About Our Patron Saints
Saint Simon
The name of Saint Simon usually appears eleventh in the list of the
Apostles. Born at Cana in Galilee – the site of the Lord’s miracle at
a wedding feast – St. Simon was surnamed “the Zealot,” probably due to
his affiliation with a Jewish reform group. Following the Lord’s Resurrection,
he preached the Gospel and initiated the life of the Church in Persia
(modern day Iran) and Asia Minor (Turkey). He was martyred sometime in
the mid-first century, and is often depicted with the instrument of his
martyrdom – a saw. St. Simon’s relics are now housed at the Vatican along
with those of St. Jude. St. Simon is especially called upon when we face
difficulty and contempt for our religious beliefs or the practice of
our religion.
Saint Jude
Saint Jude, also called “Thaddeus,” was the Apostle who asked the Lord
at the Passover Supper the night before His Death why He had manifested
Himself only to His disciples and not to the whole world (John 14:22).
Saint Jude is also the Apostle who authored the epistle contained in
the New Testament, encouraging the early Church in the face of adversity.
St. Jude preached the Gospel along with St. Simon in Persia. St. Jude
was renowned for his effective preaching and refutation of the enemies
of the Church, in casting out demons, and in converting the Zoroastrian
king. St. Jude was martyred by being run-through with a spear, and his
relics are housed at the Vatican. St. Jude is known around the world
as the patron of causes despaired of… when everything seems hopeless,
his prayers are often sought.
Ss. Simon & Jude Cathedral celebrates Mass each Tuesday evening at 6:30 p.m. followed by devotions and Novena prayers asking St. Jude’s intercession for impossible cases.