Relic of St. Jude draws thousands to five diocesan parishes

By the thousands they descended upon several parishes in the Diocese, devoted faithful who gathered to venerate the first-class relic (part of a saint’s body) of St. Jude Thaddeus, known as the Apostle of the Impossible. St. Jude was one of the twelve Apostles who accompanied Jesus during his ministry, eventually martyred in what is today Beirut, Lebanon.

According to the website, apostleoftheimpossible.com, a few centuries after his death, St. Jude’s remains were transported to Rome, where they now lie below the main altar of St. Peter’s Basilica, in the same crypt with St. Peter. The relic of St. Jude’s forearm, separated from his remains several centuries ago, is ensconced in a wooden carving in the shape of an upright arm in the form of a blessing and placed within a large glass receptacle.

The relic was brought to the parishes of St Thomas the Apostle, Old Bridge; Our Lady of Fatima, Piscataway; Sacred Heart, South Plainfield; St. Augustine of Canterbury, Kendall Park, and St. Jude, Blairstown, on Dec. 12, 13, 14, 15 and 17 respectively, five stops on a one-hundred city U.S. tour. Four parish sites included veneration of the relic from 1 until 10 p.m., with Mass at 7 p.m.

Companions of the Cross Father Carlos Martins, director of the evangelization ministry Treasures of the Church, manages the tour of the relic during its nine-month journey from September through May.

In an August 2023 press release, Father Martins said, “The apostle’s visit is an effort by the Catholic Church to give comfort and hope to all who need it. … Regarded as the patron saint of lost causes and desperate situations the visit provides an opportunity for individuals to experience intimacy with someone who dwells in heaven and beholds God face-to-face. It allows devotees to receive his blessing and entrust him with their petitions.”

The crowd at Our Lady of Fatima created long lines winding out into the parking lot, resulting in an hour’s wait to view the relic. A few parishioners expressed what drew them to the veneration. “I have a lifelong devotion to St. Jude and wear his medal,” said Bruce Zehnle, while Maria Perry commented, “I wanted to experience this historic event.”

Members of the fourth degree Knights of Columbus stood watch over the relic, garbed in their regal black attire, sword and beret, adding a noble touch to the event. During Mass, Father Martins delivered a homily integrating the history of St. Jude and his relic with the spiritual significance of Christian relics.

At Sacred Heart Parish, parishioners gathered outside before the opening of the veneration. “I pray to him all the time. I can tell you that he has answered my prayers,” Sue Porchetta acknowledged. Maria Fusillo commented, “I am honored and blessed, and extremely grateful, to be here.” She was accompanied by her brother-in-law Dominic from Staten Island, who said he was here “to listen, learn, and observe.”

Father Jerome Johnson, pastor, St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, confirmed that some three thousand people venerated the relic, and another one thousand attended that evening’s Mass. “We were full,” he said. “People have a great devotion to St. Jude. They have a real affinity for him. They came not just from our parish but from other places as well. It was quite gratifying and moving.”

Father Robert Lynam, pastor, St. Augustine of Canterbury Parish, recalled that some “two thousand people passed through the church throughout the day and the church was full for Mass.”

The relic’s visit came as a surprise to St. Jude Parish. Father Ron Jandernoa, pastor, encouraged his parishioners to visit one of the other four parishes to venerate the relic when, on Dec. 8, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, the parish was advised they had been added as a tour site.

“Our parish was greatly blessed to have such a major relic of our patron saint visit our parish,” said Father Jandernoa. “We experienced St. Jude himself present and were overjoyed.  Hundreds of people came from all over as the church was packed for a special 3 p.m. Mass” and veneration which followed until 9 p.m.

Reflecting on the reason many thousands of people in the Diocese came to venerate St. Jude’s relic, Father Lynam recounted the story shared by Father Martins who explained the image of Jesus always seen on the saint’s chest:

A pagan king, Abgar of Edessa, who was terminally ill, sent a letter to Jesus asking him to heal him. Jesus replied he could not come in person but would send one of his Apostles. Jesus pressed his own face into a cloth, leaving an impression, and sent the cloth with St. Jude to present to the king. The king pressed the cloth to his face and was immediately healed. While initially preserved, the image was eventually lost after the French revolution.

Today, this image of Jesus is forever associated with St. Jude as intercessor of impossible causes through faith in Christ.

To learn more visit apostleoftheim possible.com for information.

Mary Morrell, editor-in-chief, contributed to this story.