Deacon Jude was born in Buffalo, NY and there attended Canisius College where he earned a B.A. in Philosophy and Classics in 1994.  He began his long teaching career thereafter, teaching in Catholic and private schools for 14 years before moving into church ministry and collegiate teaching.  Along the way Jude earned an M.A. in Humanities from the University of Dallas in 2003 and an M.A. in Pastoral Studies from Loyola University of Chicago in 2011.  He served in various parish and church ministries in Kansas City and Chicago.  Jude has served as an adjunct instructor in philosophy at Metropolitan Community College, DeVry University, and Avila University since 2013.  

Jude has been married to his wife Cristen since 1998 and they have two sons, Paden (19) and Simon (13).  They live in the Northland and enjoy traveling, cooking, gardening, reading, and British mystery shows.  Service to the poor and the marginalized are at the heart of all that they do and are.