Aims and Objectives:
a. St. Jude Society is meant to promote prayers in honour
of St. Jude.
b. To foster real devotion on earth and co_
operating with the Catholic Hierarchy in the work of spreading the Kingdom of
God.
c. The program of St. Jude's Society is included in its motto which is: PAYER, ACTION AND SACRIFICE.
3. Brief History:
The origins of devotion to St. Jude as a patron of
desperate or hopeless cases are nearly as obscure as details of the life of the
great Apostle. These origins seem to have been a spontaneous rising of interest
among Sacred Tradition. St. Jude was a near relative, a "cousin" of
Jesus, and that as a child he was a playmate of the God man.
Confusion of the names of St. Jude and the traitor,
Judas, effectively discouraged devotion to the Saint for many centuries.
Devotion to him consequently, has been of relatively recent origin although
there is evidence that this devotion was held in high esteem during the middle
ages.
Impetus to this devotion was undoubtedly given by
our Lord Himself, who in a vision, directed St. Bridget of Sweden to turn to
St. Jude with great faith and confidence.
In accordance with his surname, ' Thaddeus ' - the
amicable, loving said our Lord, "he will show himself most willing to give
help."
The gospel tells us that St. Jude was a brother of
St. James the less, also one of the twelve Apostles. These two together with
two other brothers(one St. Simeon of Jerusalem are described by St. Matthew (
13:55) as the ' brethren ' of Jesus. In
the Hebrew language, the word 'brethren' indicates a near relationship.
Tradition has it that St. Jude's father, Cleophas,
was murdered
because of his forthright and outspoken devotion to the risen Christ. Mary
Cleophas, the mother of St. Jude and St. James the Less, was a cousin of the
Virgin Mary. After her death, miracles were attributed to her intercession.
St. Jude is shown traditionally as carrying the image of Jesus in his hand. This represents, according to tradition - our principal source of knowledge of the saint - the imprint of the Divine Countenance that was entrusted to him by our Lord.
4. Days of meetings/devotions:
Sundays immediately after the 10.30am mass in front
of the old church very close to the Sacramentals' shop.
5. Other Activities in the Parish:
Six Societal Novenas in the year. Parish Retreat, Monthly Open Thanksgiving, Feast Day celebration on the 28th of October, Parish Retreat and as the case may be.
First Sunday Of Every Month: After 6:30 Am Mass
St.
Jude. Thaddeus Pray for us! And for all
who invoke thy aid. Amen.
