St. Jude Novena
October 17– 25
St. Ann Catholic Church
A Spiritual Preparation for the Beginning of our
Anniversary Year
St. Jude and the Founding of St. Ann Catholic
Church
Dear Parishioner,
The history of Saint Ann Catholic Church embodies the heart
and spirit of her founders and tells the struggle they endured to
make their dream become a reality. It is a history filled with the
faith of faithful people who identified closely with Saint Jude,
patron saint of the hopeless.
The social prejudices which prevailed were also evident in the
church. It was not easy for African Americans to practice their
Catholic faith with dignity. They attended Mass in a local
church which designated where they were to sit by use of a
black and gold sign which read, "Colored Catholics Sit Here".
This treatment spurred their desire to worship without these
constraints. In their resolve to do something about it, three
African American families, consisting of eight Catholics, met in
the home of Mrs. Claudia Cameron at 428 Chatham St. on
Sunday afternoon, June 24, 1934, to form the Fayetteville unit
of the Colored Catholic League of North Carolina.
Fathers Noonan and Sullivan from St. Patrick Church attended
the meeting and agreed to serve as spiritual advisors. Other
attendees were Mrs. Claudia A. Cameron, Mr. Joseph L.
Cameron, Miss Annie McKay, Miss Helen McKay, Mrs. Alice
C. Evans, Mrs. Eleanor Murphy, Mr. Frank McKay and Mr.
William Montgomery.
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On October 28, 1939, newly ordained Father William P. Ryan,
a member of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI), of South
Boston, Mass., arrived in Fayetteville to serve the small
community of colored Catholics. He arrived on the Feast of
Saint Jude, Patron Saint of the Hopeless. And so his mission
seemed.
His first meeting with his new parishioners took place
November 1, 1939, at Mrs. Cameron's home. One of the
objectives the group and its pastor set was the building of a
church. In the meantime, while plans and funds were
materializing, the congregation met for services in a barber shop
at 117 Gillespie St. owned by church member Mr. Frank
McKay. Out of these early days of struggle came the tradition
of a Novena to Saint Jude.
As we prepare to begin our 75th Anniversary Year, we once
again invoke the intercession of St. Jude who has been a help
and inspiration to our parish over the years. Please take time
over these next nine days to pray with us, whether at home or at
daily Mass, the Novena to St. Jude asking his intercession on
our Parish Community.
Father Steve
About St. Jude
Saint Jude was one of Jesus’ twelve original apostles, so we can
conclude that he was also at the Last Supper. Saint Jude is also
known by the name Thaddeus, which means sweetness and
gentleness of character.
Saint Jude, rather, followed Jesus faithfully until his crucifixion,
and then later worked on evangelization. Very little is known
about his life, but we do know that he died as a martyr — some
say around 65AD, giving his life to Jesus Christ.
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He is now one of the most invoked saints for intercession in
desperate situations because his New Testament letter stressed
the importance of a faithful person persevering in the
environment of harsh circumstances. St. Jude is the Patron Saint
of : Lost Causes, Desperate Causes and Hospitals.
St. Jude Novena Prayers
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Spirit. Amen
Novena Opening Prayer each day…
O St. Jude, holy Apostle, faithful servant and friend of Jesus,
you are honored and petitioned by the universal Church, as the
patron of desperate, hopeless and impossible cases. Pray for me.
I am so very helpless and I feel alone.
Intercede for me and for my parish community of St. Ann that
Almighty God may bring swift aid where it is needed most.
Come to my assistance in my great time of need!
Pray for me that I may be given the comfort and help of Jesus.
Most importantly, I ask that you pray that I may one day join
you and all of the saints in heaven to praise God in consolation,
rest and joy for all eternity.
I will remember your prayers, O Holy St. Jude. I will honor you
as my patron as so many have before me because of the graces
God deigns to give freely at your request. Amen
Pray the Daily Intention Pray of the Novena (p. 5 – 10)
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Novena Closing Prayer
May the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored, and loved in all
the tabernacles until the end of time. — Amen.
May the most Sacred Heart of Jesus be praised and glorified
now and forever. — Amen.
St. Jude pray for us and hear our prayers. — Amen.
Blessed be the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Blessed be the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Blessed be St. Ann
Blessed be St. Jude Thaddeus
Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be... Amen.
St. Jude Novena – DAY ONE – October 17
O blessed Apostle St. Jude, who labored zealously among the
Gentiles in many lands, and performed numerous miracles in
needy and despairing cases, I ask you to take interest in my
needs. I know that you understand me. Please hear my prayers
and my petitions. Please beg God for me and my deepest needs.
(Day One Intention: For the repose of the souls of the Founders
of St. Ann Parish and for your personal intentions)
I pray that I will be patient in learning God’s holy will for me
and then courageously carry it out in my life. Amen.
Novena Closing Prayer (p. 5)
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St. Jude Novena – DAY TWO – October 18
O blessed Apostle Jude, who answers hopeless causes, grant
that I will always serve Jesus Christ with fervor and zeal. Grant
that I may give my best efforts in living His will every day.
Please pray that I will turn my heart and mind such that God
will always be first in my life. May my love of God be first
above all things, all desires and even all my intentions today.
(Day Two Intention: For the repose of the soul of Fr. William
Ryan OMI – Founding pastor and all priests who served in the
parish and for your personal intentions)
St. Jude, please grant that I may be enlightened as to what is
best for me! Pray for my intentions today and especially pray
for me to receive the grace to love God more than what I seek
from Him. Amen.
Novena Closing Prayer (p. 5)
St. Jude Novena – DAY THREE – October 19
O holy St. Jude, Apostle of Jesus Christ, you who have so
faithfully spread Jesus’ Gospel of Light and Love, I ask and beg
you to remember me and my deepest needs. St. Jude, please
especially pray for…
(Day Three Intention: For husbands and wives, mothers and
fathers of our parish and for your personal intentions)
Grant that I may always pray with fervor and devotion,
resigning myself and my needs humbly to my loving God.
Grant that I may see God’s purpose in all my trials and that I
may be open to God’s answers to my sincere prayers. Amen.
Novena Closing Prayer (p. 5)
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St. Jude Novena – DAY FOUR – October 20
Saint Jude, Jesus called you to be one of His chosen and
beloved apostles. With God’s calling, you labored to bring men
to a knowledge and love of God. Please listen with compassion
to my prayers and grant your intercession.
In this broken world I have many trials, difficulties, and
temptations. Please pray for me and my petitions in God’s
presence. St. Jude, beg God that my most urgent prayers may be
answered.
(Day Four Intention: For all current and former school teachers,
especially the Sisters of Providence and the Daughters of
Charity and for your personal intentions)
May God answer my prayers in His way that is best for me.
May God give me the grace to see his purpose in all things.
Amen.
Novena Closing Prayer (p. 5)
St. Jude Novena – DAY FIVE – October 21
O blessed St. Jude, close companion my Lord Jesus, you have
given me a good example of how to lead a life of zeal and
devotion to Jesus. I humbly request that today you hear my
prayers and petitions and intercede for me. I ask you to pray
especially for…
(Day Five Intention: For all of the youth of our parish
community, those preparing for Sacraments of and for your
personal intention)
As I pray for God’s blessings in my life today, please grant that
I may never forget all the truth, goodness and beauty that God
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has given to me out of his pure love for me. May I, like you St.
Jude, give thanks and praise to God every day for the blessings
that I have asked for and those which God has given freely. I
humbly give myself over to God’s holy will, knowing that he
alone knows what is best for me and my present needs. Amen.
Novena Closing Prayer (p. 5)
St. Jude Novena – DAY SIX – October 22
Dearest St. Jude, friend and apostle of Christ and expert in
despairing cases, hear my prayers. In all my needs and desires
may I only seek what is pleasing to God and what is best for my
salvation and the salvation of the world. Saint Jude, please beg
God for help with my requests…
(Day Six Intention: For the sick of our parish and for your own
intentions)
I submit my prayers to you with great confidence in your
intercession. I know that you will pray fervently at the feet of
God that I may receive His greatest blessings. I know that our
good and gracious Lord leaves no sincere prayer unanswered in
some way. Help me to see His answers and praise Him even if
they are not what I expect. Amen.
St. Jude Novena – DAY SEVEN – October 23
Holy apostle Saint Jude, may I never forget that our blessed
Lord Jesus Christ called you to be one of his holy apostles. May
I never forget the martyr’s death you suffered out of love for
Jesus. May I never forget how close a friend of God you are
now for all eternity. Therefore, I do not hesitate to ask you to
pray to Him for my needs…
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(Day Seven Intention: For Vocations to the Priesthood,
Consecrated Life, for those who are single and for your personal
intention)
I ask with great humility that you beg God to bring me as close
to Him as you are in heaven. I desire to submit fully to the will
of God, as you did, trusting fully when I suffer, doubt or don’t
understand. Pray that I will receive and accept such a great
grace from God! Amen.
Novena Closing Prayer (p. 5)
St. Jude Novena – DAY EIGHT – October 24
O gracious Saint Jude, apostle of my Lord, pray that I may
always be open to God’s love and live according to His holy
will. May I never fail to cooperate with the grace of God,
especially when I am in such great need. St. Jude, please
intercede with great intensity on my behalf for these
intentions…
(Day Eight Intention: For God’s Blessing upon the Families of
our parish community and for your personal intention.
May I forever be deeply and truly thankful to God for the
blessings I have received in the past. Help me to understand that
I am totally dependent on God and His love and mercy. When I
feel alone, as you surely did when you suffered a martyr’s
death, pray that I will take it as an opportunity to rely on God’s
grace and love. Amen.
Novena Closing Prayer (p. 4)
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St. Jude Novena – DAY NINE – October 25
O righteous Saint Jude, apostle, martyr and companion of
Christ, grant that I may grow constantly in a loving relationship
with God. In working out my salvation in this life I have infinite
needs and desires that God placed within me. Today I turn to
you, asking you to intercede for me.
(Day Nine Intention: For God’s abundant blessings on our
parish during our 75th Anniversary Year and for your personal
intentions)
Saint Jude, I have specific requests of God that may only
partially fill the infinite needs and desires that are in my heart. I
ask that you pray not only for those requests but also for a
greater reliance on God to satisfy the needs and desires that I
have. May I seek God with a sincere heart knowing that it will
profit me nothing if I gain the whole world yet suffer the loss of
my soul. So, help me to see God’s good and gracious purpose in
all my trials.
Novena Closing Prayer (p. 5)
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