St Simon Stock Catholic Church

Brookfield Road, South Ashford, Kent TN23 4EU

1st MARCH 2009
Tel: 01233 622399
Parish Priest: Fr John Boyle FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT
YEAR B
Saint Simon of England RC Primary School,
Noakes Meadow, Ashford, TN23 2RB. Tel: 01233 623199
Head teacher: Mrs Elizabeth Willis

MASS TIMES AND INTENTIONS TODAY’S MASS TEXTS

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Sunday 1 March Entrance Antiphon: Ps 90:15-16
First Sunday of Lent (B) When he calls to me, I will answer; I will rescue him and give
10.00am Mass (In thanksgiving – Jean Claude Bonnefin) him honour. Long life and contentment will be his.
5.15pm Stations of the Cross First Reading: Genesis 9:8-15
6.00pm Mass (For the people of the parish) God’s covenant with Noah after he had saved him from the
nd
Monday 2 waters of the flood.
4.45pm Reception of the body of late Margaret Penny
6.45pm Mass (William Kiely RIP) Responsorial Psalm: Ps 24
Tuesday 3
rd R: Your ways, Lord, are faithfulness and love
for those who keep your covenant.
10.30am Requiem Mass for Margaret Penny RIP
th Lord, make me know your ways.
Wednesday 4
9.30am Mass (Tony Shanny RIP) Lord teach me your paths,.
th Make me walk in your truth, and teach me:
Thursday 5
4.45pm Reception of body of late Kathleen Sorrell RIP for you are God my saviour. (R)
6.45pm Mass (Latin, 1962 Missal) (Intentions of Miss E. A. Remember your mercy, Lord,
Peverel) and the love you have shown from of old.
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Friday 6 In your love remember me,
First Friday because of your goodness, O Lord. (R)
Lent Fast Day The Lord is good and upright.
Women’s World Day of Prayer He shows the path to those who stray,
10.00am Requiem Mass for Kathleen Sorrell RIP he guides the humble in the right path;
6.45pm Mass (Souls of the deceased relatives of the he teaches his way to the poor. (R)
Ebenebe family)
Saturday 7
th Second Reading: 1 Peter 3:18-22
(SS Perpetua and Felicity, martyrs) That water is a type of the baptism which saves you now.
9.00am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament Gospel Acclamation: John 1:12.14
10.00am Mass (Maria Panza RIP) Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory! Man does not
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Sunday 8 live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the
Second Sunday of Lent (B) mouth of God. Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory!
10.00am Mass (For the people of the parish) Gospel: Mark 1:12-15
12.00 noon Mass (Extraordinary form Latin, 1962 Missal) (Tony Jesus was tempted by Satan, and the angels looked after him.
Simmons RIP)
During Lent we shall use the Apostles’ Creed
5.15pm Stations of the Cross
(p.9 in The Simple Prayer Book)
6.00pm Mass (Recovery to health of Jacek Shay)
Preface of the First Sunday of Lent, Eucharistic Prayer 3
CONFESSIONS/CONSULTATIONS Communion Antiphon: Matthew 4:4
Saturday: 10.30am, Sunday 9.30am, 5.30pm. Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that
Weekdays: before or after Mass upon request. comes from the mouth of God.
CHURCH CLEANING
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6 Tara; 13 Bridie; 20 Sheila; 27 Sue; April 3 Sue FUNERALS THIS WEEK
COLLECTIONS LAST SUNDAY Margaret Penny: reception of body Monday 4.45pm;
Offertory: £423.24, (Gift Aid: £150.36, loose plate: £272.88) + Requiem Mass Tuesday 10.30am.
£99 approx by standing order. To contribute by regular standing Kathleen Sorrell: reception of body Thursday 4.45pm, Requiem
order please ask for a form. If you are a tax payer and are not Mass Friday 10.00am.
already using the Gift Aid scheme, please ask for a Gift Aid form.
Second collection: Parish Maintenance & Development Fund:
PRAYERS FOR THE SICK
£204.23. Thank you. Second collection today: Parish
Please pray for all our sick parishioners. If you know of anyone
Maintenance & Development Fund. Second collection next
who needs our prayers at the present time please place their
Sunday: Pontifical Council ‘Cor Unum’.
names in the box in the Church foyer. This ‘prayers for the sick’
STATIONS OF THE CROSS IN LENT box is intended for those who are suffering from an acute
On Sunday evenings at 5.15pm and after the Friday morning condition or who need our prayers as they undergo some
Mass. Do make an effort to participate in this devotion in Lent. particular form of treatment, or prayers for a possible cure, or
perhaps are approaching death, rather than those who are
HELPING YOUR CHILDREN MAKE GOOD LIFE CHOICES chronically (long-term) ill or who are simply growing old. All our
Come and hear Greg and Aghi Clovis of Family Life International sick parishioners, named and un-named, are remembered in our
share the experiences they have gained from raising a family of prayers.
their own after 10.00am Mass today in the Church hall. The
session will end at 12.15pm. Adults and teenage children are
welcome to attend. See notice board.

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
Who needs a pension of £650,000 per annum from the age of 50? We can rightly question the justice of such a
payout to a former chief executive of a failed bank. But what would you do if you were in his shoes? If there is, after all, no
legal way of preventing the payout, would you hand it back, in full or in part?
In this season of Lent, we can all seek to bear in mind the words of the prophet Isaiah:
Is not this the sort of fast that pleases me:
to break unjust fetters and undo the thongs of the yoke,
to let the oppressed go free,
and break every yoke,
to share your bread with the hungry,
and shelter the homeless poor,
to clothe the man you see to be naked
and not turn from your own kin?
Then will your light shine like the dawn
and your wound be quickly healed.
None of us may have £650,000 a year to dispose of but on Lent Fast Day this coming Friday and, indeed,
throughout Lent, we have an opportunity to deny ourselves some food and give of the little wealth we might have so that
others may be able to enjoy what they have a right to but are denied whether through injustice, human selfishness, poor
fortune in life, or natural catastrophe.
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Today is St David’s day. St David lived in the 6 century and, after ordination, made missionary journeys
throughout south Wales. He founded the monasteries of Glastonbury and Menevia (later called St David’s) which were
known for their strict discipline and austere life. The monks lived off a meagre diet of bread, vegetables and water. The
monasteries were great centres of learning and culture. David was generous in works of mercy and mortification. He
became known as ‘Aquaticus’ either because he only drank water or because he would immerse himself in freezing water
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as an act of penance. David died at Menevia on 1 March 589, the monastery having been ‘filled with angels as Christ
received his soul.’
Many Welsh people will sport a leek or daffodil today. As I write the daffs in the church garden are coming through.
Will they have bloomed by St David’s day? Fr John.
REGULAR EVENTS – COME ALONG! WOMEN’S WORLD DAY OF PRAYER THIS FRIDAY
DIVINE MERCY PRAYER GROUP Services will be held at 11am at St Teresa’s and 7pm at
after the 9.30am Mass on Tuesdays. Prayers of Kennington URC. See notice board. All are welcome.
intercession for various needs and silent PROPOSED PILGRIMAGE TO KRAKOW, POLAND
adoration of the Blessed Sacrament till 10.30am. Due to pressures of other priorities, it does not look likely that it
(Not this week because of the funeral). will be possible to organise this pilgrimage this year. We’ll keep it
MUSIC PRACTICE TUESDAYS 7.30PM in mind for a possible trip next year. Sorry for any
Newcomers always welcome. disappointment caused.
BIBLE STUDY THURSDAYS 7.30PM CELEBRATE LOVE MARRIAGE ENRICHMENT SEMINAR
Studying St Paul’s letters to the Corinthians and A non-residential weekend seminar for married couples who
Pope Benedict’s Wednesday audiences on St Paul. want to stay successfully and happily married and to live
marriage as God intended. March in London, June in Kent. See
EVANGELIUM – CATHOLIC FAITH ENQUIRY
notice board for details.
For all, Catholic or not, who would like to deepen their
knowledge of the Catholic faith. Next meeting: 7.15pm Friday TALK ON OLD ASHFORD
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13 March. Topic: Liturgy and the Sacraments Mr Richard Filmer, author and speaker will be giving an
illustrated presentation about Old Ashford, on Friday 20th March
DIVINE MERCY HOUSE PRAYER GROUP at 7.30 pm sharp, in our hall, tickets will be available shortly cost
A group of parishioners meets roughly once a month. You are £2.50, a very interesting evening is guaranteed.
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welcome to join the group on Monday 9 March at 138 Beaver
Road, Ashford. Arrivals from 10.00 am; finish approx. 11.30. PARISH UNITY CONTACT
Prayer and social. Contact Maria Lanzino 625428. Bishop Paul Hendricks, one of Southwark’s auxiliary bishops,
writes: ‘You will have noticed that Pope Benedict began his
LENT FAST DAY THIS FRIDAY pontificate by stressing the centrality of the search for full unity
Fasting is one of the penitential disciplines for Lent. It is between Christians… Ours is an increasingly secular age when
connected very closely with prayer (our senses pray in a real a united Christian voice is all the more important whenever
sense through fasting) and almsgiving (we are able to give the possible.’ Bishop Paul asks if every parish could have a ‘Parish
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money saved by fasting to the poor). On Sunday 8 March a Unity Contact’ to help promote good local ecumenical
second collection will be taken and the proceeds sent to the relationships. A small booklet outlining in simple terms what such
Pontifical Council ‘Cor Unum’. COR UNUM expresses "the care of a person might do is available. A training day is planned at
the Catholic Church for the needy, thereby encouraging human th
Aylesford on 25 April. If you might be interested in taking on this
fellowship and making manifest the charity of Christ" and, on the role, please see Fr John for further information.
Pope’s behalf, grants humanitarian relief in response to disasters or
in promoting integral human development in needy areas of the MASS IN CELEBRATION OF THE SACRAMENT OF
world. Please give generously. MATRIMONY WITH ARCHBISHOP KEVIN MCDONALD AT
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AYLESFORD PRIORY 3PM SATURDAY 30 MAY
PARISH STEWARDS Archbishop Kevin will celebrate this Mass and wants to specially
You may have noticed some gentlemen of the parish wearing invite all couples and their families in the Diocese who are
sashes in church. These are people who have volunteered to st th th th th th
celebrating a 1 , 10 , 25 , 40 , 50 or 60 + anniversary this
ensure that the collections are taken and to be a point of contact year. Couples celebrating 1, 25 and 40 years of marriage have
for anyone who has a query. The sash says: ‘I’m here to help.’ If already requested invitations. Why not join them? Please let Fr.
you would like to be a steward, please see one of the current John know if you qualify for a special anniversary invitation.
stewards. To those who have already volunteered, ‘Thank you!’
Wear your sash with pride!

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