By Emily Clark
TRUMBULL- As part of a nine-month pilgrimage across the United States, a major relic of St. Jude the Apostle will make its only Connecticut stop at St. Theresa Parish in Trumbull on Wednesday, November 8. Public veneration of the arm of this beloved saint will occur between 1 pm and 10 pm, with a special Mass in honor of St. Jude celebrated at 7 pm in the church.
Known as the “Apostle of the Impossible,” St. Jude has been regarded since ancient times as one to whom Catholics turn when they are faced with a lost cause and are desperate for hope. One of Jesus’ 12 apostles, he is sometimes called St. Jude Thaddeus, as noted in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark. Father Carlos Martins, director of Treasures of the Church in Rome, uses such relics of the saints to give the faithful an experience of the living God. This arm, separated from St. Jude’s other remains hundreds of years ago, appears in a wooden reliquary and will be placed before the altar at St. Theresa.
“Relics give Catholics a powerful opportunity to reach back 2000 years and see our faith as something tangible and palpable,” said Father Brian Gannon, pastor of St. Theresa’s. “Today, people are filled with enormous anxiety, so it’s very appropriate that we will have St. Jude with us as he is the saint of lost causes.”
“The Holy Spirit has blessed us with the presence of St. Jude,” added John Angiolillo, a parishioner at St. Theresa and one of the coordinators of the day’s activities. “Come, venerate, and pray for your own personal healing, for the unborn, and for anyone in need.”
According to Father Gannon, back in 2015, when the relics of St. Maria Goretti came to St. Theresa, over 8,000 visitors journeyed to the church to pray before her.
“This too promises to be an incredible day with thousands of people,” he said. “Some people who come may not have thought of prayer for quite a while. This could have a profound domino effect.”
The large turnout is expected in part because this is the only host location in the tri-state area. Protocols will be in place on November 8 to ensure a smooth and reverent experience for all with the arrival of the relic of St. Jude.
“Please be extremely patient,” Angiolillo advised. “We’re trying to make everything as comfortable as possible, especially for the elderly and handicapped.”
Though long lines are probable while people approach the altar, Angiolillo asked for solace and silence, allowing for moments of contemplation. Once they reach the relic, ten seconds will be permitted for veneration and prayer. Before visitors leave the church, they may greet Fr. Carlos and purchase prayer cards, religious articles, and other memorabilia of St. Jude at a table in the vestibule. Angiolillo added that the 24-hour Adoration Chapel, located within the Parish Center next to the church, will be open throughout the day.
“People are encouraged to visit the chapel that day and continue to pray,” he said. “We are so blessed for the many graces to be obtained through the presence of St. Jude.”
Those in line for veneration when Mass begins at 7:00 pm will receive a ticket so they may return to their position once Mass has ended. The doors will remain open until 10:00 pm so all who wish to pray before St. Jude will have an opportunity to do so before the relic moves on to Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
Events such as this bring parish together and fill it with God’s graces, Father Gannon said, adding, “It makes our faith very real to see the arm of this holy apostle, one who was a personal companion of Jesus Christ, in our midst.”
