant that we, their sons and daughters, may honor and appreciate them always with a spirit of profound respect. May the example of St. Joseph inspire them to live their vocation with courage. Grant this through Christ our Lord. AMEN.

A note from Marty Smith (our DRE):

While on vacation, visiting family in Mexico, we went to Mass at the parish of San Judas Tadeo Mazatlan. That’s the parish of St. Jude (if your Spanish isn’t good).

Another great thing I love about the Catholic Church is its universality and apostolicity. Catholic means universal. The Church is the continuation of the church of the apostles instituted by Jesus and guided by the Holy Spirit. Every Catholic bishop (and priest), no matter where in the world he is, can trace his ordination through an unbroken line of bishops back to one of the apostles.

The Church spread throughout the world with one faith and one structure; the worship of the Church is universal. On any day, the structure and readings at Mass are the same throughout the world. So the readings we heard at Mass in Mazatlan were the same as back home (or in Australia or in Zimbabwe or anywhere else!).

The Eucharist is the same. The beliefs are the same. We don’t have to worry about finding a church and not knowing what we’re walking into. Even in the most foreign situations, a Catholic can feel at home at Mass.

The liturgical architecture is the same. While the church buildings may be different, the faith elements remain the same. If you’re Catholic you’ll recognize it: the altar, the ambo, the tabernacle, the crucifix, the stations of the cross, etc.

We arrived a little early at San Judas and saw that the earlier Mass that was concluding was a first communion Mass. Such an exciting day for them! In the photo you’ll see the girls in their white dresses, just as back home.

Let’s take a moment and give thanks to God for the gift of His Son, the gift of salvation, the gift of His universal Church and the gift of the Most Holy Eucharist. Our God is a generous God!

If you’re Catholic and you travel this summer, make sure you go to Mass so you can continue to accept His gifts. Traveling isn’t a valid excuse to miss Mass. In the US you can visit masstimes.org and find the Mass times of a local Catholic parish wherever you are. If you’re abroad, a little googling or Google Maps will help you find the nearest Catholic Church. Make it part of your summer adventures. Jesus will be happy to see you!