News

Saint Veronica is our "Sister Parish". The children of Saint Veronica at 6th and Tioga, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, sent us this lovely thank you note.

12:15 pm... Board the bus 12:30 pm... Depart Saint Simon & Jude parking lot 1:30 pm... Arrive Saint Rita of Cascia Shrine Hear the story of Saint Rita of Cascia...Tour the Lower Shrine and the Upper Church... Opportunity For Eucharistic Adoration. Visit the Gift Shop. 3:00 pm… Depart the Shrine 3:35 pm... Arrive at the Saint John Neumann Shrine Hear the story of Saint John Neumann...Tour the Lower Shrine and Museum...Visit the Upper Church...which is Saint Peter's Parish Church...Visit the Gift Shop. Will attend 5:30 Mass in the Lower Shrine.... Opportunity for Confession. 6:30 pm... Depart the Shrine 7:00 pm... Arrive at Franklin Square Park to view Philadelphia's Festival of Chinese Lanterns. Beautiful light display! Additional charge $15 for Seniors. We may see performers... acrobats and dancers. Asian food available for sale. Note: very limited seating. Bring a towel or cushion if you'd like to sit on the grass. 8:00 pm... Depart...Return to Saints Simon & Jude Church approximately 9 pm Price: $38… Includes bus transportation and tip for the driver. You are encouraged to bring food on the bus. Snacks, fruit, bottled water, ice and cups will be provided. To make a reservation... call Mary Ann McCarry at 610 431 7979 Checks should be made payable to Saints Simon & Jude Parish. Please mail or deliver your check to the Rectory at: 8 Cavanaugh Court West Chester, PA. 19382.

The SSJ Knights of Columbus wish to invite you to attend the Saints Simon and Jude ("SSJ") Annual Knights of Columbus golf/dinner event being held at the Downingtown Country Club on Monday, June 25, 2018. Many of you met have some of us Knights at various Knights of Columbus functions, particularly, parishioners Albert Greto, Matt Canavin, Joe Gothie and Eugene Burpoe, who have children at the SSJ School and we fully support the SSJ School Board mission. Our fundraising goal this year is to provide new altar server vestments and contribute to upgrading the church microphone system. Last year’s fundraising from the golf/dining event provided a significant contribution to Monihan Hall’s sound system. Our SSJ Knights of Columbus are a group of 100 strong men whose mission is to support the SSJ Parish as well as other charities within our community. We sincerely wish you to join us for this Golf/Dining event which includes Lunch, Golf, Dinner (open bar beer and wine) and Silent auction. Dinner only is also highly encouraged. We truly have a great time. Click the above link for more detailed information on the event. Reservations and payment should be returned to our Golf Co-Chairman and SSJ Knights of Columbus Youth Director, Joe Gothie, 427 Beaumont Circle, West Chester PA 19380. Thank you in advance for your support.

Enroll now for the coming school year 2018 - 2019. Click the link to access the forms. Pre-School Classes are offered for children ages 3, 4 and kindergarten on Sunday mornings from 9:00 to 10:00 am. CLICK THE LINK FOR MORE INFORMATION Elementary Levels Level 1 though 6 - Tuesday at 4:15 to 6:00 pm and 6:00 to 7:15 pm ~ Wednesday at 6:00 to 7:15 pm ONLY Level 2 Students - Tuesday nights 6:00 to 7:15 pm ONLY Level 6 Students - Wednesday nights 6:00 to 7:15 pm ONLY Youth Group Students - Levels 7- 8 Sunday nights from 7:00 to 8:30 pm usually twice monthly.

Good Works needs Volunteers to help with home repairs, drywall, minor carpentry, painting and building small decks, etc. We also need those who can share faith and information with homeowners. There is a job for Everyone! For information contact Annette Glaudel at 610.431.9566

This is your time, your chance to make a difference… Be part of the future...be a coach! “Are you ready for some...Football”??? JV Football Head Coach Needed for 5th & 6th Grade JV Football Team. Experience coaching tackle football is required. Please contact Director of SSJ Football Program, Brian Mears at ssjcofootball@gmail.com.

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.

Attention High School Students: Looking for a fun experience to strengthen your faith? Join us for the Steubenville - NYC conference this summer. All High School teens are welcome. It’s a weekend road trip to St. John’s University, full of fun, friends, inspiring speakers and awesome music. Send an email to hsyouth@simonandjude.org for more information visit http://lifeteen.com/events/steubenville-nyc/ Space is limited so reserve your space today!

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 Annette 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.

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.

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!

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!