Frequently Asked Questions
about Sacramental Life at St. Jude

What is the difference between a divorce and an annulment?
A decree of divorce is a civil matter that says a marriage once existed, but is now dissolved through a legal action by the state. This has no standing, however, in the eyes of the Church because only God has authority over the divinely given sacrament of marriage. A decree of nullity, on the other hand, is a Church declaration that despite a ceremony and appearances to the contrary, a couple has never really been married, and each of them is therefore now free to get married, unless otherwise prohibited by the Church. Legal grounds on which to apply for an annulment are very strict and not every failed marriage can be annulled.

How do I obtain an annulment?
First, you must meet with a member of the clergy who will act with the Church title of your Advocate. You will then be required to give some background on your specific situation. Based on your information, you can then be guided as to what specifically must be done in your case. Because annulments are not “one size fits all”, the precise details of you annulment case and the length of time it may take to have the case resolved can only be determined after you have met with your Advocate.

I’m interested in becoming Catholic, what do I need to do?
Please contact Sr. Jennifer about the RCIA. RCIA, or The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults, is a process or journey of conversion for initiating persons into the Catholic Church. It takes place in the context of the Christian community and is guided by the Gospel of Jesus and by the witness and experience of St. Jude parishioners. RCIA meets at St. Jude on Wednesday evenings.

I was baptized Catholic, but was never raised Catholic. I haven’t made my First Communion and was never confirmed. What should I do?
Please contact Sr. Jennifer about the RCIA. The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults is designed not only for those who have never been baptized or were baptized in another faith tradition, but also for those who are Catholic but have never celebrated Eucharist or Confirmation.

We have recently welcomed a new baby into our family and want to have our child baptized. What should we do?
Baptisms are celebrated on the Second and Fourth Sundays of every month at 1pm . Because of the importance of the sacrament and the role parents assume in the Christian formation of their child, a Baptism Preparation Class is required prior to the celebration of the sacrament. Please contact Sr. Jennifer for further information.

I’ve been asked to be a Godparent for my nephew’s baptism. My sister asked me to be her sponsor for Confirmation. What are the requirements for godparents/sponsors?
All candidates for baptism and confirmation need Catholic godparents/sponsor for the celebration of the sacrament. A godparent/sponsor is a fully initiated Catholic (at least 16 years old) who is leading a life of faith in harmony with the responsibility he/she is undertaking. This means you are a registered parishioner, regularly participating in Sunday Mass, validly married in the Church, and have received Eucharist and Confirmation. If you do not meet these requirements, please call the Rectory and let us help you in becoming qualified.

I recently got engaged and would like to get married at St. Jude. What do I do?
First, we extend our congratulations to you! Secondly, please contact a priest at St. Jude, of your choice, as soon as possible. He will discuss with you the options for the six month preparation period.

about fostering education at St. Jude

How and when do I enroll my child in PSR?

How can I offer my service to assist with PSR?
PSR runs from September through May for children in grades 1-8. Registration forms are available at the Rectory throughout the year. If you are interested in helping with PSR, please contact Patti Lutke at the Rectory.

What is CLOW?
Children’s Liturgy of the Word is a program designed to deliver the Liturgy of the Word portion of the Mass on a more child-friendly level. During the 10:30 Mass, from September through May, your child in grades K-3 is invited to the chapel during the Liturgy of the Word to hear the readings of the day explained by leaders on a level more appropriate for their vocabulary and attention span.

How do I register a child for St. Jude School ?
Please call the school office at 366-1681. When you call, please feel free to ask any questions you may have. The school secretaries, Mary Ann Jaworski or Phyllis Rokasy, will arrange for you to receive a registration packet. If you choose, you can also set up an appointment to meet with the principal, Rozann Swanson.

I would like to help in making our school even better, who do I talk to?
Call the school principal, Rozann Swanson, at 336-1681.

What does Parents’ Club do?
St. Jude School Parents’ Club seeks to develop ways to work with the school principal and faculty to make the school even better through Parents’ Club, school volunteer and fundraisers to support academic endeavors. Please call the school office at 366-1681 for more information.

about fostering personal faith growth at St. Jude

What is “Women of Faith”?
Women of Faith is an intergenerational faith sharing group that meets once a month, currently on Thursdays, to share faith, ideas, struggles, and life as women. Although we base each meeting on a book or predetermined reading, the meeting portion serves to help us put our faith into action in our everyday lives.

Who do I talk to about resources for continuing Catholic education? Can you offer me tapes, books, or websites?
Please contact Patti Lutke at the Rectory about the Catechetical Library. This library exists with the purpose of furthering education throughout the years. It has many resources, such as books, tapes, and videos that are best suited to provide this information.

What opportunities for involvement does St. Jude offer for teenagers?
Elyria Teens for Christ (ETC) is a multi-parish youth program for the teenagers of Elyria coordinated by our parish. There are opportunities for community-building, prayer, and service. Please contact Dean Robinson at the Rectory for more information on ETC.

What is HomeBound Ministry at St. Jude parish?
In our lifelong journey to become whole, to become fully who we are as sons and daughters of God, can we wrestle meaning from the PRESENCE OF DISABILITY and SICKNESS and bring it under God’s blessing? Can we trust as Paul did “God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength?” (I Cor 1:25) In our lives we want to be ordered and predictable, but disability and sickness, whatever its cause, will require changes, new ways to do familiar tasks, new routines, new ways to relate to people. We need to bring these struggles into our worship and prayer before Our Lord. This is what my ministry to you is all about. If you are homebound or know of anyone who is and desires prayer support and a ministry, call Deacon Frank O’Connell, Director of HOMEBOUND MINISTRY at St Jude: 440-366-5711x104.

about service opportunities at St. Jude

How can my child become a server at St. Jude?
Servers at St. Jude must have at least completed the fourth grade and be willing to serve at Mass in a reverent and prayerful manner. Names of interested boys and girls should be passed along to Fr. Kosem who will then inform them when the next mandatory training session will take place. After completing their training, servers will be eligible to serve at both daily and weekend Masses.

Who coordinates the parish’s sports programs?
Our sports programs are coordinated by the Sports Committee. Dennis Baluh, the current head of the Sports Committee, can be reached at 322-7844. For more information, please see the St. Jude Parish Directory of Ministries.

I am interested in becoming a Eucharistic Minister or a Lector for our parish, how do I do that?
Please contact Fr. Kosem at the Rectory to obtain information about these ministries. You may also find more information about these ministries in the St. Jude Parish Directory of Ministries.

If a relative dies, how does St. Jude Parish help in the funeral arrangements?
When a relative dies, please call the Rectory and let us know. At that time, we will work with you in any way that we can. While the funeral home will help you with many of the arrangements, please contact the Rectory who will be happy to discuss the preferences and options for the funeral liturgy. If desired, our bereavement group will be happy to provide a meal following the funeral.

What is the Parish Festival?
Our Parish Festival is a celebration of what it means to be a parish. We are a people who can pray together but we are also a people who can play together. This occurs annually on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend right here on our own grounds. There are numerous opportunities to get involved with it. Please watch the bulletin as the weekend draws near for more information on helping out or call the Rectory and we’ll get you in touch with someone.

What does the parish website have to offer?

I believe in the potential that a website can offer the parish, how can I be of assistance to the parish?
Our parish website is available at www.saintjudeparish.org. It is a site that contains information about the parish such as schedules, the weekly bulletin, staff email addresses, St. Jude School information, and parish history. In addition, it has links to other Catholic-based sites and information relating to what is happening in our parish. If you are interested in being involved with the website, please contact the Rectory or email the webmaster on the site.

I enjoy gardening, can I be of help around the grounds of St. Jude?
Our entire property has beautiful grounds that are taken care of by volunteers. Volunteer gardeners plant, maintain, and beautify our property on their own schedule at their own convenience. This is a wonderful way for someone who is interested in gardening to share their talents. For more information, please contact Fr. Kosem at the Rectory or Jim Novak at 365-8827.

The Grapevine is a wonderful publication, how can I help?
The Grapevine is a publication that is complied, edited, and reported for by parishioners. It is published four times a year and is sent to all registered households of the parish. For more information on how to get involved, as a photographer, reporter, or whatever, please contact Ann Geyser at 748-1060.

I would like to reach out to the poor, what does St. Jude have to offer?
St. Jude has numerous ways to reach out to the poor. On an ongoing basis, our Social Concerns Committee provides opportunities for service and social awareness. Please contact either Sr. Jennifer Kramer or Fr. Kosem at the Rectory for more information. In addition, the St. Vincent de Paul Society has resources to help incidental needs of any shape or size. Please contact the Rectory office to obtain more information about St. Vincent de Paul. In a special way, our parish reaches out to the poor and needy at Christmas time through the Giving Tree. This is a project that recently collected nearly 2,500 gifts for the needy. Please contact Jackie Cannarella at 934-2466 for more information about the Giving Tree.

What does the Holy Name Society do?

Can you tell me about the Altar and Rosary Society?
All of these are parish organizations that have a specific purpose in the life of our parish. Each of these organizations, as well as, all of the parish organizations, is described in the St. Jude Parish Directory of Ministries. This book, as well as the Rectory, can provide you with phone numbers and names of those leading all of the parish organizations.

What does the Parish Council do?
Our parish Council exists to promote activities within the parish that will help the parish to meet its goals. The Parish Council is always concerned with the overall good of the parish and its mission. Such work includes reflection, prayer, planning, goal setting, support, and evaluation of parish activities. They meet on a monthly basis – usually the last Saturday of the month at 9am . For more information, please contact Fr. Kosem, Bob Schloss at 366-1484, or see the St. Jude Parish Directory of Ministries.