St Simon Stock Catholic Church 3rd MAY 2009

Brookfield Road, South Ashford, Kent TN23 4EU

FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
Tel: 01233 622399
Parish Priest: Fr John Boyle YEAR B
WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR
Saint Simon of England RC Primary School,
Noakes Meadow, Ashford, TN23 2RB. Tel: 01233 623199 VOCATIONS TO THE PRIESTHOOD
Head teacher: Mrs Elizabeth Willis AND RELIGIOUS LIFE

MASS TIMES AND INTENTIONS TODAY‟S MASS TEXTS

rd
Sunday 3 Entrance Antiphon: Ps 32:5-6
Fourth Sunday of Easter (B) The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord; by the word of
World Day of Prayer for Vocations to the Priesthood and the Lord the heavens were made, alleluia.
Religious Life First Reading Acts 4:8-12
10.00am Mass (Gabriel & Nial McAvinue RIP) followed by This is the only name by which we can be saved.
Crowning of Our Lady and Procession.
6.00pm Mass (People of the parish) Responsorial Psalm: Ps 117
Monday 4
th R: The stone which the builders rejected has become the
corner stone.
The English Martyrs, feast
9.00am Mass (Kathleen MacAuliffe RIP) Give thanks to the Lord for he is good,
th th for his love has no end.
Tuesday 5 to Friday 8
NO MASS It is better to take refuge in the Lord
th than to trust in men:
Saturday 9
9.00am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament it is better to take refuge in the Lord
10.00am Mass (Rita Redman) than to trust in princes. (R)
th
Sunday 10 I will thank you for you have given answer
Fifth Sunday of Easter (B) and you are my saviour.
10.00am Mass (Titus and Lola‟s intentions) The stone which the builders rejected
12.00noon Mass (Latin, 1962 missal) (Mary Morgan RIP) has become the corner stone.
6.00pm Mass (People of the parish) This is the work of the Lord,
a marvel in our eyes. (R)
CONFESSION TIMES Blessed in the name of the Lord
Weekdays: before or after Mass upon request. is he who comes.
Saturday: 10.30am; Sundays: ½ hour before Mass We bless you form the house of the Lord;
CHURCH CLEANING I will thank you for you have given answer
th th nd th th
8 Sue; 15 Tara; 22 Bridie; 29 Sheila; June 5 Sue and you are my saviour.
Give thanks to the Lord for he is good;
COLLECTIONS LAST SUNDAY for his love has no end. (R)
Offertory: £434.03, (Gift Aid: £197.05, loose plate: £237.98) +
£99 approx by standing order. To contribute by regular standing Second Reading: 1 John 3:1-2
order please ask for a form. If you are a tax payer and are not We shall see God as he really is.
already using the Gift Aid scheme, please ask for a Gift Aid form. Gospel Acclamation: John 10:14
Second collection: Parish Maintenance & Development Fund: Alleluia, alleluia! I am the good shepherd, says the Lord; I
£112.68. Thank you. Second collection today: Ecclesiastical know my sheep and my own know me. Alleluia!
Education. Next Sunday: Parish Maintenance & Development Gospel: John 10:11-18
Fund. The good shepherd is one who lays down his life for his sheep.
DAY OF PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS During Eastertide we recite the Apostles’ Creed
Today is a day of prayer for vocations to the priesthood and Preface of Easter III, Eucharistic Prayer 3
religious life. In his message for this special day, Pope Benedict
Communion Antiphon:
says: “The vocation to the priesthood and to the consecrated life
The Good Shepherd is risen! He who laid down his life for
constitutes a special gift of God which becomes part of the great
his sheep, who died for his flock, he is risen, alleluia.
plan of love and salvation that God has for every man and
woman and for the whole of humanity”. This gift is not just for the THE „REGINA CAELI‟
person who receives the vocation but is for the whole community As the Angelus reminds us of the Annunciation and Nativity of
of believers. Today we welcome Kurt Barragan, a student for
Our Lord, so the Regina Caeli reminds us of the Resurrection.
the priesthood at St John‟s Seminary, Wonersh, who will say a The Regina Caeli is said/sung instead of the Angelus during
few words towards the end of Mass about vocation. Please join Eastertide. We are singing it after Mass on Sundays. The
in praying for this very important intention: for all our students English translation is found on p. 41 of The Simple Prayer Book.
and that more young men and women will offer themselves for
service in the priesthood and in the religious life as PRAYERS FOR THE SICK
priests/brothers and sisters. Please pray for all our sick parishioners, particularly Helen
Wright, Shirley Kent, Rita Redman and Catherine Boccarro.
PARISH VOCATIONS TEAM
Names of parishioners who need our prayers can be placed in
The Southwark Vocations Office is encouraging the the box in the church foyer. All our sick parishioners, named and
establishment of Parish Vocations Teams throughout the un-named, are remembered in our prayers.
diocese. A Vocations Team is a group of people committed to
ensuring that we develop a „culture of vocation‟ in our parishes. MAY PROCESSION TODAY
It does this through simple ideas and initiatives to help us After the 10am Mass today we will have our annual ceremony of
recognise, celebrate, encourage and pray for vocations. If you crowning the statue of Our Lady with a procession round the
would like to help us set up a Parish Vocations Team please sign grounds of the church.
on the sheet on the notice board or speak to Fr. John.

Email: parish@stsimon.org.uk; Web: www.stsimon.org.uk;

Parish blog: http://st-simon-parish.blogspot.com/; diocesan website: www.rcsouthwark.co.uk
 FROM FATHER JOHN‟S DESKTOP
“To live in the midst of the world with no desire for its pleasure...; To be a member of every family yet belonging to
none...; To share all sufferings; to penetrate all secrets; to heal all wounds...; To daily go from men to God to offer Him
their petitions...; To return from God to men to offer them His hope...; To have a heart of fire for charity and a heart of
bronze for chastity...; To bless and be blest forever. O God, what a life, and it is yours, O Priest of Jesus Christ!” (Thou Art
a Priest Forever by J.B. Henri Lacordaire, OP)
Could this life be yours, dear young male parishioner? Could you, young man or woman, be called to be
consecrated to God in the religious life? If you think you might be, respond … and be blest. Fr John.
REGULAR EVENTS – COME ALONG!
DIVINE MERCY PRAYER GROUP
after the 9.30am Mass on Tuesdays. Prayers of
intercession for various needs and silent adoration
of the Blessed Sacrament till 10.30am. (Not this
week)
CHOIR PRACTICE TUESDAYS 7.30PM
Newcomers always welcome.
BIBLE STUDY THURSDAYS 7.30PM
nd
Studying St Paul‟s 2 letter to the Corinthians. This week‟s
meeting at Teresa Davies‟ house. Tel. 625799.
EVANGELIUM – CATHOLIC FAITH ENQUIRY
For all, Catholic or not, who would like to deepen their
knowledge of the Catholic faith. Next meeting: Friday 7.15 for
7.30pm. Topic: The Sacraments of Confession and Anointing
of the Sick
DIVINE MERCY HOUSE PRAYER GROUP
All are welcome at the next monthly meeting this Wednesday at
16 Gravelly Field, Ashford. 10.00am to 11.30. Prayer and social.
Contact Teresa Davies Tel: 625799.
JESUS‟ PRESENCE IN THE EUCHARIST:
REAL … OR JUST SYMBOLIC?
The most important belief that Catholics may
find difficult to explain to non-Catholics (as well
as to lapsed Catholics) is the Real Presence of
Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist.
Come and listen to the international lay
apologist Raymond de Souza in our church
th
hall at 7.30pm on Tuesday 12 May and find
out how it makes perfect sense to believe that
Jesus wanted His Apostles to take him literally,
not figuratively, when He consecrated bread and wine at the Last
Supper. See poster on notice board and take a handbill with you.
TH
FEAST OF ST SIMON 16 MAY
th
On Saturday 16 May the 10.00am Mass will be a Sung Latin
Mass in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite. The St
Bede‟s Schola from Clapham Park parish will lead the singing.
Mass booklets will be provided to enable all to follow.
CHURCHES TOGETHER IN ASHFORD AGM
Churches Together in Ashford holds its annual general meeting
th
in our church hall on Sunday 17 May from 4 to 6pm. It would
be nice to have a number of people from St Simon‟s. It is always
good to take the opportunity of getting to know our fellow
Christians and find out what they are doing. If you can help
provide tea/coffee etc. after the meeting, please let Fr John or
Thereza Baker know.
DAY WITH MARY 23 MAY
RD
All parishioners and their families are warmly encouraged to take
part in the forthcoming „Day with Mary‟ here at St Simon‟s from
rd
10.00am to 5.30pm on Saturday 23 May. The day consists of
a programme of prayers, devotions, Mass and sermons in
honour of Our Lady. Bring a packed lunch. If you cannot come
for all the day, come for part of it. See poster for details and take
a handbill from the church foyer.
MASS TO CELEBRATE MARRIAGE
All are invited to attend a special Mass to be celebrated by
Archbishop Kevin McDonald at Aylesford Priory on Saturday
th
30 May at 3.00pm. Couples and their families are especially
welcome to celebrate and demonstrate the value of marriage
To catch up on previous newsletters visit http://www.stsimon.org.uk/Newsletters/. Parish blog: http://st-simon-parish.blogspot.com/
and family life. Why not arrive early and take a picnic lunch?
TH
YEAR OF ST PAUL – AYLESFORD 27 JUNE
“PROCLAIM THE GOOD NEWS”
A coach has now been arranged for a joint trip with St Teresa‟s.
It will leave our church car park at 10.15am and will depart from
Aylesford for the return journey at 4.30pm; cost £10 each.
Please sign up on the notice board if you would like a place on
the coach.
DAY TRIP TO WALSINGHAM – ENGLAND‟S NAZARETH
rd
23 July. £20 for adults, £5 for youngsters. Sign up on the list
on the notice board as soon as possible so we have an idea of
numbers. Situated in Norfolk, Walsingham is England‟s national
shrine to Our Lady with a history dating back to 1061.
ALTAR SERVERS SUMMER ACTIVITIES
Full details about the previously advertised summer activities for
altar servers are available from the sacristy. Please book as
soon as you can for a guaranteed great time.
SUMMER ACTIVITIES FOR YOUTH
th th
Faith Summer Break, 17 – 20 August, for young Catholics
aged 11 – 15. Woldingham School, Surrey. Faith talks,
discussion, prayer, Mass, swimming & other sports, Chessington
World of Adventures. Cost: £120. Brochures available from Fr
John. Great week guaranteed!
And for young Catholics aged 16+:
rd th
the Faith Summer Session: 3 – 7 August, also at
Woldingham School, Surrey. This year‟s theme: Thy Kingdom
Come: The Future of Religion and the Future of the World. Talks,
discussions, prayer, social time, access to sports facilities
(swimming pool, tennis courts, football pitches). The Summer
Session is an excellent opportunity for young Catholics to make
friends and to learn more about their faith through inspiring talks
and plenty of opportunity to question and discuss.
ST. SIMON‟S SCHOOL – VACANCY FOR KS2 TEACHER
To cover maternity leave. See notice board for full details.
th
Closing date: 14 May 2009.
CELEBRATE LOVE SEMINAR
Be the best you can be … together. Celebrate your love with this
two day seminar for couples in loving marriages. Presented in a
Catholic context, the seminar is a private experience for couples
of any faith. www.celebratelove.co.uk. The Hermitage, West
th th
Malling, 6 and 7 June. Pick up a leaflet in the church entrance.
EXTERNAL CHURCH LIGHTING
New light units have been installed around the outside of the
church set to come on automatically when it gets dark and to go
off at 10pm. They give much better lighting and consume only a
quarter of the energy of the previous lights.
A GOOD FILM TO WATCH
I was very pleasantly surprised at the inclusion of the film
„Fireproof‟ amongst those available for viewing on a recent flight.
The blurb from the DVD jacket says: “At work, inside burning
buildings, Capt. Caleb Holt lives by the old firefighter‟s adage:
Never leave your partner behind. At home, in the cooling embers
of his marriage, he lives by his own rules. His job is to rescue
others. Now Caleb Holt is ready to face his toughest job ever …
rescuing his wife‟s heart.” It‟s a touching story with a great twist
at the end. I have obtained the DVD if anyone would like to
borrow it. You can order it through Amazon (please consider
ordering via the parish blog or website.) Further info from
fireproofthemovie.com and fireproofmymarriage.com.