During the past six months, Gilberto Monico served in our parish as a Seminarian Intern.  Being an Acolyte and then a Deacon, Gilberto ministered at the altar, conducted Benediction in the absence of a priest or deacon, gave reflections on the Sacred Scriptures, and ministered at our local Juvenile Detention Camp.  He also attended classes at St. John's Major Seminary and studied English at the local ESL school.

Father Gilberto was ordained to the Priesthood of Jesus Christ on Saturday, January 12^th, by our Cardinal Archbishop.  Next Sunday Father Gilberto will offer a Mass of Thanksgiving here at St. Jude's at 12:00 noon.  One and all are invited to come and give thanks to God for the gift of the priesthood, and to ask God's blessings on Father Gilberto and his ministry in our Archdiocese.  After Mass, Father Gilberto will give his first priestly blessing in the Parish Hall.     

We will celebrate the Votive Mass of St. Blasé, Bishop and Martyr, next Monday.  St. Blasé is invoked as the Patron of Ailments of the Throat and Emotional Problems.
St. Blasé was the Bishop of Sebaste ion Armenia.  He was a physician before becoming a priest and bishop.  Tradition has it that St. Blasé miraculously cured a young boy who nearly died because of fishbone in his throat.
Since the 8^th century, St. Blasé has been invoked as the Patron of the Sick, especially those with ailments of throat and with emotional problems.
The Blessing of St. Blasé will be given after the 8:00 a.m. and 12:05 p.m. Masses, and also at 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m on Monday, February 4th.