News

JOIN US FOR VACATION BIBLE CAMP - Monday, June 25 - Friday, June 29, 2018 - 8:30 am - 12:30 pm! This year our theme is SPLASH CANYON! PLEASE CLICK THE LINK FOR MORE DETAILS! Yes, we need volunteers for another successful Vacation Bible Camp. PLEASE consider helping out! Choose any area ~ crafts, music, games, snacks, decorations, Bible teaching and more. The children’s faith lives are enriched through your assistance! Vacation Bible Camp ~ ALL CALL FOR CAMP COUNSELORS!! Here are the requirements: Must have received Confirmation ~ those 18 years old and older must have safe environment clearances, (please contact Candy at the Rectory at csavarese@simonandjude.org.

Saints Simon and Jude Parish will be hosting a clothing drive to benefit The Society of St. Vincent DePaul Saturday, April 21 from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. The services of GreenDrop will be used to support the clothing drive. Please look for GREENDROP truck in parking lot near Sacred Heart Hill, where an attendant will be available to assist you with your donation. Please place your donations of usable men’s, women’s and children’s clothing in plastic bags or boxes. Household items such as: kitchenware, games/toys, small appliances under 50 pounds, electronics, sporting goods, books, CDs & videos are also accepted. Furniture, large appliances TV’s or computer monitors cannot be accepted. For a full list of acceptable items visit www.gogreendro.com.

2018 Women in Scripture 4-week series begins Monday evening, April 23rd from 7-8:30 pm, in the Meehan Center. Please pre-register with Sr. Mary Beth: email: smcoyle@simonandjude.org or call 610-696-3624 and do bring your Bible and friends! CLICK THE LINK MORE DETAILS!

Bereavement ~ One day at a time... Working through sadness and grief can be lonely. You may be experiencing anger or wondering “what ifs.” Join our group on Wednesday evening, April 25th, at 7 pm in the Welcome Center in Church to share your thoughts and find God’s healing solace. All are welcome.

There’s still time to support your parish school & help us meet our goal! This past fall, the Saints Simon and Jude Board launched ‘Lighting the Way’, the first annual fund in support of the school’s many needs and the establishment of a School Endowment. Thanks to the generosity of the people of our parish and school, more than 200 gifts have been received totaling $102,000, 81% of our $125,000 goal. Individual gifts at every level have been received from $25 to $10,000, including a number of corporate matching gifts. We ask you to consider a gift to the annual fund, so we can meet our goal and therefore our objectives for the school - Classroom Technology, Student/Faculty Enrichment, Fine Arts Programs, Instructional Materials, and Financial Aid. All donations received on or before June 30, 2018 will be credited to the 2017/18 fund. Please pick up a “Lighting the Way” brochure and return envelope in the church narthex for more information. If you have questions, please contact Jenn Appaneal in the Advancement Office at 610-696-5249, Ext. 241 or advancement@simonandjude.org. Thank you and God bless!

The Parish Pastoral Council is one of the best models of collaboration within the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. The Parish Pastoral Council works closely with the Pastor to create and implement a Vision of ongoing Pastoral renewal in each parish. Each Year up to three members of the Pastoral Council finish their three year term. Saints Simon and Jude Parish is fortunate to have a very strong and dedicated Pastoral Council. To learn more about Parish Pastoral Councils go to http://archphila.org/pastplan/INDEX/PPCindex.html Nomination forms are at entrances of Church.

We are in need of additional volunteers to join us in the mission of helping those in need in Central Appalachia. There are so many that need our help in that region of our country. We will help to make their homes warmer, safer, and drier. Please join us as an adult leader or as a high school volunteer. Contact Annee Glaudel at asp@simonandjude.org or 610-431-9566.

The Saint Agnes Dorothy Day Room is looking for a few good cooks to prepare part of a meal for the hungry once a month. The food is prepared at home and brought to the Day Room “ready to serve” by 11:30 a.m. The guests who come to us for a hot meal and companionship count on us for what may be the only meal that they will have that day. If cooking part of a meal once a month seems too daunting to start, we also are in need of substitute cooks to fill in as needed for vacations, illness, etc. Whatever you are able to assist with you will be feeding the hungry Christ in our midst. God bless you for considering this need. Please contact Mary Barcus marebarcus@gmail.com if you are interested or would like more information.

Come with us on a Poland Pilgrimage with 206 Tours, June 18-26, 2018. Follow "In the Footsteps of St. John Paul II & St. Faustina" for 9 days through Warsaw, Czestochowa, Wadowice, Krakow, Auschwitz and more. 2018 marks the 40th Anniversary of Pope St. John Paul II Papal Election -- what better way to commemorate this anniversary year! Contact Denise Booth, Whirlaway Travel and Cruise Consultants, at denisebooth@verizon.net for more information if you are interested.

Saints Simon and Jude School has been selected to participate in the Bishop’s Tuition Transfer Grant Program sponsored by the Foundation for Catholic Education and Connelly Foundation. What does this mean? If you have a student transfer to SSJ entering grades 2 to 7 who attend a public, charter, or other non-Catholic school you will receive a two-year grant totaling $1,500 ($1,000 in the first year – 2018-2019 and $500 in the second year – 2019-2020). If you receive a transfer grant, you may also still qualify for additional, need-based financial aid. For more information, email or call our advancement director, Jenn Appaneal at advancement@simonandjude.org or 610-696-5249, Ext. 241.

Saturday - 5:00 PM Vigil Mass CHANGED TO 4:00 PM during the months of January, February, November and December; Sunday 7:30 AM Mass 9:00 AM Mass 11:00 AM Mass 12:30 PM Mass 6:00 PM Mass; Sunday Baptisms 1:45 p.m.

Learn how to go to CONFESSION!! Click on the CONFESSION button for a HOW TO GUIDE!! Download the app today at MyParishapp.com, then search for Simon. Questions? Contact Marty at 610-696-3624.

Saints Simon and Jude Church and School has been approved as a charity and The AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price from your eligible purchases. Simply log on to smile.amazon.com (not amazon.com). Enter your username and password. You are asked to select a charity and enter Saints Simon and Jude Church and School in the search box. Our parish name will come up. Just click select, then click start shopping. It's that easy and you will help support all the wonderful programs at SSJ. Thank you.

Casseroles will be collected the third Sunday of the month from 8:15 to 11:00 am. Please drop off your FROZEN casseroles in the kitchen in Monihan Hall. If you would like to make a casserole for the homeless, stop by the Rectory and pick up recipes and a container.

Saints Simon and Jude School’s First Annual Fund will allow us to meet the needs of each student by supporting the many priorities of our school. The Fund will help to bridge the gap between tuition revenue and expenses. Tuition covers approximately 66% of what it costs to educate a student at SSJ. Our goal is to cover the remaining percentage with donations to our Annual Fund and parish support from Sunday collections. Please see below how the funds raised will be allocated. Your commitment to Lighting the Way will help to ensure that Saints Simon and Jude will continue to provide the highest quality Catholic education while developing the hearts and minds of our children. Thank you for supporting our Inaugural Annual Fund and mission of Catholic Education. 2017-2018 Annual Fund Goal: $125,000; Classroom Technology; Student/Faculty Enrichment; Fine Arts Programs; Instructional Materials; Financial Aid. * 10% of funds raised will seed a new School Endowment Fund.

WELCOME...Now is the perfect time!! Joining Saints Simon and Jude Parish Family is a positive step forward in getting to know all that Simon and Jude Parish has to offer. We would like to get to know you and what we can do for you. Visiting the Rectory Office to register is easy and only takes a bit of your time. We welcome you Saturdays between 9:00 am and 3:00 pm or weekdays between 8:30 am and 7:30 pm and Sundays, between 10 am and 2 pm. We look forward to meeting you!!

Block Collection donations can now be made electronically. To donate, go to our home page and click the “donate” button at the top of the page to be directed to our secure donation page. Log-in if you already have a profile or create your online profile, select the amount and frequency (one-time, weekly or monthly) and ending date of your donation to this important collection. We can also set up your donation for you if you prefer. Just contact Mary-Kay (mklack@simonandjude.org) or Ron (ron@simonandjude.org) in the rectory office at 610-696-3624 or by email. Thank you for your generosity and sacrifice!

Come and support the Saints Simon and Jude football team! Click the link for the schedule.

Many people have changed their phone, email or home addresses since they registered in the parish, so presently we have no way to contact you. Do you wonder why you aren’t notified when there are changes or special events or you do not receive information that is sent out to the parish? It may be because the contact information we have for you is not current. We hope to keep you connected and informed so you can explore ways to grow in your faith and be filled with God's blessings! CLICK the link to update your contact information. Thank you!

Can you prepare and extra serving of your dinner and put it in a meal tin, then freeze it and bring it to the Aid for Friends freezer at church? You will be helping someone who is homebound and cannot prepare a meal for themselves. Meal tins are above the freezers behind the large wooden doors across from the rest rooms to the right of the main entrance of church. Please fill the tin with a protein, starch and vegetable. Cover it with tin foil and enclose the filled meal tin in the plastic bag provided. Freeze the meal at home and then return it to the freezer at church. Your simple act of kindness is greatly appreciated!! More information on Aid for Friends can be found at aidforfriends.org.