Parish Newsletter Sunday 14th June 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 14 Corpus et Sanguis Christi (B) Solemnity of the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ 10.00am Mass (Irene Zolna RIP) followed by Blessed Sacrament procession 12.00noon Mass (Latin, 1962 Missal) 6.00pm Mass (People of the parish) th Monday 15 9.30am Mass (Holy Souls) th Tuesday 16 St Richard of Chichester, bishop 9.30am Mass (Deceased member of Kelleher family RIP) followed by Divine Mercy Chaplet offered for Vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life & Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament until 10.30am th Wednesday 17 9.30am Mass (Deceased relatives and friends of Dan Treacy) th Thursday 18 St. Ephrem the Syrian, Deacon 6.45pm Mass (Latin, 1962 Missal) (Helen Wright RIP) th Friday 19 The Sacred Heart of Jesus, solemnity Day of prayer for the sanctification of priests 6.45pm Mass (Guy Masterson – for good news) th Saturday 20 The Immaculate Heart of Mary 9.00am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 10.00am Mass (Deceased members of Hook & Ellender families RIP) st Sunday 21 Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B) 10.00am Mass (John Kelly RIP) 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

19 Tara; 26

nd

CHURCH CLEANING rd th th Bridie; July 3 Sheila; June 10 Sue; 17 Sue

COLLECTIONS LAST SUNDAY Offertory: £522.47, (Gift Aid: £150.10, loose plate: £372.37) + £94 approx by standing order. Second collection: Catholic Trust for England and Wales: £225.47. Thank you. Second collection today and next Sunday: Parish Maintenance & Development Fund. BLESSED SACRAMENT PROCESSION TODAY SUNDAY Today is the feast of Corpus et Sanguis Christi (The Body and Blood of Christ) when we celebrate Our Lord‟s Real Presence in the Blessed Sacrament. There will be a Blessed Sacrament Procession after the 10am Mass in which the First Communion children will take part, followed by a reception in the hall for all parishioners. PRAYERS FOR THE SICK Please pray for all our sick parishioners, particularly, Rita Redman, Catherine Lowe. Names of parishioners who need our prayers can be placed in the box in the church foyer. All our sick parishioners, named and un-named, are remembered in our prayers.

14th JUNE 2009 CORPUS ET SANGUIS CHRISTI YEAR B

TODAY‟S MASS TEXTS Entrance Antiphon: Ps 80:17 The Lord fed his people with the finest wheat and honey: their hunger was satisfied. First Reading: Exodus 24:3-8 This is the blood of the Covenant that the Lord has made with you. Responsorial Psalm: Ps 115:12-13.15-18 R: The cup of salvation I will raise; I will call on the Lord‟s name. How can I repay the Lord for his goodness to me? The cup of salvation I will raise; I will call on the Lord‟s name. (R) O precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of his faithful. Your servant, Lord, your servant am I; you have loosened my bonds. (R) A thanksgiving sacrifice I make: I will call on the Lord‟s name. My vows to the Lord I will fulfil before all his people. (R) Second Reading: Hebrews 9:11-15 The blood of Christ can purify our inner self from dead actions. Sequence Sing forth, O Zion Gospel Acclamation: John 6:51-52 Alleluia, alleluia! I am the living bread which has come down from heaven, says the Lord. Anyone who eats this bread will live for ever. Alleluia! Gospel: Mark 14:12-16:22-26 This is my body. This is my blood. Preface of the Holy Eucharist II, Eucharistic Prayer 2 Communion Antiphon: John 6:57 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood will live in me and I in him, says the Lord. YEAR OF PRIESTHOOD Pope Benedict has announced a „Year of Priesthood‟ commencing this Friday, Solemnity of the Sacred Heart and the annual World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests. The Holy Father said that this special year is intended “to encourage priests in their striving for spiritual perfection on which, above all, the effectiveness of their ministry depends.” Cardinal Hummes, the Prefect for the Congregation for the Clergy, in a letter to all the over 400,000 priests around the world, has written that this year “must be, in a very special way, a year of prayer by priests, with priests and for priests, a year for the renewal of the spirituality of the presbyterate and of each priest.” th th The year coincides with the 150 anniversary on 4 August 1859 of the death of St Jean Marie Vianney, the saintly Curé (parish priest) of Ars in France who brought thousands of people back to the practice of the faith through his priestly life and ministry. St Jean Marie is the patron saint of parish priests, but Pope Benedict is expected to name him patron saint of all priests during the course of the year. If you have any ideas for initiatives on prayer for priests, please suggest them. For example, you might like to offer a daily prayer at home with your families for your parish priest and for all

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

SAM‟S FINAL DESKTOP Well well well, here we are! My last Sunday in the Parish, how time has flown by! I suppose there is only one thing I really want to say this week and that is Thank You. Thank you for making me feel so very welcome in the Parish; I have very much enjoyed my time spent with you! You are a very generous and supportive people! And as today is the feast of Corpus Christi you have reminded me that as Catholics and indeed as Christians, we are called to be generous with our very selves just as Christ was through the shedding of his precious blood. And as I walk my little journey towards Priesthood you will be perpetually remembered in my thoughts and prayers. All I ask of you is that today you say one prayer before the blessed sacrament asking Christ for more young men to join the Priesthood, so that we will forever have the Blessed Eucharist amongst us. Thank you again, and if you can, say a prayer for me. Samuel. the priests of the diocese using the prayer calendars that are made available in the church entrance. Remember particularly any priests who might be facing some difficulty at this time. In his pastoral letter for today, Archbishop Kevin McDonald writes: „Without the priesthood, there can be no Eucharist and so this (year) is an opportunity to thank God for our priests who lead us in worship and who give their lives for their people. We should also see this as an invitation to do all we can to encourage vocations to the priesthood… I invite all who are eligible for priestly training to really give it serious thought and consideration. There can be no better life than one that is centred on the celebration of Mass and consists entirely of service of God and of our fellow men and women. A priest is a bearer of life – eternal life. He has received a great gift and his life is a priceless gift to his people.‟ th Do try to come along to the evening Mass on 19 June. Servers: if you can, please come along and serve. 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. This week offered for vocations to the priesthood and religious life. CHOIR PRACTICE TUESDAYS 7.30PM Newcomers always welcome. BIBLE STUDY THURSDAYS 7.30PM Studying the Acts of the Apostles. Newcomers always welcome. „PEREGRINATIO PRO CHRISTO‟ Thanks are due to those who provided accommodation for the Legion of Mary volunteers who spent the week visiting houses in the parish and to those who cooked and prepared the wonderful lunches. The volunteers said they are rarely treated so well, normally being left in a church hall to fend for themselves. So, a big „thank-you‟ to all who helped in any way. We hope to be recruiting shortly for new members to form a Legion „praesidium‟ in the parish. See Rufina Ebenebe for more information. L‟ARCHE Thanks also to those who welcomed and provided supper for the members of the L‟Arche community – made of of people with and without learning disabilities – who made their annual stopover on the way to Canterbury last Wednesday/Thursday. Your generosity was very much appreciated. We had a very nice Mass with and for the community on Thursday morning. For more information about L‟Arche, visit www.larchelambeth. org.uk. Some of those who came last week appear on the video that can be found on L‟Arche‟s „Who are we?‟ page. There is also information about how to get involved, whether you are young or not so young. L‟Arche: a very worthwhile project. PARISH GENERAL MEETING THIS FRIDAY 7.30PM Everyone is invited to a General Meeting of parishioners in our church hall on Friday at 7.30pm. During the meeting there will be a review of matters discussed during the „Vision Process‟ meetings two years ago and discussion of the mission of our parish. All, young or old, are encouraged to attend. If you have suggestions for agenda items, please let Fr John or Thereza Baker know. Thank you.

SPUC STREET STAND ASHFORD TOWN CENTRE Next Saturday, go to the High Street between 10am and noon to support SPUC and sign their petition against secret abortions in schools. A petition form is also on the notice board. TH

YEAR OF ST PAUL – AYLESFORD 27 JUNE “PROCLAIM THE GOOD NEWS” As announced last week, due to lack of numbers signing up, there is no longer a coach going from Ashford so those attending should make their own way. Perhaps those going by car could let Fr John or Thereza Baker know how many passengers they could take. 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. rd th Faith Summer Session: 3 – 7 August., for young Catholics aged 16+. Both at Woldingham School, Surrey. Full details and applications forms available from Fr John, the sacristy or parish office. THE FRIARS, AYLESFORD, SUMMER FAYRE NEXT SUNDAY, 11AM – 4.30PM, MASS 5PM Come and join The Friars for a family day of fun at their Summer Fayre. There‟s a great Noah‟s Ark of animals for children to pet and some lovely vintage cars to keep the adults entertained, plus games, craft stalls and so much more. Entry is just £2.50 per adult, children free. Further details on notice board and at www.thefriars.org.uk. FUTURE PARISH EVENTS – DATES FOR YOUR DIARY th Parish barbecue after 10.00am Mass 5 July st Autumn Fayre 31 October FROM THE SEQUENCE OF TODAY‟S MASS “Christ willed what he himself had done / Should be renewed while time should run, / In memory of his parting hour: / Thus, tutored in his school divine, / We consecrate the bread and wine; / And lo – a Host of saving power. “The good, the guilty share therein, / With sure increase of grace or sin, / The ghostly life, or ghostly death: / Death to the guilty; to the good / Immortal life. See how one food / Man‟s joy or woe accomplisheth. “Behold the bread of angels, sent / For pilgrims in their banishment, / The bread for God‟s true children meant. “Come then, good shepherd, bread divine, / Still show to us thy mercy sign; / Oh, feed us still, still keep us thine; / So may we see they glories shine / In fields of immortality.”

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