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Men carefully position the statue of St. Jude on the main altar of St. Dominic Church, home to the Shrine of St. Jude Thaddeus, as pilgrims prayed at the altar rail Oct. 26 after a pilgrimage that began at Church of the Epiphany. (Photo by Christina Gray/Catholic San Francisco)
Nov. 1, 2019
Christina Gray
Thousands of pilgrims, many wearing the green color of St. Jude’s cloak, walked together through the streets of San Francisco carrying statues and other symbols of devotion to the patron saint of desperate cases and lost causes during the 16th annual St. Jude Pilgrimage Oct. 26.
The pilgrimage, which started with a morning Mass at Church of the Epiphany in San Francisco ended almost eight miles later at St. Dominic Church, home of the Shrine of St. Jude Thaddeus, which sponsored the event.
An apostolate of the Dominican Friars of the Western Dominican Province, the shrine was founded in 1935 to bring hope to San Franciscans during the Great Depression.
Throughout the walk, the exuberant crowd shouted “Viva San Judas!” (St. Jude lives!). Pilgrims pray to St. Jude for his intercession in all manner of difficulty or in thanksgiving for prayers answered.
The sidewalk in front of both churches was a colorfully festive scene. Music played as families gathered around vendors grilling meats or selling fruit and other Hispanic foods and treats. Devotional items such as rosaries, St. Jude statues, prayer books and t-shirts were displayed on every corner.
Dominican Father Vincent Kelber, director of the Shrine of St. Jude Thaddeus and prior of the St. Dominic Priory, told Catholic San Francisco about the Hispanic Catholic community’s particular devotion to the saint.
“As the patron of impossible causes, St. Jude has been well suited to the peoples of Latin America who for so long have experienced upheaval of revolution, financial instability and migration of peoples,” Father Kelber said. “St. Jude is for us then, both a heavenly intercessor for the needs of this world, but also a beacon of hope that we too can find life eternal in Christ our Lord.”
St. Jude Thaddeus, according to Catholic Online, was one of the twelve Apostles and a relative of Jesus Christ. It is believed he became known as the patron saint of seemingly lost causes because of a New Testament letter he wrote stressing the importance of faithful perseverance in harsh circumstances.
Two devotional floats, one carrying a statue of the Blessed Mother surrounded by pink and red roses, the other, a large statue of St. Jude, were carried the entire distance by Dominican friars.
After the statue entered the church to wild applause and song, it was placed on the main altar where pilgrims gathered expectantly for their turn to touch the saint or kneel before him in prayer.
One barefoot woman traveled down the main aisle on her knees for her chance to approach St. Jude before the Mass celebrated by retired Bishop William J. Justice.
A devotion to St. Jude is seen as a “concrete path to the Lord,” Father Kelber said.
“St. Jude is an accessible and loving patron who has compassion on the devotee in his need,” he said, “but is also still the Apostle who proclaims the risen Christ to those who seek his aid.”