Dear Friend,

“For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope”. Good words from Jerimiah. Where there is the Lord there is hope, and in hope trust grows, and where there is trust and hope there is Love.

Sometimes it’s hard to imagine what good will come from this pandemic. Sometimes it’s hard to see His plan and purpose. Sometimes it’s all we can do is find the strength to lean on Him. Sometimes we just say, “lead me on Lord” and pray for the best. This sure seems like one of these times.

Know all your friends and the whole congregation at St. Jude Catholic Church is praying for you, your love ones and all the people who are suffering in this terrible pandemic. Find a still moment and pray with us. Look for a moment of peace of mind and in this moment you will hear our prayers and His gentle voice. We, as Catholics, are calling out to the world, to hear our prayers for healing, and for gratitude for all His blessings.

I hope this letter finds you in good spirits, healthy and happy for His providence and presence in our lives. If you do feel discouraged today, let this letter remind you that even though you may feel alone, isolated and cut off from the things which bring you joy….you are not alone. Our congregation, the priests, deacon, and staff at St. Jude Catholic Church are reaching out to you, praying for you. Blessings for all of us.

Dear Friend,

“I, even I, am the Lord, And there is no savior besides Me. It is I who have declared and saved and proclaimed, And there was no strange god among you; So you are My witnesses,” declares the Lord, “And I am God.” With this affirmation from Isaiah, let us all renew our trust in the Lord. Knowing He is our savior, our hope, and our promise in Him, for a future full of love and understanding.

It’s easy to get lost in these troubling times. To forget our way and be saddened by the grief this pandemic has brought upon us, our families and friends and our nation. Let the words of Isaiah ring loud in our hearts and in our minds…..”I am God.” In our prayers today, let’s remember all who are in need, who are worried and troubled. Let our prayers go out to them. Let us pray for the intercession of our Blessed Mother, the saints and the billions of Catholics who  have gone before us.

I know these are hard times for you, we are all battling to stay healthy and stay safe….know this, you are not alone. The Lord in His mercy is with you. The priests, deacon, staff and all the congregation at St. Jude Catholic Church is with you, in this moment and in every moment. St. Paul teaches us to pray without ceasing, this is what we are all doing. Holding tight to His promises, keeping Him in our hearts and minds and praying for all people who have been touched by this pandemic. As I am writing this, I too, am praying for you to stay strong, stay firm in your belief, and never forget the goodness of the Lord. It may be hard to see what good can come from this terrible disease, but know this for sure, the Lord is with you. Know you can lean on Him, love Him as He loves you and stay with Him under His protection and in His light. Blessings for all of us  

Dear Friend,

Let us begin with Matthew 28:18-20, praying together in our own places as if we were together in the congregation in God’s church. And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” God’s commandments are real and for certain. So are God’s promises!!! What He asked of His disciples is what He asks of us, to go into our world bringing the Good News of His Word. So, let’s remind each other to be patient and understanding of each other in the midst of this terrible pandemic. Let us be there for each other as we all pray for an end to this virus. Take a moment with your friends to remember your families and pray for them as they are praying for you. Remembering that Jesus said He would be with you always. Know in your heart that the congregation at St. Jude Catholic Church is with you now, and in your prayers at night, and in the morning as you rise to face another day, you are never alone.

Isaiah 46:4 tells us, “Even to your old age I will be the same, And even to your graying years I will bear you! I have done it, and I will carry you; And I will bear you and I will deliver you.” Yes, Lord, deliver us from our troubles and our times of uncertainty. We know Lord you are with us; we see the wonderful deeds you have done. We know your promises are true, and all your words worthy of our praise. So, let us pray together Psalm 46:1. “God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.” Let us be thankful and grateful for His ever presence, for His guidance and His strength. As St. Paul tells us to pray ceaselessly in Ephesians 2:19 he reminds us: “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household.” Amen

Dear Friend,

Love lived well. Let that sink in for a moment. Love lived well. Sure does sound like something Jesus would ask of us. Love lived well!! In fact, He did. 1 John 4:16 tells us, “We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” Let this sink in, God is love. Love lived well means we are living for God. We can call upon Him every moment of every day, rejoicing in His love, the love He has for us, and the love we have for Him. More than this, John tells us to love God means He is more than being with us, more than protecting us and sheltering us, more than healing us, He is living in us. Again, John tells us in 14:23:  “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.” In these terrible times of this dreaded pandemic, I find comfort in knowing as long as I keep my eye on the Lord and my mind focused on His Word, it’s going to be alright.

Just look at all the Lord has done for us over the years. His gifts and His blessing showered down upon us; we are all His children, His followers, His beloved. Look at all the goodness in the lives of the people around us, their blessings, their prosperity, their hope in the future. Is it any wonder that Luke tells us in 13:17, “and the whole crowd rejoiced at all the splendid deeds done by Him.”

No matter what uncertainty faces us today, know that the congregation, priest, deacon, and staff at St. Jude Catholic Church are praying for you, and at this moment with you. All the people living with the anxiety of loneliness and separation are constantly in our thoughts and prayers. Turn to the Lord in prayer, breathe in the power of His presence, and be thankful and grateful, for He is our Lord. Philippians 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!” Amen