Parish Newsletter Sunday 22nd March 2009

St Simon Stock Catholic Church

22nd MARCH 2009

Brookfield Road, South Ashford, Kent TN23 4EU Tel: 01233 622399

FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT

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 nd Sunday 22 Fourth Sunday of Lent (B) Laetare Sunday (Mothering Sunday) 10.00am Mass (Mary McGinty) 12.00 noon Mass (Extraordinary form Latin, 1962 Missal) (Mary Morgan) 4.00pm Mass in Polish 5.15pm Stations of the Cross 6.00pm Mass (For the people of the parish) rd Monday 23 6.45pm Mass (Holy Souls) th Tuesday 24 9.30am Mass (Betty Gogarty RIP) followed by Divine Mercy Chaplet & Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament until 10.30am. th Wednesday 25 The Annunciation of Our Lord, Solemnity 9.30am Mass (Jack Donohoe) th Thursday 26 NO MASS th Friday 27 9.30am Mass (Janet Dorey RIP) followed by Stations of the Cross th Saturday 28 9.00am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 10.00am Mass (Tony Shanny RIP) 5.30pm Holy Qurbana - Mass in the Syro Malabar Rite th Sunday 29 Fifth Sunday of Lent (B) 10.00am Mass (Emily Rumjan RIP) 12.00 noon Mass (Extraordinary form Latin, 1962 Missal) (Edmundo Lista RIP) 5.15pm Stations of the Cross 6.00pm Mass (For the people of the parish) CONFESSIONS/CONSULTATIONS Saturday: 10.30am, Sunday 9.30am, 5.30pm. Weekdays: before or after Mass upon request. STATIONS OF THE CROSS IN LENT Sundays at 5.15pm and after the Friday morning Mass. Why not make an effort to participate in this devotion in Lent? **NEW** STATIONS OF THE CROSS BOOKS **NEW** Two very attractive editions of the Stations of the Cross, one by the Venerable John Henry Cardinal Newman and the other by Father Dominic Allain (a priest of our diocese) are on sale in the repository price £2.50. Excellent aids to your Lenten observance. CHURCH CLEANING th rd th th th 27 Sue; April 3 Sue; 10 Tara; 17 Bridie; 24 Sheila COLLECTIONS LAST SUNDAY Offertory: £369.16, (Gift Aid: £154.00, loose plate: £215.16) + £99 approx by standing order. Second collection today and next Sunday: Parish Maintenance & Development Fund: £105.85. Thank you. FLOWERS FOR EASTER nd The 2 collection on Palm Sunday will be for the floral decoration of the church this Easter. Your generous contributions together with the work of our florists always ensure our church looks lovely at Easter. Thank you.

LAETARE SUNDAY MOTHERING SUNDAY YEAR B

TODAY’S MASS TEXTS Entrance Antiphon: cf. Isaiah 66:10-11 Rejoice, Jerusalem! Be glad for her, you who love her; rejoice with her, you who mourned for her, you who will find contentment at her consoling breasts. First Reading 2 Chronicles 36:1416.19-23 The wrath and mercy of God are revealed in the exile and in the release of his people. Responsorial Psalm: Ps 136 R: O let my tongue cleave to my mouth if I remember you not! By the rivers of Babylon there we sat and wept, remembering Zion; on the poplars that grew there we hung up our harps. (R) For it was there that they asked us, our captors, for songs, our oppressors, for joy. ”Sing to us,” they said, ”one of Zion‟s songs. (R) O how could we sing the song of the Lord on alien soil? If I forget you, Jerusalem, let my right hand wither! (R)

HYMN INTROIT FOR 10.00AM earth, rejoice, MASS Praise God, and raise Rejoice, Jerusalem! come, a joyful And voice, All those whoSing lovepsalms her glorious and face. Rejoice, distressed andname, mournful glorify his souls, Give joyful praises all And be consoled by her embrace. the same. Jerusalem: with what great joy Proclaim to God, I heard them “Your say, “Let us go deeds arethere!” And now at last e take our stand great, Within her gates make our Yourtoenemies areprayer. soon dismayed.” Jerusalem: aAll cityearth builtreveres and To be a placeworships of unity; you, The tribes goAdores, up, the and tribes of God, sings To praise God‟s eternally. yourname praises, too. Jerusalem: within your walls all the Come, witness The thrones of justice serve God‟s Lord has done, will; He is the awesome The ancient thrones of David‟s house Holy One; Stand and unite God‟s people He turned the seastill. into dry land, Jerusalem: pray her peace: Theyforpassed through “May all who itlove you find success; at his command. Peace be to all within you walls, And in your towers quietness.” To God, the Triune One, we raise Jerusalem: for comrades‟ Eternal songssake of joyful My prayers for you will never cease; praise. Because God‟s house in standing O Father, Son, and here, Paraclete, I prayer forever you peace. Wefor praise your name in word and deed. All glory to the Father, Son, And to the Holy Spirit be; As from the first it was, is now, And will be for eternity. © 1986 Christopher L Webber By permission.

O let my tongue cleave to my mouth if I remember you not, if I prize not Jerusalem above all my joys! (R) Second Reading: Ephesians 2:4-10 You who were dead through your sins have been saved through grace. Gospel Acclamation: John 3:16 Glory and praise to you, O Christ! God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son: everyone who believes in him has eternal life. Glory and praise to you. O Christ! Gospel: John 3:14-21 God sent his Son so that through him the world might be saved. Preface of Lent 1, Eucharistic Prayer 3 Communion Antiphon: Ps 121:3-4 To Jerusalem, that binds them together in unity, the tribes of the Lord go up to give him praise.

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 On my visits to families of the children and young people preparing for First Holy Communion and Confirmation, I learn a lot about the challenges, joys and difficulties of family life. One also learns about different cultures. Yesterday one of our Cameroonian parishioners gave a completely different impression of the Pope‟s visit to his country to that given by the British media which seem to be obsessed with condoms. I was told about the great welcome the Pope has received in Africa. In both Cameroons and Angola, the Pope packed stadiums for his Masses and the streets were filled with excitement as the Pope drove through and people made their way to the Masses. (See the parish blog for reports.) Our parishioners also told me about the harmony that exists between the various religious groups in their countries. (A Moslem lady was staying with the family.) Here is how the great imam of Yaoundé, Sheik Ibrahim Moussa, welcomed the Pope to the Cameroons: "In the Koran, the prophet Mohammed recommends to welcome the foreigners, because very often they come with peace. Therefore, for us, the coming of the Pope is a blessing." Sheik Moussa appealed to faithful Muslims to "respect the religion of others and to unite to welcome this great man." The local press reported the sheikh as saying: "We consider the Pope as a great imam… We pray that his stay goes well and that he returns to his home in peace." He said: "We have a good opinion of him, above all we live peacefully with the Catholic faithful, in fact, we pray to one God. Thus, Muslims are as happy as they are to receive the Pope here in our country." Surely there can be hope for peace among men. 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. MUSIC PRACTICE TUESDAYS 7.30PM Newcomers always welcome. BIBLE STUDY THURSDAYS 7.30PM Studying St Paul‟s letters to the Corinthians. Why not consider joining us for Lent? No meeting this week. EVANGELIUM – CATHOLIC FAITH ENQUIRY For all, Catholic or not, who would like to deepen their knowledge of the Catholic faith. Next meeting: this Friday Topic: Baptism and Confirmation. DIVINE MERCY HOUSE PRAYER GROUP th Wednesday 8 April, 23 Cleves Way. 10.00 to 11.30am. Prayer and social. All welcome. Contact Kathleen 625428. LEGION OF MARY PEREGRINATIO PRO CHRISTO (PPC) Some volunteers from the Legion of Mary have offered to carry th th out a PPC project in the parish in the week 6 to 13 June. PPC volunteers, in a spirit of prayer and sacrifice, spend a week in a parish and aim to visit all the houses in the area and present the faith to everyone. They generally work a full day in three sessions: morning, afternoon and evening. All that the parish has to do is to provide accommodation. A financial contribution is payable to the host. If hosts in the parish cannot be found then cheap accommodation will need to be arranged. As the time for the PPC approaches, we can keep this project in our prayers. Could you offer bed and breakfast to one or more of the volunteers? If so please let Fr John or Thereza Baker know. MONTHLY PRAYER REQUESTS FOR PRIESTS April and May lists available from the table in the foyer. APF BOXES There are still a small number of boxes that have not been returned for counting. Please return them by next Sunday as Eileen has to submit her return by the end of the month. Thanks ANOTHER RAP VIDEO Following last week‟s mention of a rap video about the Passion of Our Lord, a young parishioner has written: “Some time ago my friend‟s girl friend had an abortion. I sent him a song from you tube. Maybe you would like to listen to it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_UpcSz5DTg.” THE IRISH POST From next week for a trial period copies of the Irish Post will be on sale in the church. If they go we‟ll put in a regular order. PLAIN WALLS OR PICTURES? Some years ago when I put pictures of saints in the church, some parishioners welcomed them; others thought they detracted from the simplicity of the church. Since redecoration, I have not put the pictures back as the church looked quite nice with just the Stations of the Cross on the walls, but some think it

looks too plain. If you have a view, let me know. Fr John. VISITORS’ COMMENTS Parishioners will no doubt be pleased to know that visitors regularly comment on the appearance and prayerful atmosphere of our church. A funeral director recently remarked on what a lovely church we have and the effort parishioners must make to ensure it is clean and well kept. Visitors on their way to Rome last Sunday said how lovely our church is and took photos. Thanks to everyone who takes pride in our parish church. LEGION OF MARY EAST KENT CURIA ACIES NEXT SUNDAY The Annual Acies Ceremony for the Legion of Mary East Kent Curia is to take place, this year, at Virgin Mother of Good Counsel Catholic Church, Hythe, CT21 5LS next Sunday at 3.00 pm. Anyone interested in the Legion of Mary; past, present or future is more than welcome to join us. THE GOOD COUNSEL NETWORK NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER & FASTING FOR LIFE th On Tuesday 24 March, the Vigil of the Annunciation, please pray and fast for the end of abortion and euthanasia. Your prayer and fasting is urgently needed. See notice board. ASSISTED SUICIDE This matter has received more media attention recently. The former health secretary Patricia Hewitt MP is pressing for a change in the law so that it would no longer be against the law to take a relative or friend abroad to assist them in ending their lives. She has also stated publicly that she wishes the whole matter to be debated and there will, no doubt, be further attempts to liberalise the law in the future. Ms Hewitt‟s amendment is due to be debated in Parliament tomorrow and Tuesday. „Right to Life‟ has asked that as many as possible telephone their MPs on 0207 219 3000 to ask them to vote against any amendment that would legalise euthanasia or assisted suicide. Please do so. ROSARY CRUSADE FOR THE UNBORN Can you commit to saying the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary on the feast of the Annunciation (this Wednesday) and then every Saturday until Christmas Day to intercede for the lives of unborn babies throughout the world who have no protection under the law? Details available in the church foyer. PRAYERS FOR THE SICK Please pray for all our sick parishioners. 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. NOEL KILROE RIP Mr Kilroe, a former parishioner of South Ashford but lately of th Brecon Rise (Quantock Drive) died on 13 March. His funeral will take place at St Teresa‟s, Ashford, at 12 noon on Tuesday. May he rest in peace.

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