Director's
Letter
Dear Friend of Saint Jude,
Whether you are driving down a road or hiking on
a trail I’m sure you don’t follow your GPS blindly,
especially if you have someone with you who
knows the terrain, knows the route, and knows
how to avoid the hazards. However, federal and
state parks throughout our country are reporting a
dramatic increase in stranded vehicles and hikers.
The increase can largely be attributed to young
people who are too reliant on their phones. They
follow directions on their phone maps that may
lead them up logging roads where it's easy to get
stuck in the mud or disoriented and lost. Or their
GPS routes them on a path that is too difficult to
climb with the current weather conditions. The age
group most commonly rescued is 20 to 29-year-
olds, as these young people will go out hiking
without bringing a backpack or preparing for the
elements. They just think ‘I'll go hiking and, if I
get in trouble, I'll just call somebody.’
Thankfully we don’t have to bet our lives on a piece
of technology! With Saint Jude as our trusted guide,
we have an experienced traveller who has overcome
great obstacles - the arrest and crucifixion of the
Lord, arduous missionary journeys throughout
the Middle East, and his own brutal martyrdom
- and is willing to come to our assistance in times
of great need.
As you read this issue of the Saint Jude Messenger,
I pray that you will grow in friendship with God
and the saints He has tasked with guiding us on
life’s journey, especially Saint Jude and Our Lady.
And know that you are not alone in your trials, nor
in your devotion! The stories in this issue prove
that people from all walks of life, facing all sorts of
obstacles, are turning to the saints in prayer and
receiving - each in a special way - the treasures of
God’s mercy that He has providentially marked
out for them.
May God bless you richly, wherever you are on
life’s journey.
Saint Jude, pray for us!
Yours in Christ,
Father Gabriel Gillen, O.P.
Director, Rosary Shrine of Saint Jude
DOMINICAN FRIAR ON PILGRIMAGE WITH SCOUTS. PHOTO
COURTESY OF FR. LAWRENCE LEW, O.P.
ST. JUDE MESSENGER • VOLUME IV, ISSUE I
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