Parish Newsletter 19th April 2009

St Simon Stock Catholic Church Brookfield Road, South Ashford, Kent TN23 4EU Tel: 01233 622399

Parish Priest: Fr John Boyle Saint Simon of England RC Primary School, Noakes Meadow, Ashford, TN23 2RB. Tel: 01233 623199 Head teacher: Mrs Elizabeth Willis

MASS TIMES AND INTENTIONS th Sunday 19 Second Sunday of Easter (B) Divine Mercy Sunday 10.00am Mass (Irene Zolna RIP) with baptism of Luke, Logan and Lewis. 2.30pm Divine Mercy Novena and devotions 4.00pm Mass of the Divine Mercy 6.00pm Mass (People of the parish) th th Monday 20 to Friday 24 NO MASS th Saturday 25 St Mark,evangelist, feast 9.00am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 10.00am Mass (Tony Shanny RIP) 5.40pm Holy Qurbana-Mass in the Syro Malabar Rite th Sunday 26 Third Sunday of Easter (B) 10.00am Mass (Mary Kelly RIP) 12.00noon Mass (Extraordinary form Latin, 1962 Missal) NO POLISH MASS THIS WEEK 6.00pm Mass (People of the parish) CONFESSION TIMES Weekdays: before or after Mass upon request. Saturday:10.30am; Sundays: ½ hour before Mass th

24 Sheila; May 1

CHURCH CLEANING th th th Sue; 8 Sue; April 10 Tara; 17 Bridie

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COLLECTIONS LAST WEEK Good Friday: For the maintenance of the Holy Places connected with the Lord’s Passion and of Christian schooling in the area: £167.70. Thank you. Second collection today and next Sunday: Parish Maintenance & Development Fund. EASTER OFFERINGS Thank you for your kind and generous offerings at Easter, your personal gift to your parish priest. The many expressions of thanks and appreciation were most encouraging. Thanks for your prayerful presence and support in the parish. Many have commented on how beautiful the church looks and how prayerful they found the Holy Week and Easter liturgies. That is because they are, themselves, prayerful people. Keep it up! 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.) MUSIC 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 th knowledge of the Catholic faith. Next meeting: Monday 27 April, 7.15 for 7.30pm. Topic: The Sacraments of Confession and Anointing of the Sick

19th APRIL 2009 SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY YEAR B

TODAY‟S MASS TEXTS Entrance Antiphon: 1 Peter 2:2 Like newborn children you should thirst for milk, on which your spirit can grow to strength, alleluia. First Reading: Acts 4:32-35 United, heart and soul. Responsorial Psalm: Ps 117 R: Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his love has no end. Let the sons of Israel say: ”His love has no end.” Let the sons of Aaron say: ”His love has no end.” Let those who fear the Lord say: ”His love has no end.” (R) The Lord’s right hand has triumphed; his right hand raised me up. I shall not die, I shall live and recount his deeds. I was punished, I was punished by the Lord, but not doomed to die. (R) The stone which the builders rejected has become the corner stone. This is the work of the Lord, A marvel in our eyes. This day was made by the Lord; we rejoice and are glad. (R) Second Reading: John 5:1-6 Anyone who has been begotten by God has already overcome the world. Gospel Acclamation: John 20-29 Alleluia, alleluia! Jesus said: “You believe because you can see me. Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe.” Alleluia! Gospel: John 20:19-31 Eight days later, Jesus came. During Eastertide we recite the Apostles Creed Preface of Easter 1, Eucharistic Prayer 1 Communion Antiphon: cf. John 20-27 Jesus spoke to Thomas: Put your hand here, and see the place of the nails. Doubt no longer, but believe. Alleluia. TODAY – FEAST OF DIVINE MERCY TODAY 2.30pm Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Sermon, Divine Mercy prayers (including chaplet) time for quiet prayer, confessions (visiting priest available). Benediction. 4.00pm Mass followed by refreshments. ARE YOU A POTENTIAL DEPUTY HEAD OR HEAD TEACHER? Would you like to know more about leading in Catholic schools? See notice board for information about an information morning at th Aylesford on 25 April, i.e. next Saturday. PRO-LIFE CHAIN 2009 – NEXT SATURDAY Organised by the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) next Saturday 11am to 1pm on the Hythe Road, near the North Knatchbull School. A peaceful silent kerbside vigil where the pro-life message is witnessed by passing motorists. Please join the chain and show your support for a culture of life in our country. Further information available on notice board.

Email: [email protected]; Web: www.stsimon.org.uk; Parish blog: http://st-simon-parish.blogspot.com/; diocesan website: www.rcsouthwark.co.uk

FROM FATHER JOHN‟S DESKTOP Today is the feast of the Divine Mercy. Pope John Paul II died on the eve nd of this feast on 2 April 2005. Today is the fourth anniversary of the election nd of Pope Benedict who celebrated is 82 birthday last Thursday. Let us support our good and holy Father with our ceaseless prayers. Today’s Gospel recounts the institution of the great Sacrament of Mercy, Confession, when Jesus, on the day of his Resurrection, gave his apostles the power to grant – or to deny – forgiveness for sins. Only those who make frequent use of this sacrament can really appreciate God’s mercy. Not to go to confession is to judge – or perhaps fail to judge – oneself. In confession, we humbly acknowledge that Jesus is our merciful Saviour in whom we must place all our trust. St Thomas the Apostle experienced the gentle, merciful reproach of Jesus for not believing the other apostles when they told him that Jesus had appeared to them. Thomas’ repentance was expressed by a most beautiful act of faith: ‘My Lord and my God.’ God shows his power and strength most of all by treating us with mercy, by forgiving our sins, by overcoming evil through forgiveness. We cannot overcome the harm caused to us or to others in any better way than forgiving ‘those who trespass against us.’ And we truly acknowledge Jesus as our ‘Lord and God’ when we make use of the sacrament of forgiveness as he desires. We also find Jesus as ‘Lord and God’ in the Holy Eucharist. When we genuflect before the Tabernacle, or when we look at Jesus in the Host and Chalice at the Consecration, with St Thomas we too can say: ‘My Lord and my God.’ All are welcome to the special celebrations in honour of the Divine Mercy this afternoon starting at 2.30pm. May you all continue to enjoy a blessed Eastertide. Fr John ATTENTION ALL ALTAR SERVERS AND THEIR PARENTS Firstly: thanks to all our servers who turned up in such numbers for the Holy Week and Easter liturgies. Your presence made a deep impression and helped the liturgies to go well. Secondly: Servers are welcome and even encouraged to offer themselves to serve at other services apart from the Sunday Mass. For example, during school holidays they could serve at the weekday Masses, or at evening Masses during term time. Their services would be particularly welcome at funerals. th

ALTAR SERVERS RALLY, 4 MAY, AYLESFORD This annual rally gives all altar servers in the Southwark diocese a wonderful opportunity to meet other servers, renew their Christian faith and make friends. All servers are very much encouraged to attend and should collect a letter from the sacristy. Mass will be celebrated by Bishop Paul Hendricks, one of the Auxiliary Bishops of Southwark. He will enrol new servers into the Guild of St Stephen. ALTAR SERVERS SUMMERTIME 2009 th th 11 – 14 August, for servers aged 10 – 15, Woldingham School, Surrey, a fun and prayerful few days, includes visit to Chessington World of Adventures. Cost: £129. Booking forms and further information from Fr John. Great time guaranteed! ALTAR SERVERS ROME TRIP There are still some places available on this th excellent and popular trip. Dates: Tuesday 27 – th Thursday 29 October. Cost: £209 (covers flights, bed & breakfast, insurance). Age range: 11-16. Forms available from the sacristy/Fr John. 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! AN AFTERNOON WITH MARY AT HARTLEY An annual pilgrimage to the shrine of Our Lady of Hartley on nd Saturday 2 May from 2.00pm (refreshments available from 1.30pm) concluding with Mass at 5.30pm. At St Francis de Sales Church, Church Road, Hartley, DA3 8DW. See notice board. TH

YEAR OF ST PAUL – AYLESFORD 27 JUNE “PROCLAIM THE GOOD NEWS” To celebrate the Year of St Paul as a diocese, Archbishop Kevin would like to encourage as many parishioners as possible to

attend this special day at Aylesford. Those who attended the celebration at Aylesford for the Year of the Eucharist in 2005 will remember what a wonderful occasion it was. There will be a joint coach for the two Ashford parishes. Please indicate interest by signing on the notice board. 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 th Souza in our church 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. 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. RADIO KENT The Sunday Religious Programme on Radio Kent is under threat due to lack of audience numbers. The disappearance of this programme, which is often a forum for Catholic input, would be a great loss. It is broadcast from 6.00 to 8.00am each Sunday on 96.7FM, 104.2FM, and DAB. See also www.bbc.co.uk/kent. PRAYERS FOR THE SICK Please pray for all our sick parishioners, particularly Shirley Kent. If you know of anyone who needs our prayers at the present time please place their names in the box in the church foyer. All our sick parishioners, named and un-named, are remembered in our prayers. Perhaps you could particularly remember our sick priests, especially Father David Peck, parish priest at Wimbledon Common, once an assistant priest at St Teresa’s Ashford. THE „REGINA CAELI‟ (recited instead of the Angelus during Eastertide) O Queen of Heaven, rejoice. Alleluia. For he whom you did merit to bear. Alleluia. Has risen as he said. Alleluia. Pray for us to God. Alleluia. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary. Alleluia. For the Lord has risen indeed. Alleluia. Let us pray. God our Father, you give joy to the world by the resurrection of your Son our Lord Jesus Christ. Through the prayers of his mother, the Virgin Mary, bring us to the happiness of eternal life. Through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

To catch up on previous newsletters visit http://www.stsimon.org.uk/Newsletters/. Parish blog: http://st-simon-parish.blogspot.com/