Links of Interest

Knights of Columbus Special License Plate

A major share of the special license plate fee goes to the Texas Education Agency State Council Charities account to make grants to carry out purposes of the organization, such as helping the poor and sick, and hungry and homeless children.

To Submit Pictures or Videos for our gallery

To upload pictures for our gallery send to photos@StJudeKofC.com To upload videos from your phone send to 81aa3z4c3t0m@m.youtube.com

Quick Links

Keep Christ in Christmas Poster Contest

St. Jude Knights of Columbus

Keep Christ in Christmas Poster Contest

Sample picture from last year's contest

In a society where Christmas has become for many - especially children - a secular holiday, the Knights of Columbus has introduced the Keep Christ in Christmas poster contest to allow young people to understand the true, spiritual meaning of Christmas and to engage their creative talents and imaginations.

Contest Rules

• The contestants will be separated into three age categories. Age 5-7, Age 8-10, and Age 11-14.
• Poster must reflect the theme of KEEP CHRIST IN CHRISTMAS.
• Each poster should be the original work (including concept, layout, slogan and any visual image of a single person).
• Poster must be approximately 11x17 inches in size. If pastels, chalk or charcoal are used, the poster must be laminated or covered with clear plastic. Posters may be in color or black and white.
• Each poster must be submitted with a Knights of Columbus “Keep Christ in Christmas” Poster Contest entry form. The name and age of the person entering the poster should be included on the back of the poster.
• All entries become the property of the Knights of Columbus Supreme Council. Posters will not be returned.
• Jude Knights Council will award monetary prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd of each age group.
• Poster Due Date is December 31, 2019 – drop off your posters at the St. Jude Parish Office, RE Youth Office, JYM Office, or contact Joe Shankle.

Contact Information: Joe Shankle – jshankle@soccour.com – 972.333.0677

ENTERY FORM HERE

You may donate funds to FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students). The council is sponsoring Rob Muzyka for his mission with FOCUS, and our goal is at least $600. Thank you in advance for your generosity.

Prayers for Vocations

Prayer #1
Parents Prayer for Vocations Almighty and eternal God,
in your unfailing love you provide
ministers for your Church.
We pray for those whom you call
to serve the Church of ___________ as priests
Inspire in them a generous response.
Grant them courage and vision to serve your people
May their lives and service call your people to respond to the presence
of your Spirit among us that, faithful to the Gospel
and hope of Jesus the Christ,
we may: announce glad tidings to the poor
proclaim liberty to captives, set prisoners free and renew the face of the earth.

Prayer #2
O God, Father of all Mercies,
Provider of a bountiful Harvest,
send Your Graces upon those
You have called to gather the fruits of Your labor;
preserve and strengthen them in their lifelong service of you.
Open the hearts of Your children
that they may discern Your Holy Will;
inspire in them a love and desire to surrender themselves
to serving others in the name of Your son, Jesus Christ.
Teach all Your faithful to follow their respective paths in life
guided by Your Divine Word and Truth.
Through the intercession of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary,
all the Angels, and Saints, humbly hear our prayers
and grant Your Church's needs, through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Prayer #3
O Holy Spirit, Spirit of wisdom and divine love, impart Your knowledge, understanding, and counsel to youth that they may know the vocation wherein they can best serve God. Give them courage and strength to follow God's holy will. Guide their uncertain steps, strengthen their resolutions, shield their chastity, fashion their minds, conquer their hearts, and lead them to the vineyards where they will labor in God's holy service. Amen.

Prayer #4
GOD our FATHER,
WHO wills that all men be saved
And come to the knowledge of YOUR Truth:
We beg you to send
Laborers into YOUR harvest,
And grant them grace to speak YOUR Word
With all boldness; so that YOUR Word
May spread and be glorified,
And all nations may know YOU,
The only GOD, and HIM WHOM YOU have sent,
JESUS CHRIST YOUR SON, Our LORD. Amen.
Our Lady, Queen of the Americas,
And Mary, Mother of the
Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word,
Pray for us.

Seminarian Garrett Bockman

• Garrett Bockman was born on July 14, 1991.
• He is a parishioner at All Saints in Dallas.
• Garrett graduated with a BS in Mechanical Engineering and Physics from SMU.
• It was at SMU that he became involved in the campus ministry.
• Through the ministry he met Fr. Anthony Lackland who helped him grow in Christ.
• Through reading scripture he felt the call to the priesthood.
• Garret began his discernment at Trinity Seminary in 2013 and has recently been sent to Washington D.C. to continue his studies at Theological College.
• Ordained to the Priesthood in May of 2020. 
• Garrett is now Associate Director of Formation at Holy Trinity.

Find out more about the Diocese of Dallas Seminaries

More information on the Holy Trinity Seminary and the Redemptoris Mater Seminary can be found on the Catholic Diocese of Dallas site.

DIACONATES

In addition to supporting our ordained Priests, Deacons, and our Seminarians, the Knights of Columbus also support and pray for our parishioners that have been called to become deacons.  Here are the six current diaconates from St. Jude Parish.  Please be sure to keep them in your daily prayers too.

PRIESTS and DEACONS

We continue to support or past vocations by praying for them as they have successfully moved into their vocations.

• Deacon Kevin Lovett has been assigned to the University of Dallas.

Reverend Russ Mower

• Reverend Russ Mower was born August 27, 1951 in Augusta, Maine
• Member of St. Jude Parish since 1997
• Has three married daughters and four grandkids
• Graduate of Wichita State University, Degree in Fire Protection Engineering
• Member of St. Jude Knights of Columbus
• Discerned call to the Priesthood after the death of his wife in the fall of 2009
• Is currently studying at Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary in Weston, MA - Class of 2015
• He was ordained a transitional deacon on April 5, 2014; and was ordained a priest on May 30, 2015.
• Reverend Russ Mower currently serves as an Associate Director of Formation at Holy Trinity Seminary.

Please visit his blog site

Rev. Russ was ordained a Dallas diocesan priest on May 30, 2015

May 30th, 2015 Ordination Details Here

Reverend Kevin Wilwert

Follow Rev. Kevin @FatherKW 

• Reverend Kevin Wilwert was born April 4th, 1986 in Illinois to John & Ellen Wilwert
• Moved to Allen in January 1989
• Member of St. Jude parish
• Music major at Collin County Community College
• Bachelors in Philosophy and Theology from Franciscan
• University in Steubenville, Ohio
• Accepted in 2009 by the Diocese of Dallas to attend St. Mary’s Seminary in Houston
• Kevin & his father joined the St. Jude Knights of Columbus in July of 2013.
• He was originally assigned as an Associate Director of Formation at Holy Trinity Seminary and is now parochial vicar at St. Ann in Coppell.
  
  Rev. Kevin was ordained a Dallas diocesan priest on May 31, 2014

Reverend Greg Gerhart

• Greg Gerhart was born May 18th, 1987 in Plano, TX, but he grew up in Allen after his family moved here in 1992
• Greg's parents, Toby and Melinda Gerhart, are active members of the St. Jude parish family, and Toby is a fellow knight.
• After High School, Greg attended and graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor's degree in English.
• He was accepted in 2009 by the Diocese of Austin for entry into priestly formation at St. Joseph Seminary College in Louisiana.
• The Austin Diocese sent him to Pontifical North American College in Rome for two years, after which he returned to Texas to spend his pastoral year at St. Anthony Marie de Claret Parish in Kyle Texas.
• Attended in Rome to get his specialization in Bio Ethics of Moral Theology.
• Was (July 2018) assigned as Assistant Pastor at St. Mary's in College Station (Texas A&M) and is currently the vocational director in the Austin diocese.
  
  Rev. Greg was ordained an Austin diocesan priest on July 9, 2016

• Revs Samuel Martinez, Ryan Haieshutter, Aristeo Berrum, Juan Mendez and Michael Baynham were all assigned here at St. Jude for a period prior to their ordination.  They are all now serving as Dallas Diocese priests.

Reverend Michael Baynham

• Michael Baynham was raised at St. Ann parish in Coppell
• He heard the call to the priesthood while in front of the Blessed Sacrament in tenth grade
• The call was persistent, so decided to enter seminary after high school graduation
• Michael is a Knight of Columbus in good standing
• He was assigned to St. Jude parish for a few weeks in the summer of 2010
• After attending Holy Trinity, he was sent to Catholic University in Washington D.C.
• He spent his pastoral year at Mary Immaculate in Farmer’s Branch and then returned to Catholic University to continue his studies in the fall of 2015.
• Fr. Michael was ordained a priest on Saturday, June 3, 2017 at the Cathedral Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe in downtown Dallas
• Reverend Michael Baynham is currently the parochial vicar at St. Joseph in Richardson
  
  

  Rev. Michael was ordained an Dallas diocesan priest on June 3rd, 2017

Sister Jacinta of Jesus)

Jody was born July 28, 1983 in Saint Francis, Kansas.

• She was a member of Saint Francis of Assisi in Saint Francis, Ks. And later a member of St. Mary Queen of the Universe in Salina, Ks.
• Prior to entering the monastery she was a Soil Scientist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service in Salina, KS.
• She participated in several spiritual activities while in Salina including daily Mass, weekly devotion before the Blessed Sacrament, bible study, and monthly scheduled prayer for Vocations; as well as participating in service groups within her church.
• Jody entered the monastery on November 10, 2012 and took her first vows on December 28, 2013.
• She is now a novice with the Discalced Carmelite Nuns in Arlington, Texas.
• Nuns in this order attempt to establish a person to person relationship with Jesus Christ through prayer.
•  

Sister Jacinta (Of The Cross) OTC was veiled and took her permanent vows on August 18, 2018

Reverand Giuseppe Spoto

• Giuseppe Spoto was born on February 19, 1981.
• He grew up in South Italy and moved to Pisa to study chemistry at the University of Pisa.
• He began discernment through the help of the Neocatechumal Way and the Augustinian Fathers.
• Giuseppe entered Redemptoris Mater in Dallas in January 2008.
• Giuseppe spent two years working at the International Neo-Catechumal Center in Porto San Giorgio, Italy and returned to the United States in August of 2015.
• He studied Theology in Denver
• He was serving as Parochial Vicar at Mary Immaculate in Farmers Branch and is now the pastor of Our Lady od Perpetual Help in Dallas.
  
  Rev. Giuseppe was ordained an Dallas diocesan priest in May 2018

KNIGHTS IN ACTION

See various activities the council is involved in throughout the year and throughout the community.

Service Pins

Service pins were awarded at the Officer's Installation and Awards Banquet in July to Knights with 5, 10, 25 and 50 years of service. This is a list of the 123 Knights who were eligible to receive a pin.

PHP - People Helping People

People Helping People Ministry: This important ministry is an offshoot of the St Jude CSI Committee. We are looking for able-bodied Volunteers to help tow, load and unload furniture for area needy families. Please sign up with your name, email, home and mobile phone numbers and your availability.

Culture of Life (Pro-Life) Support and Local Sites

The Knights of Columbus holds the Sanctity of Life in the highest regard, from conception to natural death.  The Council conducts many activities in this effort; but, always in support of our Pastor and St Jude Parish activities and programs.  For those brother knights wishing to assist in these efforts we encourage you to stay in touch through the Parish website, specifically through the Gospel of Life link below.  If you need any assistance in this area our Council Right to Life lead is SK Anthony Perea (469) 212-3726 Click on Image to go to site

Lighthouse Buck a Book / Buck a CD

See here for the notes below along with photos and bios of the speakers.

Want a few more details about the CD Set All Afire?

• Fr. Robert Barron - Who Is Jesus Christ?: Fr. Barron briefly and powerfully reveals the often misunderstood identity of Jesus Christ.
• Fr. Michael Gaitley - Best Kept Secrets: Fr. Mike unveils two best kept secrets of the Catholic Faith: Divine Mercy and Our Blessed Mother Mary.
• Fr. Michael Schmitz - Relativism: Listen as Fr. Mike debunks the ever-popular myth of relativism with sound logic, accessible language, and hilarious anecdotes.
• Dr. Scott Hahn - True Presence: Dr. Hahn explores the profound mystery and the transforming power of the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist.
• Johnnette Benkovic - Best When Broken: Johnnette discusses the true dignity of suffering with a powerful personal testimony.
• Patrick Madrid - Why I Am Catholic When I Can Be Anything Else: Patrick Madrid gives compelling biblical and historical reasons for why he embraces the faith as a lifelong Catholic.
• Jason Evert - More Than I Do: Jason Evert exposes the plentiful lies about marriage and the true beauty of human sexuality.

*The mission and intent of this program is for the Buck-a-Book items to be gifted in some way for the benefit of individuals.  For this reason, it is important that there be no monetary compensation associated with the distribution of these items.  Consistent with this, we ask that these items not be distributed through the kiosk program, in exchange for a donation, or payment of any kind.  The CDs purchased for $1 with the books cannot be exchanged for other CDs as part of the Exchange Program.   

*This exciting promotion is made possible by the generosity and openness of all involved....

To order by credit card, go to: www.lighthousecatholicmedia.org/buckabook.  Or you can call Mike O'Rourke at 214-663-9694, and he'll take your credit card info and place your order for you.

Deacon John Boyle

• John Boyle has been a St. Jude Parishioner since 1988.
• He is in the 2018 Diaconate Formation class and will be instituted as Acolyte on 1/28/2017
• Born Feb 3, 1963
• Wife: Mary, wed in 1983
• Children: Jennifer Griffith (Chad), Anthony and Sarah. Jennifer and Chad have two daughters. 
• Both Mary and John grew up in Nebraska and were high school sweethearts. After graduating from South Dakota School of Mines & Technology in Rapid City, SD in 1986, we moved to Plano, TX for a job with Texas Instruments. We joined St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. Moved to Allen in 1987 but delayed joining St. Jude until 1988.  Since then have been very involved in parish life including CRHP, baptism classes, PAC, and have been Engaged Couple Sponsors for over 20 years. John presently is a Principal Quality Assurance Engineer with Raytheon.

Rev. John Boyle was ordained an Dallas diocesan deacon in June 2018.

Deacon Tim Bray

• Tim Bray has been a St. Jude Parishioner since 2003
• He is in the 2020 Diaconate Formation Class

Deacon Andrew Tanner

• Andrew Tanner has been a St. Jude Parishioner since 2004
• He is in the 2018 Diaconate Formation Class and will be instituted as Acolyte on 1/28/2017
• Married to Yoli since 1987
• Four kids from mid-teen to young adult
• Rev. Andrew was ordained a deacon in the Dallas Diocese in June 2018 and is assigned to St. Michael Catholic Church in McKinney

Rev. Andrew Tanner was ordained an Dallas diocesan deacon in June 2018

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Food Handling Training Online

To assist at the Allen ISD events in the Allen Eagle concession stand fund raisers, you must have a Food Handler Certification. This can be taken online with the link below:

Online Food Handler Class ($10.00 fee)

2 Hour TX Food Handler Certificate Course

Online Training Link