The Catholic Community of St Jude celebrates our 50th Anniversary this year. And we are celebrating BIG!

On the weekend of September 28th and 29th
we invite ALL parishioners to our Events.

Saturday Evening Mass with the Bishop and an Evening Reception. ALL are also invited to join us for the 11am Mass and the Family Social Event Directly after. To learn more or ot volunteer for the comittee contract Linda Kahler at 517 896-5869.

50th Factoids!
Did you know that Four bishops have led the Catholic Community of St. Jude
Bishop Alexander Zaleski 1965 - 1975
Bishop Kenneth Povish 1975 - 1996
Bishop Carl Mengeling 1996 - 2008
Bishop Earl Boyea 2008 - present
The DeWitt Community was served by priests of St. Therese Parish from September, 1969 to July 1, 1970.
Father John Shinners
Father Vincent Kuntz
Father Joseph Droste
On July 1, 1970, The DeWitt Community was formally granted the status of a Mission.
The official name of the Mission, The Community of St. Jude was adopted in September, 1970.
Father Jerome Schmitt was pastor of the Mission in DeWitt from June 1971 to January, 1976.
The first priest residence on Wilson Street was purchased in 1971.
Daily mass was celebrated at the rectory (currently the front offices) until July of 1974.

ST JUDE PASTORS
Father Jerome Schmitt      June 1971 - resigned 1976   died August 2002
Father James Murphy       February 1976 - August 1977
Father David Stotenbur     September 1977 - June 1990  died May 2000
Father Bernard Reilly        June 1990 - June 1998
Father Daniel Wunderlich  June 1998 - October 1999  died December 1999
Father Paul Cummings     (interim minister) 10- 1998 - 1 - 2000
Father Dwight Ezop          January 2000 - June 1013
Father Robert Irish            June 2013 - present
 
ST JUDE RELIGIOUS
Sister Agnes Simmon
Sister Eileen Shaugnessy
Sister Gertrude Geigle
Sister Antoinette Consentina
Sister Terresita Manner
 
ST JUDE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
Organizational meeting January 1979
First Degree Instillation February 1979
51 members (19 current and transferred + 32 new)

ST JUDE PROPERTY - 10 ACRES PURCHASED ON NORTH BRIDGE STREET
Ground breaking August 12, 1973
First Mass celebrated in multi purpose building July 14, 1974
 
To celebrate mass during our earliest days as a community necessary items were borrowed from St. Francis Retreat Center i.e. crucifix, chalice, ciborium, candles and vestments. 

Before we had a permanent building mass was celebrated in the Fuerstenau gym, as our numbers grew in the DeWitt Middle School cafetoruim. Parishioners set up chairs and arranged an altar before each mass.

Save the date and don't miss out on this wonderful, fantastic and spiritual event for the whole family!

Our Famous Friday Fish Fry has begun on the Fridays of Lent, March 22, 29, April 5 and 12!

       Dinner is served from 4pm - 7pm
 
Featuring our famous all-you-can-eat fried Pollock and baked Cod, with baked potato, French fries, mac and cheese, bread sticks & coleslaw.  The cost for the dinner is $11 for seniors, $12 for adults ($11 early bird special 4pm to  5pm), $6 for children 12 and under, and a family special of $37.  Take out dinners are available for $11 per dinner. If you would like to volunteer to help at the Fish Fries please contact Joe Ciaramella at (517) 749-8758.

Soup and Substance is beginning March 12th following the 6:00pm Mass in the Community Center. All are invited to enjoy a meal of  delicious soups prepared by culinary angels from our parish, to be followed by dynamic speakers focused on the three disciplines of Lent: prayer, fasting, and charity.
March 12 & 19, Prayer video presentation by Dr. Tim Gray, President of the Augustine Institute. Rob will be facilitating discussion on March 12 and Mary Lippert will be doing the same on March 19.
March 26, Matthew Kelly and Fr. Mike Schmitz will be conducting a video presentation on the discipline of Fasting with Hallie Card facilitating discussion.
April 2 & 9 Works of Love will be presented by Joe Garcia, Director of Cristo Rey Community Center and a speaker yet to be determined. Please join us to experience God’s Word and presence at Mass, delicious soup and community, and inspiring faith formation with open discussion.

Like to watch short videos instead of reading? 

Click this LINK tab to access several short videos on the Catholic Church or things related to the Catholic Faith.

The St. Jude Prayer Shawl and Quilt Ministry greatly helped Project Linus volunteers on February 16 in producing and donating 30 beautiful patchwork blankets!  An opportunity to help children in need!

Project Linus has recently been formed in the Greater Lansing area.  It is a non-profit organization with a mission to provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized or otherwise in need through the gifts of new handmade blankets.  Our group is dedicated to helping children in Clinton County.
 
With the help of the St. Jude Prayer Shawl and Quilt Ministry, we will be holding a blanket-making session on Saturday, April 6 from 10 am to 1 pm.
 
During this session, we will demonstrate how to make an easy no-sew double-sided fleece blanket. We will show you how to tie the fabric together to make a colorful and cozy blanket.  Blankets must be at least 36 inches by 36 inches for an infant and can go up to twin size (72 inches long) for teenagers.  
 
So how can you prepare for this event?  First, RSVP to Sue Carroll as noted below.  Then, purchase some fleece fabric.  The easiest way to get fabric is to buy a blanket kit at Joann Fabric. This kit is already cut for you. Or you can buy fleece yardage. To make an infant size, buy 2 yards.  To make a teen size, buy 4 yards.  Or make an in-between size and buy 3 yards.  You can make each side of your blanket a different fabric if you so choose.  Joann Fabric has lots of fleece fabric and you can sign up for their coupons to get the best price.
 
Project Linus Blanket Making Event
Saturday, April 6 at 10 am
St. Jude Community Center
RSVP:  Sue Carroll, suec9@comcast.net or 517-488-9506
 
Bring your fleece fabric, sharp sewing shears, ruler or yardstick, and pins.  You are welcome to bring your older children and teens who wish to help.  Feel free to bring a friend!  If you can’t get out to purchase fabric, you are invited to come along anyway!  We make our blankets in a group and you can help with tying knots around the edges of the blanket. 
 
If you ever hear of a child in need, please contact Sue as we are keeping a supply of blankets just for that purpose.

A free subscription service (sort of like Catholic Netflex) that will allow every registered parishioner to access abundant information and entertainment about the Catholic faith from their personal computers, smart TV, IPad and even their phone.  To learn more about FORMED or to sign up, click this link stjudedewitt.formed.org