St Simon Stock Catholic Church

Brookfield Road, South Ashford, Kent TN23 4EU

19th APRIL 2009
Tel: 01233 622399
Parish Priest: Fr John Boyle SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER
DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY
Saint Simon of England RC Primary School,
Noakes Meadow, Ashford, TN23 2RB. Tel: 01233 623199 YEAR B
Head teacher: Mrs Elizabeth Willis

MASS TIMES AND INTENTIONS TODAY‟S MASS TEXTS

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Sunday 19 Entrance Antiphon: 1 Peter 2:2
Second Sunday of Easter (B) Like newborn children you should thirst for milk, on which
Divine Mercy Sunday your spirit can grow to strength, alleluia.
10.00am Mass (Irene Zolna RIP) First Reading: Acts 4:32-35
with baptism of Luke, Logan and Lewis. United, heart and soul.
2.30pm Divine Mercy Novena and devotions
4.00pm Mass of the Divine Mercy Responsorial Psalm: Ps 117
R: Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his love has
6.00pm Mass (People of the parish)
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Monday 20 to Friday 24
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NO MASS Let the sons of Israel say:
Saturday 25
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St Mark,evangelist, feast Let the sons of Aaron say:
9.00am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament ”His love has no end.”
10.00am Mass (Tony Shanny RIP) Let those who fear the Lord say:
5.40pm Holy Qurbana-Mass in the Syro Malabar Rite ”His love has no end.” (R)
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Sunday 26 The Lord’s right hand has triumphed;
Third Sunday of Easter (B) his right hand raised me up.
10.00am Mass (Mary Kelly RIP) I shall not die, I shall live
12.00noon Mass (Extraordinary form Latin, 1962 Missal) and recount his deeds.
NO POLISH MASS THIS WEEK I was punished, I was punished by the Lord,
6.00pm Mass (People of the parish) but not doomed to die. (R)
CONFESSION TIMES The stone which the builders rejected
Weekdays: before or after Mass upon request. has become the corner stone.
Saturday:10.30am; Sundays: ½ hour before Mass This is the work of the Lord,
A marvel in our eyes.
CHURCH CLEANING This day was made by the Lord;
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24 Sheila; May 1 Sue; 8 Sue; April 10 Tara; 17 Bridie we rejoice and are glad. (R)
COLLECTIONS LAST WEEK Second Reading: John 5:1-6
Good Friday: For the maintenance of the Holy Places Anyone who has been begotten by God has already overcome
connected with the Lord’s Passion and of Christian schooling in the world.
the area: £167.70. Thank you. Second collection today and next Gospel Acclamation: John 20-29
Sunday: Parish Maintenance & Development Fund. Alleluia, alleluia! Jesus said: “You believe because you can
EASTER OFFERINGS see me. Happy are those who have not seen and yet
Thank you for your kind and generous offerings at Easter, your believe.” Alleluia!
personal gift to your parish priest. The many expressions of Gospel: John 20:19-31
thanks and appreciation were most encouraging. Thanks for your Eight days later, Jesus came.
prayerful presence and support in the parish. Many have
During Eastertide we recite the Apostles Creed
commented on how beautiful the church looks and how prayerful
Preface of Easter 1, Eucharistic Prayer 1
they found the Holy Week and Easter liturgies. That is because
Communion Antiphon: cf. John 20-27
they are, themselves, prayerful people. Keep it up!
Jesus spoke to Thomas: Put your hand here, and see the
REGULAR EVENTS – COME ALONG! place of the nails. Doubt no longer, but believe. Alleluia.
DIVINE MERCY PRAYER GROUP
TODAY – FEAST OF DIVINE MERCY TODAY
after the 9.30am Mass on Tuesdays. Prayers of
2.30pm Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Sermon, Divine
intercession for various needs and silent
Mercy prayers (including chaplet) time for quiet prayer,
adoration of the Blessed Sacrament till 10.30am.
confessions (visiting priest available). Benediction. 4.00pm Mass
(Not this week.)
followed by refreshments.
MUSIC PRACTICE TUESDAYS 7.30PM
ARE YOU A POTENTIAL
Newcomers always welcome.
DEPUTY HEAD OR HEAD TEACHER?
BIBLE STUDY THURSDAYS 7.30PM Would you like to know more about leading in Catholic schools?
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Studying St Paul’s 2 letter to the Corinthians. See notice board for information about an information morning at
This week’s meeting at Teresa Davies’ house. Tel. 625799. th
Aylesford on 25 April, i.e. next Saturday.
EVANGELIUM – CATHOLIC FAITH ENQUIRY PRO-LIFE CHAIN 2009 – NEXT SATURDAY
For all, Catholic or not, who would like to deepen their Organised by the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children
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knowledge of the Catholic faith. Next meeting: Monday 27 (SPUC) next Saturday 11am to 1pm on the Hythe Road, near
April, 7.15 for 7.30pm. Topic: The Sacraments of Confession the North Knatchbull School. A peaceful silent kerbside vigil
and Anointing of the Sick 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: parish@stsimon.org.uk; 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
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of this feast on 2 April 2005. Today is the fourth anniversary of the election
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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 attend this special day at Aylesford. Those who attended the
Firstly: thanks to all our servers who turned up in celebration at Aylesford for the Year of the Eucharist in 2005 will
such numbers for the Holy Week and Easter remember what a wonderful occasion it was. There will be a joint
liturgies. Your presence made a deep impression coach for the two Ashford parishes. Please indicate interest by
and helped the liturgies to go well. signing on the notice board.
Secondly: Servers are welcome and even JESUS‟ PRESENCE IN THE EUCHARIST:
encouraged to offer themselves to serve at other REAL … OR JUST SYMBOLIC?
services apart from the Sunday Mass. For example, The most important belief that Catholics may find difficult to
during school holidays they could serve at the explain to non-Catholics (as well as to lapsed Catholics) is the
weekday Masses, or at evening Masses during Real Presence of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist.
term time. Their services would be particularly Come and listen to the international lay apologist Raymond de
welcome at funerals. th
Souza in our church hall at 7.30pm on Tuesday 12 May and
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ALTAR SERVERS RALLY, 4 MAY, AYLESFORD find out how it makes perfect sense to believe that Jesus wanted
This annual rally gives all altar servers in the Southwark diocese His Apostles to take him literally, not figuratively, when He
a wonderful opportunity to meet other servers, renew their consecrated bread and wine at the Last Supper. See poster on
Christian faith and make friends. All servers are very much notice board and take a handbill with you.
encouraged to attend and should collect a letter from the DAY TRIP TO WALSINGHAM – ENGLAND‟S NAZARETH
sacristy. Mass will be celebrated by Bishop Paul Hendricks, one rd
23 July. £20 for adults. £5 for youngsters. Sign up on the list on
of the Auxiliary Bishops of Southwark. He will enrol new servers the notice board as soon as possible so we have an idea of
into the Guild of St Stephen. numbers. Situated in Norfolk, Walsingham is England’s national
ALTAR SERVERS SUMMERTIME 2009 shrine to Our Lady with a history dating back to 1061.
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11 – 14 August, for servers aged 10 – 15, RADIO KENT
Woldingham School, Surrey, a fun and prayerful few The Sunday Religious Programme on Radio Kent is under threat
days, includes visit to Chessington World of due to lack of audience numbers. The disappearance of this
Adventures. Cost: £129. Booking forms and further programme, which is often a forum for Catholic input, would be a
information from Fr John. Great time guaranteed! great loss. It is broadcast from 6.00 to 8.00am each Sunday on
ALTAR SERVERS ROME TRIP 96.7FM, 104.2FM, and DAB. See also www.bbc.co.uk/kent.
There are still some places available on this PRAYERS FOR THE SICK
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excellent and popular trip. Dates: Tuesday 27 – Please pray for all our sick parishioners, particularly Shirley Kent.
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Thursday 29 October. Cost: £209 (covers flights, If you know of anyone who needs our prayers at the present time
bed & breakfast, insurance). Age range: 11-16. please place their names in the box in the church foyer. All our
Forms available from the sacristy/Fr John. sick parishioners, named and un-named, are remembered in our
SUMMER ACTIVITIES FOR YOUTH prayers. Perhaps you could particularly remember our sick
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Faith Summer Break, 17 – 20 August, for young Catholics priests, especially Father David Peck, parish priest at Wimbledon
aged 11 – 15. Woldingham School, Surrey. Faith talks, Common, once an assistant priest at St Teresa’s Ashford.
discussion, prayer, Mass, swimming & other sports, Chessington THE „REGINA CAELI‟
World of Adventures. Cost: £120. Brochures available from Fr (recited instead of the Angelus during Eastertide)
John. Great week guaranteed! O Queen of Heaven, rejoice. Alleluia.
AN AFTERNOON WITH MARY AT HARTLEY For he whom you did merit to bear. Alleluia.
An annual pilgrimage to the shrine of Our Lady of Hartley on Has risen as he said. Alleluia.
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Saturday 2 May from 2.00pm (refreshments available from Pray for us to God. Alleluia.
1.30pm) concluding with Mass at 5.30pm. At St Francis de Sales Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary. Alleluia.
Church, Church Road, Hartley, DA3 8DW. See notice board. For the Lord has risen indeed. Alleluia.
YEAR OF ST PAUL – AYLESFORD 27 JUNE
TH Let us pray. God our Father, you give joy to the world by the
“PROCLAIM THE GOOD NEWS” resurrection of your Son our Lord Jesus Christ. Through the
To celebrate the Year of St Paul as a diocese, Archbishop Kevin prayers of his mother, the Virgin Mary, bring us to the happiness
would like to encourage as many parishioners as possible to 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/