News

The Blessed Sacrament will be reposed Thursday, August 29 at 10 PM. Adoration will resume Tuesday, September 3 after 6 45 Mass The chapel remains open during the day for anyone who wishes to make a visit.

Safe Environment Training - Protecting God’s Children training will be held in The Meehan Center on the following dates: Thursday, August 22, 2019 at 6:00 pm Sign-in 5:45 pm; Thursday, September 26, 2019 at 6:00 - Sign-in 5:45 pm; Thursday, October 17, 2019 at 1:00 - Sign-in 12:45 pm; and Thursday, November 21, 2019 at 6:00 - Sign-in 5:45 pm. Registration is a must! Please go to: www.virtusonline.org or call 215-587-2466. For questions on clearances and certificates, contact Candy, SSJ Safe Environment Coordinator at csavarese@simonandjude.org or 610-696-3624.

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

Called and Gifted Workshop - Click title for link to more information God is calling you to a unique purpose in life, a work of love that only you can do. Discern your charisms (spiritual gifts) and begin to discern God’s call. You have received gifts in Baptism and Confirmation through which God intends His love to reach others. Come and discover these charisms in you! The Called & Gifted discernment process begins with a workshop presentation which includes Church teaching on the laity and lay apostleship, the nature of charisms, call and vocation, and how to undertake the process of discernment.. Saturday, October 12, 2019 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM Cost: $45.00 per person Presenters: Sherry Weddell and Katherine Coolidge Location: St. John Neumann Hall 1019 North 5th St Philadelphia, PA 19123

Meetings: First Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. at St. Cyprian Parish in the Community Hall Second Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. at St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Drexel Hill in the church hall. All attendees remain confidential. Become a Pen Pal to the imprisoned In prison sometimes the only contact with the outside world is in the form of letters. Mail Call is better when you receive a warm and friendly letter from the outside world. Pen Pal Writers are needed to write to the poorest of the por. For more Meeting and Pen Pal Information, please call 610-259-3178 or email: MaryMotherOf Captives@Augustinian.org Please pray for all those in our prisons.

Please contact Advancement Director, Jenn Appaneal at advancement@simonandjude.org or submit an online request at school.simonandjude.org/register-to-visit-ssj. Registration remains open throughout the summer for Saints Simon and Jude School. There are openings in our kindergarten through grade 8 classes, and waitlists have been started for our preschool classes. Bishop Tuition Transfer Grants are available for students transferring from non-Catholic schools entering grades 2 to 7. Registration materials are available on our school website at school.simonandjude.org/admission-forms. The week of July 29 School Office Closed

Our picnic tables are in need of some tender loving care! Sanding, painting and repairs would make them like new again and will be appreciated by so many! Please let Ron at the Rectory Office know if you are available - 610.696.3624. Thanks in advance!

Join over 1300 Catholic women from the greater Philadelphia area for a day of fun, friendship, faith formation and prayer at the Catholic Women’s Conference. The 2019 theme is “Unique and Unrepeatable: Your Mission as a Catholic Woman,” in which we explore the amazing truth that God has given each one of us a personal and unique mission, a share in His plan to save the world. Speakers include: Meghan Cokeley, De Yarrison, Dr. Monique Ruberu, Gloria Purvis, Sue Brinkmann and the Sisters of Life. Saturday, October 26, 2019, 9am-4:30pm, at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa in Doylestown, PA. Talks will be offered in English and Spanish. A mid-September sellout is expected. Register today at: www.catholicwomensconference.org.

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults RCIA - Anyone interested in becoming Catholic is invited to an evening of Inquiry on Tuesday evening, September 10th, at 7:30 pm, in the Meehan Center. There is no obligation, but it will be an opportunity to ask questions and to explore how God is working in your life. For further information, you are welcome to contact Sr. Mary Beth through the parish office.

Brides and Grooms join us for A Musical Wedding Workshop held at Saints Simon and Jude in Church on Wednesday, September 18, 2019 at 7:30 pm .

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!

Teens and parents, are you looking for answers? JASON EVERT HAS BROUGHT HIS MESSAGE TO OVER A MILLION TEENAGERS ON SIX CONTINENTS. Plan to attend this family-based event for parents and teens ages 13+ to learn about God’s plan for human sexuality. Jason Evert will give a presentation followed by a time of praise and worship, adoration and the sacrament of reconciliation for those who desire it. Free resources will be distributed to every attendee. This kind of opportunity does not come along often so spread the word and get your tickets soon! WHAT ARE PEOPLE SAYING ABOUT PURIFIED? TEENAGERS: “What you had to say was the answer to all the questions I had been praying about. Thank you again for helping me... You truly are an angel in disguise.” PARENTS: “We heard you speak last night, and my 16-year-old son–though dragged there sighing and rolling his eyes–was blown away by your talk. Thanks.” LOCATION: Saints Simon and Jude Church, 8 Cavanaugh Court (Rt. 3 and 352), West Chester, PA 19382 GET TICKETS by clicking on the title or go to: https://bit.ly/2GnwNLq QUESTIONS: email@simonandjude.org.

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.