Parish Newsletter Sunday 9th August 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 9 Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B) 10.00am Mass (People of the parish) 12.00 noon Mass (Latin, 1962 Missal, 10th Sunday after Pentecost) (John Conlon) 6.00pm Mass (Catherine Jane Walkden RIP) th Monday 10 St Lawrence, deacon and martyr, feast 9.30am Mass (Lucy Smith RIP) th Tuesday 11 St Clare, virgin 9.30am Mass (Peggie Fairess RIP) followed by Divine Mercy Chaplet & Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament until 10.30am th Wednesday 12 St Jane Frances de Chantal, religious 9.30am Mass (Holy Souls) th Thursday 13 SS Pontian, pope and Hyppolitus, priest, martyrs 6.45pm Mass (Holy Souls) th Friday 14 St. Maximilian Kolbe, priest and martyr 9.30am Mass (Holy Souls) th Saturday 15 Our Lady 9.00am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 10.00am Mass (William Kiely RIP) th Sunday 16 The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (B) 10.00am Mass (Bernadette Kiely‟s intentions) 6.00pm Mass (People of the parish) CONFESSION TIMES Weekdays: before or after Mass upon request. Saturday: 10.30am; Sundays: ½ hour before Mass CHURCH CLEANING th st th th th 14 Sue; 21 Sue; 28 Tara; Sept 5 Bridie; 12 Sheila COLLECTIONS LAST SUNDAY Offertory: £237.80, (Gift Aid: £94.33, loose plate: £143.47) + £94 approx by standing order. Second collection: Parish Maintenance & Development Fund: £94.79. Thank you. Second collection today and next Sunday: Parish Maintenance & Development Fund. SECURITY It is suspected that the low offertory last week is due to the fact that someone looted the basket while we were busy with the baptism after Mass. A youth was seen to be behaving suspiciously in the church around the repository area, wanting rosaries but not having sufficient money. He claimed to be waiting for his mother. He may, of course, be totally innocent. Three youths also stole a number of rosaries on Monday afternoon. If you see someone looking suspicious, please either try to find out – sensitively (after all, they might be innocent) – what they want and let the priest know of suspicious activity. If you see anyone you do not recognise going into the sacristy, please alert the priest or sacristy team immediately. Thank you. HAVE WE FORGOTTEN WHAT IT IS TO BE CATHOLIC? (8) (From Fit for Mission? Church by Bishop Patrick O‟Donoghue) Those who use pornography forget they are Catholic.

9th AUGUST 2009 NINETEETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B

TODAY’S MASS TEXTS Entrance Antiphon Ps 73:20.19.22.23 Lord, be true to your covenant, forget not the life of your poor ones for ever. Rise up, O God, and defend your cause; do not ignore the shouts of your enemies. First Reading 1 Kings 19: 4-8 Strengthened by the food he walked until he reached the mountain of God. Responsorial Psalm: Ps 33 R: Taste and see that the Lord is good. I will bless the Lord at all times, his praise always on my lips; in the Lord my soul shall make its boast. The humble shall hear and be glad. (R) Glorify the Lord with me. Together let us praise his name. I sought the Lord and he answered me; from all my terrors he set me free. (R) Look towards him and be radiant; let your faces not be abashed. This poor man called; the Lord heard him and rescued him from all his distress. (R) The angel of the Lord is encamped around those who revere him, to rescue them. Taste and see that the Lord is good. He is happy who seeks refuge in him. (R) Second Reading: Ephesians 4:30-5:2 Follow Christ by loving as he loved you. Gospel Acclamation: John 14:23 Alleluia, alleluia! If anyone loves me he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we shall come to him. Alleluia! Gospel: John 6:41-51 I am the living bread which has come down from heaven. Preface of Sunday VII, Eucharistic Prayer 2 Communion Antiphon: Ps 147:12-14 Praise the Lord, Jerusalem; he feeds you with the finest wheat. PRAYERS FOR THE SICK Please pray for all our sick parishioners, particularly Rita Redman. Names of parishioners who need our prayers can be placed in the box in the church foyer. SPUC MEMBERSHIP DRIVE If anyone else would like to enquire about membership, please see Anne-Marie Homberger. ALTAR SERVERS SUMMERTIME THIS WEEK Please remember in your prayers the young people from our parish and other parishes who will be attending this activity at Woldingham School from Tuesday to Friday. We pray that they will enjoy themselves and grow in love for their Catholic faith.

Parish email: [email protected]; Parish website: www.stsimon.org.uk; Diocesan website: www.rcsouthwark.co.uk Fr John‟s blog: http://caritasveritas.blogspot.com/ Parish blog: http://st-simon-parish.blogspot.com/

FR. PETER’S DESKTOP Hello! I am very happy that I could come back to your parish to help Father John (He needs to rest – like everybody of course). Thanks for invitation too. I will try to be with you to work for your community. I hope it will be fruitful for both sides. A lady asked me a few days ago: “Do you think your English is better?” “I really do not know – I answered, - but I know that my Polish is better”. So, now I still study in Warsaw. I try to do a doctorate about Arabic philosophy and there are two years left. I am looking forward to be here, to serve and to learn. Pray for priests, especially during this year. Thank you! (in Polish): Chciałbym także pozdrowić tych, którzy nie rozumieją dobrze po angielsku, a potrzebują rozmowy z księdzem w ojczystym języku. Jestem do waszej dyspozycji i chętnie spotkam się z tutejszą wspólnotą polonijną. Mam nadzieję, że będzie to dla niektórych szansa do spowiedzi (być może z braku okazji odkładanej zbyt długo), lub do zwykłej rozmowy. Planuję być tutaj do 17 września, a więc jest sporo czasu by się spotkać. Ze swojej strony, oprócz kapłańskiej posługi, którą mogę zaoferować, ciekaw jetem po prostu jak wam się tu żyje i jak dajecie sobie radę z dala od domu. Niech będzie pochwalony Jezus Chrystus! Fr. Peter/ Ks. Piotr 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. CHOIR PRACTICE TUESDAYS 7.30PM Newcomers always welcome BIBLE STUDY THURSDAYS 7.30PM Studying the Acts of the Apostles. Newcomers always welcome. YEAR OF PRAYER FOR PRIESTS Come and pray the Rosary for our priests 20 minutes before the morning Masses, Monday to Friday. All are welcome to join. MONTHLY PRAYER REQUESTS FOR PRIESTS August/September list now available in the church entrance. It is most important that priests be encouraged by the knowledge that they are being supported by the prayers of the faithful. YEAR OF PRIESTHOOD A Daily Prayer for Priests Heavenly Father, grant that our priests be strengthened and healed by the power of the Eucharist they celebrate. May the Word they proclaim give them courage and wisdom. We pray that all those whom they seek to serve may see in them the love and care of Jesus our eternal High Priest. Who is Lord for ever and ever. Amen. Mary, Mother of the Church, look tenderly upon your sons, our priests. ABORTION AND CATHOLICS: TEACHING THE TRUTH AND HELPING THE WOUNDED TO FIND HEALING th 17 August at St Patrick‟s Church, Soho Square, London. Mass at 6.30pm followed by talks given by Janet Morana, Executive Director of Priests for Life and co-founder of the Silent no More Awareness Campaign, and Theresa Burke, founder of Rachel‟s Vineyard, co-author of „Hidden Grief, the Unspoken Pain of Abortion‟ with David C. Reardon (Acorn Books). The evening is organised by The Good Counsel Network, a Catholic pro-life group that provides advice, information and practical support to women facing a crisis pregnancy. Further information: 020 7723 1740, [email protected].

HOPE FOR A NEW BEGINNING A Beginning Experience weekend for the widowed, separated and divorced, Aylesford Priory25-27 September Beginning experience is a ministry to the widowed, separated and divorced led by a trained team of volunteers. Their work is carried out at special weekend gatherings which encourage participants to share their need and deal with the natural process of grief and loneliness. Contacts: Ruth 0208 8679 7157, Sandra 01293 783965 or Susan 01227 264961. Book early as places are limited. VISIT OF RELICS OF ST THÉRÈSE OF LISIEUX TH TH AYLESFORD 9 – 11 OCTOBER Leaflets containing further information about the visit are available in the church foyer. It promises to be a very successful event. Do ensure you are part of it. If you would like to go by coach or can offer a lift in your car please sign up on the notice board. ST

PARISH AUTUMN FAYRE 31 OCTOBER 2009 Organisation of the Autumn Fayre is well underway. Each week we will be requesting items that we would like donated. This week we would again like clean jam jars, (with our without lids, to be left, bagged, in the church entrance please.) and at a later date we will be requesting that they be filled with jams, pickles or chutneys. Thank you. PARISH PILGRIMAGE 2010 Although it was not possible to plan a parish pilgrimage overseas this year, it might be possible to do so next year. Some parishioners have mentioned the possibility of going to the famous Passion Play at Oberammergau in Bavaria, Germany. (See notice board.) This play is only staged every ten years. There are a number of tours possible between May and th st September but a tour from 24 – 31 September has been arranged with the Southwark Archdiocese in mind. Prices range from £975 to £1,375 for a 7-night package, with 5 nights at a mountain village near Lake Como in Italy and 2 nights in Oberammergau itself. (There is also a 3 day (2 night) tour from th th 15 – 17 September priced £650 - £990.) If you are likely to be interested in going to Oberammergau, please sign up on the notice board or let me know. I will look into other possible pilgrimages when I have a response to this enquiry. Fr. John FR JOHN BLOGGING AGAIN In response to requests from parishioners and many nonparishioners, Fr John has started a new blog called „Caritas in Veritate‟. You can read it at http://caritasveritas.blogspot.com/.

YOUNG CATHOLIC RETREAT AT DOUAI ABBEY, BERKSHIRE, 18-20 SEPTEMBER 2009 Young Catholic Adults is a group which helps introduce younger people to the Traditional Mass. This weekend retreat for 18.35 year olds will be led by Juventutem Ecclesiastical Assistant Fr. De Malleray. For further details see poster on notice board. Places are limited so please book early.

To catch up on previous newsletters visit http://www.stsimon.org.uk/Newsletters/