St. Jude

Welcome and Parish Identity

St. Jude Church and St. Philip the Apostle in Ashford together form 'The Catholic Community of Ashford and Willington,' a single yoked parish sharing one pastor and staff. The community's mission statement, posted on the parish homepage, reads: 'We, the people of God of St. Philip The Apostle and Saint Jude's Church, are called to witness and proclaim God's life among us through a community of prayer, praise and thanksgiving. As sisters and brothers in the Lord, we share the responsibility to use our God-given gifts of time, talent, and treasure toward building His Kingdom.' The community is challenged, as disciples of Jesus Christ, to bear witness to God's love, trust, forgiveness, and mercy through worship, prayer, service, and evangelization.

Parish History and the Yoking of 2008

St. Jude Roman Catholic Church Corporation has existed as a legal parish entity since the mid-1940s, with IRS records showing a March 1946 ruling date. For many years it operated as a small, standalone rural parish in the quiet hilltown of Willington. From roughly 1992 until February 2008 it was shepherded by the Rev. Thomas Sennik. In 2008, responding to a diocesan-wide priest shortage, Bishop Michael Cote reassigned Father Sennik to the larger St. Maurice parish in Bolton and directed that St. Jude be 'yoked' with St. Philip the Apostle in nearby Ashford, with St. Philip's pastor, Rev. Christopher Zmuda, overseeing both parishes. That arrangement continues today.

• March 1946: IRS ruling date for St. Jude Roman Catholic Church Corporation
• c. 1992–2008: Rev. Thomas Sennik serves as pastor of St. Jude
• February 2008: Bishop Michael Cote reassigns Father Sennik to St. Maurice, Bolton
• 2008: St. Jude is yoked with St. Philip the Apostle, Ashford
• Rev. Christopher Zmuda named pastor of both parishes
• Today: Father Michael Giannitelli serves as current pastor

Clergy and Staff

The yoked community of St. Philip / St. Jude is led by Father Michael Giannitelli, pastor, who can be reached in emergencies on his cell phone (860-334-5306). The parish office is staffed by Ann Phillips (Secretary), Patricia LaBonte (Bookkeeper), and Paula Vincent (Bulletin Editor). Office hours are Monday through Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., at the St. Philip the Apostle rectory in Ashford.

• Father Michael Giannitelli — Pastor
• Ann Phillips — Parish Secretary
• Patricia LaBonte — Bookkeeper
• Paula Vincent — Bulletin Editor
• Raymond Potter — Director of Religious Education
• Julie Saegaert — Women's Bible Study
• Parish Office: 64 Pompey Hollow Road, Ashford, CT 06278

Religious Education and Sacraments

Faith formation for the yoked parish is coordinated through St. Philip the Apostle and directed by Raymond Potter. The CCD program runs Sunday mornings from 9:50 to 10:50 a.m. for grades 1–7, while Confirmation preparation is a two-year program for grades 8–9 that meets every other Sunday. Sacramental preparation includes Baptismal Preparation and Marriage Preparation, both arranged through the parish office. The Anointing of the Sick is offered for anyone suffering serious or chronic illness, before surgery, or in emergencies — with Father Michael reachable on his cell phone 24/7 for urgent calls. Holy Communion is brought weekly to parishioners who are sick or homebound.

• Director of Religious Education: Raymond Potter
• CCD Grades 1–7: Sundays 9:50–10:50 a.m.
• Confirmation Grades 8–9: every other Sunday 9:50–10:50 a.m., two-year program
• Baptismal Preparation — contact parish office
• Marriage Preparation — contact parish office
• Anointing of the Sick — by appointment or in emergency (860-334-5306)
• Homebound: weekly Holy Communion visits
• Hospital visits on request

Ministries and Groups

Beyond the sacraments, the yoked parish supports a small but active set of lay ministries. The Women's Bible Study, coordinated by Julie Saegaert, gathers women of the parish for ongoing Scripture study. Lay faithful assist with Baptismal and Marriage Preparation, and the parish coordinates hospitality, liturgical, and outreach ministries for both churches from the Ashford office.

• Women's Bible Study (Julie Saegaert)
• Baptismal Preparation team
• Marriage Preparation team
• Religious Education catechists and aides
• Liturgy and worship ministries (coordinated across both churches)

Locations and Contact

The yoked parish operates from two church buildings in the Quiet Corner of northeastern Connecticut. The parish office and mailing address is at St. Philip the Apostle, 64 Pompey Hollow Road, Ashford, CT 06278. St. Jude Church — the Willington church this profile focuses on — sits at 25 Old Farms Road in West Willington, with its own mailing address of P.O. Box 240, W. Willington, CT 06279. The two churches are only a few miles apart.

• St. Philip the Apostle: 64 Pompey Hollow Road, Ashford, CT 06278 (parish office)
• St. Jude: 25 Old Farms Road, P.O. Box 240, W. Willington, CT 06279
• Parish phone: 860-429-2860
• Parish email: [email protected]
• Office hours: Mon–Thu 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
• Emergency line (Father Michael): 860-334-5306