Parish Newsletter Sunday 29th March 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 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) th Monday 30 6.45pm Mass (Souls of deceased relatives of Ebenebe family) st Tuesday 31 9.30am Mass (Malachy Crean RIP) followed by Divine Mercy Chaplet & Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament until 10.30am. st Wednesday 1 April 9.30am Mass (Bridget Conlon RIP) nd Thursday 2 6.45pm Mass (Latin, 1962 Missal) (William Kiely RIP) rd Friday 3 First Friday 9.30am Mass (Holy Souls) (St. Simon‟s School end of term Mass) followed by Stations of the Cross 6.45pm Mass th Saturday 4 9.00am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 10.00am Mass (Sean Holt RIP) th Sunday 5 Palm Sunday of the Passion of Our Lord (B) 10.00am Mass (Tony Shanny RIP) commences in the Church Hall with blessing of palms and procession. 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. CHURCH CLEANING rd th th th st April 3 Sue; 10 Tara; 17 Bridie; 24 Sheila; May 1 Sue COLLECTIONS LAST SUNDAY Offertory: £359.22, (Gift Aid: £186.95, loose plate: £162.27) + £99 approx by standing order. To contribute by regular standing order please ask for a form. If you are a tax payer and are not already using the Gift Aid scheme, please ask for a Gift Aid form. Second collection: Parish Maintenance & Development Fund: £114.79. Second collection today: Parish Maintenance & Development Fund. Second collection next week: Flowers for Easter. Thank you. FLOWERS FOR EASTER The 2 collection next 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. nd

29th MARCH 2009 FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT YEAR B

TODAY’S MASS TEXTS Entrance Antiphon: Ps 42:1-2 Give me justice, O God, and defend my cause against the wicked; rescue me from deceitful and unjust men. You, O God, are my refuge. First Reading Jeremiah 31:31-34 I will make a new covenant and never call their sin to mind. Responsorial Psalm: Ps 50 R: A pure heart create for me, O God. Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness. In your compassion blot out my offence. O wash me more and more from my guilt and cleanse me from my sin. (R) A pure heart create for me, O God, put a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your presence, nor deprive me of your holy spirit. (R) Give me again the joy of your help; with a spirit of fervour sustain me, that I may teach transgressors your ways and sinners may return to you. (R) Second Reading: Hebrews 5:7-9 He learnt to obey and became the source of eternal salvation. Gospel Acclamation: John 12-26 Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God! If a man serves me, says the Lord, he must follow me, wherever I am, my servant will be there too. Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God! Gospel: John 12:20-30 If a grain of wheat falls on the ground and dies, it yields a rich harvest. During Lent we shall use the Apostles’ Creed (p.9 in The Simple Prayer Book) Preface of Lent 2, Eucharistic Prayer 1 Communion Antiphon: John 12:24-25 I tell you solemnly: Unless a grain of wheat falls on the ground and dies, it remains a single grain; but if it dies, it yields a rich harvest. PRAYERS FOR THE SICK Please pray for all our sick parishioners, particularly Joan Williams. 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. LENT RECONCILIATION SERVICE Our Lenten Reconciliation Service takes place on Tuesday of th Holy Week, 7 April, at 7pm. There will be a number of visiting priests (including Polish, Indian, and Nigerian) to assist with confessions so that everybody has an opportunity to go to confession. You are strongly encouraged to make use of this opportunity to prepare for the great feast of Easter and to fulfil your Easter duties.

SISTER CATHERINE Sister has written saying it‟s a long time since she has been in Ashford and that she cannot wait to get back. Recovery from her STATIONS OF THE CROSS IN LENT knee operation is a slow process, however. She writes: “The On Sunday evenings at 5.15pm and Friday morning after Mass. wonders of the knee are something to be respected and cared Why not make a final effort to participate in this devotion in Lent? for very carefully – especially when kneeling! So kneel prayerfully and respectfully – which I cannot do.” She assures us of her love and prayers. 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 You will notice today that all the images in the church – with the exception of the Stations of the Cross – are veiled. This is an ancient custom which has been observed in various forms throughout the centuries. Prior to the liturgical reforms which took effect in 1969, today was called Passion Sunday and marked the beginning of Passiontide. The time of Our Lord‟s rejection is approaching. The Gospel that used to be read on this day (and still is when Mass is celebrated according to the Extraordinary Form) ends with the words: “They took up stones therefore to cast at Him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple.” (Jn 8:59) The hiding of himself by Jesus is represented by the veiling of his images. In the papal chapel, the veiling of the statues was carried out as these words were read. Another reason given for the veiling is that Christ‟s divinity was hidden as he endured his suffering and death. The veiling was later extended to the images of any saints for it would not seem fitting for the servant to appear when the Master himself is hidden. The renowned liturgist Dom Prosper Gueranger, Abbot of Solesmes in France from 1831 to 1875, comments in his great work “The Liturgical Year”: “The presentiment of that awful hour leads the afflicted mother to veil the image of her Jesus: the Cross is hidden from the eyes of the faithful. The statues of the saints, too, are covered; for it is but just that, if the glory of the Master be eclipsed, the servant should not appear. The interpreters of the liturgy tell us that this ceremony of veiling the crucifix during Passiontide, expresses the humiliation to which our Saviour subjected Himself, of hiding Himself when the Jews threatened to stone Him, as is related in the Gospel of Passion Sunday. The Church begins this solemn rite with the Vespers of the Saturday before Passion Sunday. Thus it is that, in those years when the feast of our Lady's Annunciation falls in Passion-week, the statue of Mary, the Mother of God, remains veiled, even on that very day when the Archangel greets her as being full of grace, and blessed among women.” The crucifixes in the Church will remain veiled until after the liturgy on Good Friday afternoon. When I was a young boy, I remember the great impression that the unveiling of the other statues made on me when it took place during the singing of the Gloria on Holy Saturday night. This no longer takes place as they are now unveiled without ceremony before the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday afternoon. Some might say it‟s a shame to cover up the images, or the church looks a bit strange. This „strangeness‟ and „hiddennes‟ can help us to seek Christ in the interior of our hearts, taking Mary‟s hand as we accompany Him in prayer through the rejection, suffering and death he endured for our sakes. Do try to attend as many as possible of the ceremonies of the Easter Tridduum. Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil form the most solemn celebrations of the Church‟s year. 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? EVANGELIUM – CATHOLIC FAITH ENQUIRY For all, Catholic or not, who would like to deepen their th knowledge of the Catholic faith. Next meeting: Friday 17 April. Topic: The Eucharist. DIVINE MERCY HOUSE PRAYER GROUP You are welcome to join the group at the next meeting on th Wednesday 8 April at 23 Cleves Way, Ashford. Arrivals from 10.15 am; finish approx. 11.30. Prayer and social. Contact Kathleen 625428. EASTER DUTIES A reminder that the among the Church‟s commandments – which we are all bound to keep – are the following: to go to Confession at least once a year; to receive the Blessed Sacrament (Holy Communion) at least once a year and that at Easter or thereabouts. The time for fulfilling our Easter Duties runs from Ash Wednesday to Trinity Sunday. There are plenty of opportunities to go to Confession, whether here at St Simon‟s, at our neighbouring parish of St Teresa‟s, Aylesford, etc. as well as at our parish reconciliation service on Tuesday week. THANKS FROM THE APOSTOLIC NUNCIO His Excellency Archbishop Faustino Sainz Muñoz has written to thank the parish for its contribution of £220.02 to the Pontifical Council “Cor Unum”. He writes: “These voluntary offerings raised by the parishioners are a genuine gesture of the generosity of your people towards those in need.” His letter is on the church notice board. READERS & EXTRA-ORDINARY MINISTERS OF COMMUNION Please pick up your rota for April and May which includes Holy Week.

AUSTRALIAN EVANGELIST TO VISIT ST SIMON’S th This is advance notice of a visit by Raymond de Souza on 12 May. Raymond travels the world giving lively and engaging talks about the Catholic faith, able to inspire old and young to a renewed engagement with their faith. Put this date in your diary as we prepare for his visit. You can find out more about Raymond de Souza at his website: http://www.raymonddesouza.com/. For a preview, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXseS_CbK6o on the web. 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. RD

DAY TRIP TO WALSINGHAM – 23 JULY A parishioner has proposed a parish day trip on the shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham in Norfolk. Details are on the noticeboard. The price is per seat and is calculated on a break-even basis assuming a full coach. Please sign up on the 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 probably be a joint coach for the two Ashford parishes, but if numbers merit we could organise a separate one. Please indicate interest by signing on the board. This will also be the Deanery Pilgrimage for the year.

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