St Simon Stock Catholic Church

Brookfield Road, South Ashford, Kent TN23 4EU

25th JANUARY 2009
Tel: 01233 622399
Parish Priest: Fr John Boyle THIRD SUNDAY IN
ORDINARY TIME
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 10.00 AM MASS TEXTS

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Sunday 25 Entrance Antiphon: 2 Tim 1: 12; 4:8
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (B) I know whom I have believed. I am sure that he, the just
10.00am Mass of the Conversion of St Paul (George Gatt RIP) judge, will guard my pledge until the Day of Judgment.
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12.00 noon (Latin, 1962 Missal, Mass of 3 Sunday after First Reading: Acts 9:1-22
Epiphany) (Elizabeth Honywood RIP) Lord, what will you have me do?
4.00pm Mass in Polish
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 116:1-2.R Mk 16:15
6.00pm Mass (For the people of the parish)
Monday 26
th R: Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News
St Timothy and St Titus, bishops Praise the Lord, all you nations,
6.45pm Mass (Gay Gillet) acclaim him all you people. (R)
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Tuesday 27 Strong is his love for us;
St Angela Merici, virgin he is faithful for ever. (R)
9.00am Mass (Maria & Francesco Turano RIP) followed by
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 7:29-31
Divine Mercy Chaplet & Exposition of the Blessed
The world as we know it is passing away.
Sacrament until 10.00am.
Wednesday 28
th Gospel Acclamation: John 3:16
St Thomas Aquinas, priest and doctor of the Church Alleluia, alleluia! God loved the world so much that he gave
9.30am Mass (John Vella RIP) (St Simon’s School Year 5 his only Son; everyone who believes in him has eternal life.
attending) Alleluia!
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Thursday 29 Gospel: Mark 16:15-18
6.45pm Mass (Latin, 1962 Missal, St Francis de Sales, Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News.
Bishop, Confessor, Doctor) (Forgiveness) Preface of Apostles I, Eucharistic Prayer 1
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Friday 30 Communion Antiphon: Gal 2:20
6.45pm Mass (For Mary McGinty’s intentions) I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and sacrificed
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Saturday 31 himself for me.
St John Bosco, priest
9.00am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 6.00PM MASS TEXTS
10.00am Mass (For Guy Masterson’s intentions) Entrance Antiphon: Ps 95:1-6
5.30pm Holy Qurbana - Mass in the Syro Malabar Rite Sing a new song to the Lord! Sing to the Lord, all the earth.
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Sunday 1 February Truth and beauty surround him, he lives in holiness and
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B) glory.
10.00am Mass (David Bonnefin RIP)
6.00pm Mass (For the people of the parish) First Reading: Jonah 3:1-5.10
The people of Nineveh renounce their evil behaviour.
CONFESSIONS/CONSULTATIONS Responsorial Psalm: Ps24:4-9.
Saturday: 10.30am, Sunday 9.30am, 5.30pm. R: Lord, make me know your ways.
Weekdays: before or after Mass upon request. Lord, make me know your ways.
CHURCH CLEANING Lord, teach me your paths.
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30 Tara; February 6 Bridie; 13 Sheila; 20 Sue; 27 Sue Make me walk in you truth, and teach me:
for you are God my saviour. (R)
COLLECTIONS LAST SUNDAY
Offertory: £339.44, (Gift Aid: £174.06, loose plate: £165.38) + Remember your mercy, Lord,
£99 approx by standing order. To contribute by regular standing and the love you have shown from of old.
order please ask for a form. If you are a tax payer and are not In you love remember me,
already using the Gift Aid scheme, please ask for a Gift Aid form. because of you goodness, O Lord. (R)
Second collection: Parish Maintenance & Development Fund: The Lord is good and upright.
£126.57. Thank you. Second collection today and next Sunday: He shows the path to those who stray,
Parish Maintenance & Development Fund. he guides the humble in the right path;
he teaches his way to the poor.
PRAYERS FOR THE SICK
Sr Catharine goes into hospital tomorrow for some treatment. Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 7:29-31
Please pray for her and all our sick parishioners. If you know of The world as we know it is passing away.
anyone who needs our prayers at the present time, please place Gospel Acclamation: Mark 1:15
their names in the box in the Church foyer. Alleluia, alleluia! The kingdom of God is close at hand;
believe the Good News. Alleluia!
CRIB OFFERINGS
nd Gospel: Mark 1:14-20
The Crib will remain on display up to 2 February, the feast of
Repent, and believe the Good News.
the Presentation of the Lord (Candlemas). Your offerings will go
to the Good Counsel Network who help women to keep their Preface of Sunday I, Eucharistic Prayer 1
children rather than opting for abortion. See the notice board for Communion Antiphon: Ps33:6
the Good Counsel News and their appeal for funds. Total Look up at the Lord with gladness and smile; your face will
collected so far since Christmas Day: £134.31. never be ashamed.

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
Once he had encountered the Lord on the road to Damascus, and after meeting with the apostles to learn more
about the Christian faith, St Paul was transformed from a persecutor of Christians into Christianity’s greatest ever apostle.
What hardships was he not prepared to accept for the sake of ‘the Name’? Aware of his unworthiness, he is also aware of
being possessed of a power that is not his own but God’s. ‘We are subjected to every kind of hardship, but never
distressed; we see no way out but we never despair; we are pursued but never cut off; knocked down, but still have some
life in us; always we carry with us in our body the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus, too, may be visible in our body.
Indeed, while we are still alive, we are continually being handed over to death, for the sake of Jesus, so that the life of
Jesus, too, may be visible in our mortal flesh.’ (2 Cor. 4:7-12) Today we need, too, to pray that we may be possessed of
something of God’s power like St Paul.
One of St Paul’s most beautiful passages is his ‘Hymn to Love’. One can have the gifts of prophecy or faith that
moves mountains; give all one’s possessions to the poor or even give oneself up for martyrdom, but ‘if I am without love,
it will do me no good whatever.’ (1 Cor. 13:3) Many people elect to have this passage read at their weddings and St Paul
speaks of marriage with the greatest esteem when he compares the union of Christ and the Church to that of a husband
and wife. (cf. Eph. 5:21-33) Yet marriage is in decline. It was reported last week that, if current trends continue, in a year’s
time people living in matrimony will be a minority group. In 2007, just 51% of adults were registered as married compared
with 59% in 1998. Less than half of women aged 18 – 49 were registered as married in 2007 compared to ¾ in 1979.
The decline in marriage leaves society weakened and individuals vulnerable. A partner has no guarantee that the
‘other half’ is in it for life. Children do not have the security of knowing that their parents are together for life. The marriage
bond is the ‘glue’ that keeps families together and gives children security. When families break up, the poor suffer most.
The wealthy can sue one another for their respective assets. The poor have nowhere to turn and the parent-State must
pick up the tab – financially, emotionally, socially – and all too readily takes over the running of family life. School
breakfast clubs are just one sign of a home activity taken over by the State, wrongly in my opinion. I have heard a number
of women say they feel vulnerable because their partner is reluctant to commit to marriage. They want to not know where
they stand. Ultimately, they want to know if they are loved with the enduring, never-ending love proper to husbands/wives.
We know not all marriages are made in heaven. The Church is able to assist those whose marriages are in
difficulty or which have failed, or who are victims in other ways of the general difficulties that family life faces these days. I
wonder: are there any parishioners, married or not, who would like to come together to see what we can do for the
situation in this area? Fr John
REGULAR EVENTS VOCATIONS RETREATS
DIVINE MERCY PRAYER GROUP A retreat for men considering a vocation to the priesthood: at St.
after the 9.00am Mass on Tuesdays. Prayers of John’s Seminary, Wonersh, from next Friday evening until after
intercession for various needs and silent lunch on Sunday. For more information or to book a place,
adoration of the Blessed Sacrament till 10am. please contact the Vocations Director, Fr Stephen Langridge.
MUSIC PRACTICE TUESDAYS 7.30PM Tel: 020 8835 0211; email: info@southwarkvocations.com
Newcomers always welcome. VOCATIONS RETREAT FOR WOMEN
BIBLE STUDY THURSDAYS 7.30PM for women aged 18-30 considering the religious life from Friday
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Studying St Paul’s letters to the Corinthians and 13 to Sunday 15 February at St. Joseph’s Priory, Lymington.
Pope Benedict’s Wednesday audiences on St For more information, contact the Diocesan Vocations Office:
Paul. info@southwarkvocations.com
EVANGELIUM – CATHOLIC FAITH ENQUIRY
For all, Catholic or not, who would like to deepen their ALTAR SERVERS DAY
knowledge of the Catholic faith. Next meeting: 7.15pm this Can you help with welcoming, refreshments, supervision, etc. at
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Friday; Topic: The Paschal Mystery our altar servers afternoon on Sunday 15 Feb from 2.00pm until
Mass at 6.00pm? If so please let Fr John know. Thank you.
VISIT OF RUSSIAN ORTHODOX SISTERS
Next Saturday two Sisters of Mercy from the Monastery of St ASHFORD CATENIAN ASSOCIATION
Elizabeth the New Martyr in Minsk, Belarus, will visit the parish to The Ashford Catenian Association will be holding their monthly
raise funds for their convent and charitable work. They work with meeting tomorrow at the Sandyacres Sports & Social Club at
disabled people at a children’s and adults’ psychiatric asylum in 8.00pm. Anyone interested in joining or finding out more about
Minsk as well as running an estate where many homeless, the activities of the Association is invited to come along or
former prisoners, drug and alcohol addicts find shelter and work alternatively contact Phil Wall on 502040.
and a chance to start a new life. They are also constructing
READERS &
churches and their hospital and charitable work is growing. Sister
EXTRA-ORDINARY MINISTERS OF COMMUNION
Photinia and her co-sister will be present at the 10.00am Mass
next Saturday after which there will be a brief presentation Please pick up your rota for February and March.
about their projects and a coffee morning with the opportunity to POSSIBLE PARISH PILGRIMAGE TO KRAKOW, POLAND
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buy some of the products made at their convent. Why not come 19 – 23 OCTOBER
along and find out more about the Church in the East and how Krakow is where Pope John Paul II was Archbishop and there
we can help? See poster on notice board for more information. are many places to see connected with his life. There are also
ARE YOU IN THE 2% OR 98% the famous sights of Krakow (Wawel Castle, the Market Square),
the shrine to the Divine Mercy where Sister Faustina was a nun
Think of a number between 1 and ten. Multiply by 9. If the
and received her revelations, the salt mines, the national shrine
number is a 2 digit number, add the digits together. Subtract 5.
to Our Lady at Jasna Gora, Auschwitz... Four nights is really not
Determine which letter in the alphabet corresponds to the
enough! It would be helpful to have some idea of numbers of
number you ended up with (example: 1=a, 2=B, 3=c, etc.) Think
people who might be interested. Please sign up on the notice
of a country that starts with that letter. Remember the last letter.
board to express interest without obligation at this stage. I will
Think of the name of an animal that starts with that letter.
then be able to get a price together. At present this is only a
Remember the last letter of the animal. Think of a fruit that starts
possibility, not a definite event.
with that letter. See upside down text to find if you're in the 98%
or the 2%.

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