By Katie Vasquez
It was a day of prayer and closeness to the body of Christ, as St. Jude Shrine church welcomes pilgrims from the Diocese of Brooklyn’s Lenten Pilgrimage on Wednesday, April 2.
The Canarsie church is connecting the faithful of Brooklyn and Queens during this season, and in the months to come, as a Jubilee station church for the diocese.
The pews were filled with pilgrims of all ages, including young people from the parish school, Our Lady of Trust Catholic Academy. They rejoiced in song as Brooklyn Bishop Robert Brennan celebrated the 8 am Mass.
Although the shepherd of the Diocese of Brooklyn has been leading the way during this Lenten Pilgrimage, he says seeing young people at this stop has been an inspiration for him and his fellow pilgrims.
“It’s a great experience to celebrate with the young people. First of all, for them to take part in something that, part of who we are and what we’re doing, there’s an educational piece and exposes them to something new and different. But they bring such joy, such hope, such faith. and that’s an inspiration to all of us,” said Bishop Robert Brennan of the Diocese of Brooklyn.
“The treat with the bishop was amazing. Cohesive message. During this special time of Lent. I love that the children are here praying. I have the privilege of having three of my kids here. So my daughter was one of the ones who did the reading. So, it’s extra special for me,” said Luis Machica, a parishioner at St. Jude Shrine Church.
“I have enjoyed the Masses because it just gives me, like a better relationship with God, like a better opportunity to talk with him and stuff like that,” said Gabriella Machica, an 8th grader at Our Lady of Trust Catholic Academy in Brooklyn.
“Today’s Gospel really, truly confirmed my beliefs in believing that God truly loves me and I fully trust in him no matter what,” said 8th grader Melanie Reneau from Our Lady of Trust Catholic Academy.
Because St Jude has been designated a Jubilee shrine church, that means pilgrims who visited on that Wednesday and met certain conditions, could receive a plenary indulgence and be free from the temporal punishment of sin.
If you also want to receive an indulgence you have until the feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8, 2025 to visit a shrine church like St Jude.