Dear Friends,

In Isaiah 26:4, we read, “Trust in the Lord forever, For in God the Lord, we have an everlasting Rock.” What reassuring words we have from Isaiah. Trust in the Lord forever, He is everlasting. And what did Christ Jesus say to Peter? You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church. So here we are 2000 years later, the congregation of His Church firmly set upon the Rock.

Comforting to know, we have a Savior, our Lord, sturdy, secure, and forever. He is with us and for us. It’s not that He wants anything from us, He wants all good things for us. Just as He told Peter, nothing can stand against my Church not even the gates of hell or legions of demons, or all the evils of this world or the dreadful pandemic we all face; nothing at all can shake His Church from its foundation on the Rock.

He didn’t ask us to love Him, have trust and faith in Him before He met His passion on the Cross. He knew the trials we would face, the troubles we would endure and the doubts we would have, but He did it anyway. He trusted in His Father. Christ Jesus held tight to what had been and what would be, an everlasting covenant, one with His Father and one with us. Our triune God has never changed and will never change. As sure as the Rock, the Rock of faith, trust, love, and hope stands now in His Church.

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