News

The evening will offer a wide variety of music and instrumentalists from whom Brides and Grooms can make personal choices when planning the nuptial ceremony. For additional information please contact: Marge Campbell 610-405-6934 or email mjucc@yahoo.com.

Do you sing or play an instrument?? Become part of our contemporary music group! The 6 pm Contemporary Mass Guitar Group is looking for musicians to join in on the 4th Sunday of the month. Develop your musical talent or add something to your service lists? Come give it a try and ask a friend too! Contact Ellie at Ellie429@gmail.com to learn more. AND... High School Teens are you trying to figure out what is important in life? Want to share this journey with other teens in the same search? Join Youth Led Ministry for candid conversations, games and fun...oh and there’s pizza, there’s always pizza! This journey is meant to be shared!! Meet us at 7:00 pm Sunday nights in The Meehan Center, lower level of church. For more info, contact Ellie at ellie429@gmail.com

March for Life is Friday, January 24, 2020. The Church in the United States observes the annual “Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children.” We are called to observe this day through prayer and penance. For information go to respectlifeprogram.org/january-22 and https://marchforlife.org/national-march-for-life/.

Session is Thursday, January 16, 2020 In the Meehan Center. Sign in at 5:45 pm Registration is a must! Please go to www.virtusonline.org or call 215-587-2466. Volunteers are needed for this training session. For more information please contact Candy in the rectory office at 610.696.3624.

What do you think of… when you see Shades on the sun…??? SSJ VACATION BIBLE CAMP FOR ALL OUR LITTLE ONES!! Check out the NEW DATES with more information to come for our little ones to be blessed with fun in the sun! VBC begins right after the 4th from Monday, July 6th to Friday, July 10th. Keep checking here in 2020 to see what the new Exciting Theme will be!!

Check out our SSJ Book Rack! Children’s Titles: Assortment of Children’s Coloring Books, Board Books & Small Picture Books and New Catholic Picture Bible Puzzle Books. Teens and Adults: Bibles, Ablaze! Stories of Daring Teen Saints, Bible in a Year, Becoming Women of the Word, Everyday Sacrament, The Messy Grace of Parenting, From Star Wars to Superman (Christ Figures in Science Fiction & Superhero Films). Habits for a Healthy Marriage--A Handbook for Catholic Couples, How God Hauled Me Kicking & Screaming into the Catholic Church, In Heaven We’ll Meet Again, Saint Benedict for Boomers, and more. The Book Rack is located at the main entrance of the church. Payment envelopes can be placed in the collection basket or be dropped off at the Rectory Office.

SSJ Parish Mission - Sunday, March 1st to Wednesday, March 4 at 7:00 pm with Paulist Father John Collins, C.S.P. from NYC. Father John's approach is humorous, down to earth and a joy to behold. Father John will be preaching at all of the masses the weekend prior to the Mission so you can evaluate first hand how enjoyable this Mission promises to be. Don’t hesitate to bring a friend who might have wandered away from the Church. This might be the golden opportunity that a person may need to find peace and a way home. There is no need to sign up ahead of time. Just mark the dates on your calendar and prepare for a positive, uplifting series of sessions. Look for more information in the coming weeks.

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.

Good Works Is An Opportunity for You to Help Others in Chester County. Saints Simon and Jude volunteers for over 5 years have been a team of 15 or more, we are now at 4 - 6 so we need your help! November starts another West Chester project of home improvements. You do not have to be an expert and many volunteers have learned skills by volunteering. We work on the third Saturday of every month. Please contact Annette Glaudel at 610-431-9566 alglaudel@aol.com or Ray Mazza at 215-771-7049 raymazza44@gmail.com.

The Fall program for Women's Bible Study begins in the Welcome Center of the Church Vestibule on Wednesday, October 2nd from 1:00-2:30 pm. We meet to share God's word and how it applies to our lives through the Sunday Readings. ALL ARE WELCOME! For information contact Kathy Bond at 610-316-3979

Divorce is never easy. Tensions run deep; there is a sense of betrayal; lawyers; and lots of other issues with which to deal. Where can a person find peace in the midst of such turmoil? Rose Sweet, a Catholic national speaker and author on the subject suggests that Jesus, the Prince of Peace, is the answer. Join us at SS. Simon and Jude Meehan Center on the first and third Wednesdays of the month at 7 pm for support and explore Rose’s program: Catholics Surviving Divorce.

Did you know we have a Prayer Shawl Ministry right here in our church. No experience necessary to join us. We meet the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month. The shawls for the sick are in a box in the narthex for anyone who is sick. They are blessed and prayed on. When you take one please sign the book so we can continue to pray for your loved one. Contact Sue 610-431-3025.

The Music Ministry of Saints Simon & Jude is pleased to announce an open invitation to share in our ministry as cantors, choir members, instrumentalists and accompanists. Our family of musicians is a vibrant ministry that serves to awaken deeper levels of liturgical spirituality. No formal music training is needed. We seek only joyful participants! The time commitment is minimal. For additional information please contact Mrs. Marge Campbell, Music Director. 610-405.6934 "To Sing is to Pray Twice" St. Augustine

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!

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!

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.