News

The Feast of Corpus Christi Mass and Procession will be on Sunday, June 23, 2019 @ 9:00 am. The Solemnity of Corpus Christi celebrates the Body of Christ, which Jesus offers to the Father for the salvation of the world. It is a celebration of Christ who is both victim and priest in the Eucharist. At the end of Holy Mass, we will have a procession of the Blessed Sacrament. The procession is followed by Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

Please join the Knights for the 23rd Annual Golf Tournament and Dinner on Monday June 24 at Downingtown Country Club. Shotgun start for 18 hole best ball format at 12:45. Dinner, awards and prizes begin at 5:30 pm. Payment is due as soon as possible. Please see attached flyer for more details and registration form. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION AND REGISTRATION FORM

JUST ONE WEEK LEFT IN THE CAMPAIGN! As a 2017 National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence, SSJ strives to maintain our high standards of education. The support of our parish is imperative and for over 56 years, we have been fortunate to receive this support. Our campaign runs through June and will support the many priorities of our school (technology, student/faculty enrichment, fine arts, instructional materials, maintenance, security, financial aid) and our endowment fund to ensure a quality Catholic education for many years to come. Thank you to the many donors who have contributed to “Lighting the Way!” If you plan to make a gift, please do so by June 30 so it can be credited to the 2018/2019 fund. Brochures and self-addressed envelopes are in the church narthex or you can make an online donation at school.simonandjude.org/annual-fund. PLEASE CLICK THE ABOVE LINK! THANK YOU!!!

The Church and Rectory parking lots will be repaired, resealed and re-striped. Please take into consideration any weather related delays that may occur. This work will be done in three phases. We ask your patience while completing this project.

We welcome our CAMPERS and Counselors for SSJ Vacation Bible Camp this week. Everyone is invited to our closing show on Friday, June 28 at 12:00 noon in the School Cafeteria. Come to see our campers perform the VBC songs and see the fun-filled experiences the children had.

Please visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter: "west chester" to schedule an appointment. Giving from July 1 to 31 automatically enters you for a chance to win a trip to Cedar Point or Knott's Berry Fary Farms. Visit rcblood.org/cedarfair for details. Click on the Link for more Information!

The IHM congregation came from Monroe, Michigan to the Susquehanna, Reading, and Philadelphia areas in the late 19th century at the invitation of St. John Neumann? Sister Helene Thomas Connolly has the awesome and exciting task of preserving the IHM past while maintaining new information of value. This includes documents, letters, photographs, audio and video recordings.  Information must be accessible and understandable.  Sister Helene will tap into her analytical and organizational skills to make sure that the record of IHM life in North and South America is preserved for years to come. Thank you Sister Helene for all you do!

Keeping our parish grounds beautiful is a way to serve the parish as an individual, family or group, on your own schedule and pace. Anyone who would like to help with cleaning up, weeding and watering our grounds, please call the Rectory Office at 610-696-3624 or email: email@simonandjude.org. Thank you for your kindness!

Please join us for a bus trip to the National Shrine of Padre Pio and Skippack Village. Please click on the link for more information and registration form. You can drop your forms off at the Rectory Office. Any questions, please call Mary Ann McCarry at 610-431-7979. CLICK THE LINK FOR MORE INFORMATION AND REGISTRATION FORM.

We are looking for a Custodian/Janitor who has a positive, cooperative and friendly manner to work in our parish and school buildings. This is a full-time position for an individual who has successful work experience following a cleaning plan for a facility. Most tasks are well defined, but with considerable variation and may require independent action. Salary based on previous experience. Please email a resume or letter with your qualifications to Ron Avellino at ron@simonandjude.org or mail to: Saints Simon and Jude Rectory - Attn: Ron Avellino - 8 Cavanaugh Court - West Chester, PA 19382.

Bishop’s Tuition Transfer Grants are available for students who transfer to SSJ entering grades 2 to 7 who attend a public or other non-Catholic school. Recipients will receive a two-year grant totaling $1,500 ($1,000 in the first year – 2019- 2020 and $500 in the second year – 2020-2021). If you receive a transfer grant, you may also qualify for additional, need-based financial aid.

Casseroles will be collected every third Sunday 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. Thank you!

The Pastoral Council acts in an advisory role to the Pastor to help him identify parish needs, define parish policies, and develop and evaluate parish programs and activities. Eligibility: Any person who has attained the age of 18, is a practicing member of the Catholic Church, and has been a registered member of SS. Simon and Jude parish for at least two years is eligible to be nominated to the Pastoral Council. The Pastoral Council meets once a month from September to June and members are expected to make a reasonable effort to attend meetings. The forms are available in the Church Narthex. Please email your signed form to email@simonandjude.org with "pastoral council" in the subject line or return your form to the Rectory Office or place in the collection basket at Mass. Questions? Email email@simonandjude.org or call Marty at 610-696-3624.

PLEASE CLICK THE LINK FOR TRIP DETAILS OR TO BOOK YOUR DEPOSIT ON-LINE.

Do you know what you can do on the SSJ Mobile App? Check Mass times at SSJ and other parishes when you travel. Watch a video of Mass. Read or listen to Homilies, Daily Scripture, Prayers, Family Devotions and more. See the Sunday Bulletin on line. Send in Prayer Requests, Reply to Messages. Communicate with other members in a parish group discussion. Keep up with Catholic News from around the world. Set up online donations, quickly share messages via Facebook, set reminders to silence your phone before Mass, and more. Access Parish and School Directory information. Stay informed on events in the Church, School, PREP, CYO, Ministry Groups, and more. Download the app today at MyParishapp.com, then search for Sts. Simon OR Text App to 88202.

Do you have a new phone number or email or address? Have the members of your home changed? Is there a new child since you first registered? Student that has moved away? Death in the family? We are counting on you to complete our 2019 on-line Parish Census to help update the parish records. That way we can better assist you in a time of need and keep you informed on what is going on in the parish. All information is kept confidential and is for church use only. Independent adult children (over 21) should register on their own by coming in to the Rectory Office to complete a Registration Form. If you have any questions or need help completing the form, please do not hesitate to call the Rectory Office at 610-696-3624. Please note the Census cannot be used for registering to join Saints Simon and Jude Parish. To register please visit the Rectory Office…we would love to meet you!  PLEASE CLICK THE LINK TO COMPLETE THE CENSUS FORM.

Attention Mom's of children 6 years and under: A Mom's Group is forming and you are invited to participate! Please click on the link to take the survey and give us your input! 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.

Aid for Friends meals are needed for the isolated homebound. Please consider making an extra serving for dinner and filling an Aid for Friends meal tin, freezing it and bringing it to our freezers to be distributed. Tins are located above the freezers in the closet across from the restrooms. Questions? Call Marty at 610-696-3624. Thank you for your help!

God Calls. We Respond. “No single act of love for God will be lost, no generous effort is meaningless, no painful endurance is wasted.” Pope Francis -- Please click on the link to find out how to volunteer at SSJ!