"You are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone."
Ephesians 2:19-20
St. Jude is the patron saint of the impossible because of his Apostolic ministry in the early church. By visiting and encouraging early Christian communities who endured tremendous hardship, he accomplished the improbable. While early communities despaired and perhaps others were frustrated already at the role of division in the early Church, Jude brought encouragement.
Today is the great feast of the patron saint of our Diocese, St. Jude. As one who carries and brings the image of Christ to those in need and was filled with the fire of the spirit at Pentecost, St. Jude intercedes powerfully for our local church. Too often we forget this powerful intercessor in our daily life and the relationship that we, as a diocese, have to Him. Who better to turn to as we confront difficulties than the one who's name means "Giver of Joy." Today I invite you to call upon St. Jude for his intercession.
What areas of my life do I currently find "impossible" to deal with?
St. Jude, intercede for me before God that I might overcome the difficulties of my life.
Reflection by:
Fr. Chuck Dornquast
Did You Know...
Fr. Chuck Dornquast is a son of St. Joseph Parish in Zephyrhills. After graduating from Zephyrhills High School he entered seminary where he would spend the next 9 years. While in seminary he spent time at many of our diocesan parishes and discovered more and more the heart of Christ the High Priest within him. After ordination he spent his first 4 years of priesthood as the associate pastor of St. Lawrence in Tampa. He currently serves the Diocese of St. Petersburg as the Director of Vocations.
Pray with us for the men and women discerning the priesthood and religious life. To pray for our seminarians by name or to find out more about the Diocese of St. Petersburg vocations office, click here
