St. Jude Parish

Founded 1948 on South Bend’s south side — first Mass 5 December 1948 — church dedicated 10 June 1951

Founding: After the Second World War, returning veterans and their families crowded the south side and overfilled St. Matthew’s. Monsignor William Voors of St. Matthew gained Bishop Leo Pursley’s permission in June 1948 to prepare a new parish. The first Mass was offered at the Southmore Community Building on 5 December 1948 for 110 registered families. Father John J. Szot, a former Army chaplain, was the first pastor. The parish was first assigned the name St. James; the parish history records the belief that the bishop recommended the change to St. Jude so the parish would not be confused with the Episcopal Cathedral of St. James in South Bend.

Building: The first church’s cornerstone was blessed on 29 October 1950; the first Mass in it was offered on 22 April 1951 and the dedication followed on 10 June 1951. The school opened in 1956. Ground was broken on 20 November 1960 for the addition that is the present church. Father Szot led the parish until his death on 16 March 1970.

Mergers: On 28 January 2007 St. Mary of the Assumption Parish was merged into St. Jude. In 2008 Bishop D’Arcy joined St. Jude with Sacred Heart of Jesus, Lakeville, as St. Catherine of Siena Parish, effective 1 November 2008; in 2010 the two went back to their separate names. A 3.9-million-dollar renovation and expansion of the church and school followed, blessed by Bishop Rhoades on 19 May 2013.

Sources:

1. St. Jude Parish, “History of St. Jude” and “Full History,” stjudeparish.net — the 1948 preparation and first Mass, the name change, the 1950–51 building dates, the 2007 merger and the 2010 reversal.
2. Today’s Catholic, “Bishop Rhoades blesses St. Jude renovations, construction,” 21 May 2013 — the 1948 founding from St. Matthew’s overflow and the 2013 blessing.