Part of The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Southwark
The parish of St Simon Stock, South Ashford is a parish of The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Southwark. We offer pastoral care for those in and around the South Ashford area. Our parish school is St Simon of England Catholic School.
Welcome Everyone
Our church is open for Mass in a suitable, safe, and secure manner as follows –
- Two Stewards will facilitate the opening of church on each day to direct and assist visitors to maintain the ‘social distancing’ rules.
- The doors into and out of church will be kept open for ventilation and to avoid the need to constantly sanitise the handles.
Visitors should:
- enter church by the front double door and leave by the rear double door following the one-way system which is in place.
- use the hand sanitiser provided, as they enter and leave church.
- avoid touching any items/surfaces un-necessarily.
- adhere to the social distancing rules and only sit in the allocated seating as marked or as directed by stewards.
- dress in adequate, warm clothing to ensure their comfort whilst being in church, now that the colder months are here.
- limit their time in church if the maximum agreed number of visitors has been reached; if this occurs stewards will ask further visitors to wait outside church whilst maintaining social distancing.
We thank you for your patience at this time of change in our parish
and look forward to seeing you back.
For your safety and protection –
- The wearing of a mask or face covering is now mandatory at all Masses except for those who are exempted for medical reasons.
- Please sanitise your hands when entering and leaving the church and follow any instructions given by the volunteer stewards. Thank you for your co-operation.
CONTACT TRACK AND TRACING APP – you will see that we have put up QR code posters for the Government’s track and trace app. Please use this if you have downloaded the app otherwise please continue to use the track and trace sheet as before. Thank you.
Church Notices
ATTENDING MASS IN THE COLDER MONTHS Parishioners should dress in adequate, warm clothing to ensure their comfort whilst being in church. Current government guidelines require that the Church must be adequately ventilated by keeping doors and windows open whilst Mass is in progress; this means that the heating will not be kept on after the commencement of Mass. We adhere to social distancing guidelines whilst seated, and to the ’Rule of 6’, please ensure that all the pews are used so that we can keep everyone as safe as can be whilst in church. Thank you for your understanding, and patience.
REMEMBRANCE OF THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED – Envelopes are now available for you to put names of deceased relatives and friends whom you would like to be remembered during November. Offerings may be placed in the envelope so that a Mass may be offered either for those whose names you have submitted or for the Holy Souls in general. The names will be placed in a basket in front of the altar during November.
BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE – If you would like us to include the faithful departed of your family or friends who have died in the last year in the Book of Remembrance please write the name, in block capitals, on a piece of paper and place in one of the weekly collection boxes. The names will be read out at Mass on All Souls Day.
MASS INTENTIONS – please put your Mass intentions, using the brown envelopes you will find in the church entrance, in the boxes provided for your weekly offering or, alternatively, use the Mass Intentions Form. Your offering for the Mass can be made by bank transfer in this instance.
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION CLASSES 2020/2021 – for children in school year 3 and above. If you wish your child to take part in the classes to prepare to receive the sacrament of First Holy Communion that will take place in 2021 please ask for a registration form after Mass.
VOLUNTEER STEWARDS – Our continued thanks to those who are giving up their time to ensure the safe running of the Masses in our church. Should you wish to join the stewarding team please see Fr. Hans or email using the information at the top of the page. Thank you.
CHURCH CLEANERS – The cleaning rota is posted each week. Please telephone Fr. Hans to let him know which day you will be coming to clean.
COLLECTIONS: Thank you for your weekly offerings and to those of you who switched to paying by standing order. Although the church, and hall, have not been open in the ordinary sense there are still significant outgoings for the parish. Your continued commitment to the running of the parish is greatly appreciated.
HELP PROTECT BABIES WITH CLEFT LIP, CLEFT PALATE AND CLUB FOOT
Sadly, abortion is currently available in the UK, right up to birth, for babies with cleft lip, cleft palate and club foot. All of these conditions can be corrected. A cross-party group of MPs from the three largest parties in the UK Parliament have come together to bring forward the Abortion (Cleft lip, cleft palate and club foot) Bill. The Bill will change the law to clarify that cleft palate, cleft lip, and club foot are not grounds for abortion in the UK. Can you help with getting your MP to support the Bill? Please visit www.standupandsmile.org.uk to email your MP asking them to support the Bill. It only takes 30 seconds.
Receive the Parish Newsletter by Email
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Church Events
WORLD MISSION DAY
Next Sunday, 18th October, is a day of prayer for the evangelization of the world. It’s the one Sunday in the year when the entire global Church comes together to support mission. This is our chance to show love and solidarity to our global Church family. Through our prayers, we support missionaries everywhere in spreading the Good News. Read more
Silver Jubilee Of The Consecration of Our Church – 1st November
The 25th anniversary of the consecration of our Church falls on 31st October 2021. The inaugural Mass for our Jubilee year will be held on Sunday 1st November 2020, the feast of All Saints, at 10am presided over by Monsignor John O’Toole, the Episcopal Vicar for Kent for the Archdiocese of Southwark.
To enable as many parishioners as possible to attend this celebratory Mass, and given the current restrictions of numbers in the church due to Covid-19, it will be live-streamed in the parish hall thus enabling more of us to attend.
All the current safety precautions will be adhered to. Communion will be distributed to those in the hall following the current practice. Let us gather, safely, to thank God for our parish, and parish family. Read More
Church News
- Parish Newsletter For This Week Sat, Oct 17, 2020 - Adam here with this weeks update. The newsletter is published and ready to download. Additional updates are mass times for the week, the church cleaning rota, and a notices. The our inaugral Mass of the silver jubliee of the consecration of our Church. The Mass will be live-streamed in the parish hall thus enabling more…
- Parishioners should dress in warm clothing to ensure their comfort during Mass Sat, Oct 17, 2020 - Now that the colder months of the year are here, parishioners should dress in adequate, warm clothing to ensure their comfort whilst being in church. Current government guidelines require that the Church must be adequately ventilated by keeping doors and windows open whilst Mass is in progress; this means that the heating will not be…
- The 25th anniversary of the consecration of our Church Sat, Oct 17, 2020 - The 25th anniversary of the consecration of our Church is on 31st October 2021. The inaugural Mass for our Jubilee year will be held on Sunday 1st November 2020, the feast of All Saints, at 10am presided over by Monsignor John O’Toole. To enable as many parishioners as possible to attend this celebratory Mass, and…
- Book of Remembrance Sat, Oct 10, 2020 - If you would like us to include the faithful departed of your family or friends who have died in the last year in the Book of Remembrance please write the name, in block capitals, on a piece of paper and place in one of the weekly collection boxes.
- Remembrance of The Faithful Departed Sat, Oct 10, 2020 - Envelopes are now available for you to put names of deceased relatives and friends whom you would like to be remembered during November. Offerings may be placed in the envelope so that a Mass may be offered either for those whose names you have submitted or for the Holy Souls in general. The names will…
- Parish Newsletter For This Week Sat, Oct 10, 2020 - Adam here with this weeks update. The newsletter is published and ready to download. Additional updates are mass times for the week, the church cleaning rota, and a notices. This Sunday is Prisoners’ Sunday, the national day of prayer and action for prisoners and their dependants. Next Sunday is World Mission Day, a day of…
Priest in Charge – Fr Hans Puthiakulangara
Telephone: 01233 622 399
Email: ashfordsouth@rcaos.org.uk
Reviews
I like this place because it’s 2 minutes away from my school. Junior Msoka
Information very clear and easy to understand. Esperanza Pulgarin
Very pleasant place to worship….the priest came to bless my home very lovely man of God. Thank you so much for this wonderful opportunity. More anointing. Oju Lydia
It was good fun for everyone at the parish bbq today, organised and cooked by the mens group will definitely buy the chicken sausages! Plenty to keep the children happy thanks to one of the parishioners! A true parish community! Shirley Hook
