St. Simon the Apostle Parish

1 Well, after forty years of writing weekly front pages of comment in bulletins, this is the last, I guess - certainly as far as Parish bulletins specifically are concerned. Since 1983, parishioners in Altona, Ivanhoe Mitcham, Geelong and for the past four and a half years Rowville have all been confronted - like it or not, welcome or unwelcome - with my take on world and local events, sometimes church related, sometimes community-related. In the future, perhaps my enthusiasm for the written word might find a new method of communication, but for now, this is the Epilogue . The past couple of months have been somewhat of a whirlwind, but I am comfortable with the decision to step back from the particular responsibilities of a Parish Priest.

2 However, I will still be a priest, hopefully as active as possible and making some sort of worthwhile contribution. For a priest, especially a priest attached to Parish communities for more than five decades, retirement is a little different from the accepted idea of retirement in most areas of work. Most people simply step away from their day-to-day employment, but priests will usually also lose or radically alter their personal home and local neighbourhood, and start again elsewhere. But most importantly, it s also change of family, in the people who have been the constant in their lives. The people who have given and received. Cared and been cared for. Loving your family, your Parish family, is absolutely central to effective ministry and a worthwhile way of life within diocesan priesthood, That doesn t mean there will not be different points of view, or even occasionally stressful Parish politics, No priest or person can or will please everyone all the time.

3 But as in any family, the positives hopefully can and hopefully always will outweigh any occasional challenges and difficulties. This is why I once again express my fervent hope that you, as the St. Simon s community, will embrace your new faith leaders in Fr. Mark and Fr. Samuel, your Parish Council and the many wonderful volunteers, and propel forward St. Simon s spiritually, liturgically, socially and administratively. To be the best that you can be doesn t happen due to the work of just a few. It happens because the Parish is a genuine team - a word which can be over used but means so much when it is applied accurately. So God bless you all, and may I offer a final note of thanks to all those who have so kindly made this, my final, formal Parish appointment, such a wonderful experience!

4 I will miss you, but I truly hope the bonds formed by your kindness are never lost. They will certainly never be forgotten by me. Fr. Kevin Dillon Parish PRIEST Fr Kevin Dillon Mobile: 0421 777 360 Email: _____ PASTORAL ASSOCIATE Mrs Abbie Ferdinands (Mon, Wed, Fri) BUSINESS & OFFICE MANAGER Mr Peter Evans (Tue, Thu & Fri) SAFETY OFFICER Mrs Julie Ashman (Tue, Thu, Fri) CHILD SAFEGUARDING Ms Delisia Gonsalves (by appointment) SECRETARY Mrs Felicia Ahumada (Tue - Fri) ST. Simon S SCHOOL PRINCIPAL Mr Tom Wursthorn: 9755 4222 NAZARETH COLLEGE PRINCIPAL Mr Sam Cosentino: 9795 8100 AFTER SCHOOL RELIGIOUS PROGRAM Contact the Parish Office CHURCH MASS TIMES Sun: & Tue - Fri: 9:15am Public Holidays: Sat: (page 2 for full details) ONLINE MASS TIMES Sun, live from Sat: Public Holidays: Tue - Fri: MASS ON RADIO Mass from St.

5 Simon s is broadcast on: FM The Light at: 7am Sundays WEDDINGS & MARRIAGE PREPARATION Contact Parish Office ANOINTING OF THE SICK From this coming week private arrangement with Very Rev Mark Reynolds & Fr. Samuel Pearson Parish COUNCIL Parish CENTRE FACILITIES HIRE Please Contact Parish Office ST VINCENT DE PAUL HELPLINE 1800 305 330 St. Simon the Apostle Parish 2 Taylors Lane, Rowville 3178 Office Hours: Tue - Fri | - (03) 9764 4058 January 30, 2022 - 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time Parish Personnel MAY YOU ENJOY YOUR BIRTHDAY! Tristan Dias, Monique Lovey, Shari Gilbert, Brooke Felsinger, Caitlyn Sheehan, Susan Smedley, Jordan Rajendran, Michael Giaccotto & Rowend Santos. INTERESTED IN JOINING A MINISTRY? We have a number of ministries that require assistance to continue with the wonderful service they provide.

6 Many of our parishioners enjoy the fellowship which involvement in such service to the Parish brings and would appreciate the extra helping hands. As the saying goes many hands make light work . Are you able to join one of our ministries? Training will be provided. Church Cleaning: We seek your help to join one of our teams on a 7 week rotating roster cycle. Your assistance is required for a couple of hours when rostered. Altar Society: A group who volunteer their time to look after the sanctuary in the church and items in the sacristy. Teams are rostered on each month. Gardening Group: Hands-on work within a small team of volunteers focusing on developing and maintaining our Parish surroundings. This role is a great way to become involved with a meaningful project, while meeting new people, and staying active and involved in your community.

7 Flowers: We are seeking parishioners interested in joining the Flowers Team on a roster basis. Please contact the Parish Office 9764 4058 to have a chat or please leave your name and contact details at the Help Desk. Reading & Commentating: Do you enjoy reading the bible? Would you like to help others hear clearly the Word of God at Mass? Parish Office: If you can, and would like to assist, there are always many different office and administrative duties where help is required. Please contact the Parish Office on 9764 4058 or email us at: CHURCH & ONLINE MASSES THIS WEEK Please note: There will be no Monday Mass Tue, 1 Feb - am no vax check (livestreamed) Wed, 2 Feb - am no vax check Thu, 3 Feb - am no vax check (livestreamed) Fri, 4 Feb - am no vax check (livestreamed) Sat, 5 Feb - pm no vax check Vigil for the 5th SUNDAY in ORDINARY TIME (live streamed) Sun, 6 Feb - am full vax required and will be checked for those vulnerable or at risk.

8 Sun, 6 Feb - am no vax check. QR Code-in is STILL required. (available on front page of this bulletin) Please arrive 15mins prior to Mass time. If you have any questions, queries or concerns please see the COVID Marshal. COLLECTIONS AND THANKSGIVING REMINDER For safety reasons we suspended passing around the 1st and 2nd collection plates at Mass (but still welcome all donations)! You can donate in church by: Putting cash or thanksgiving envelopes in the bins in the foyer after Mass (these are monitored by collectors) Tapping your credit card at the Donation Tap Point in the foyer ($5 per swipe of your card) MAY THEY REST IN PEACE We pray for the repose of the souls of: Recent Death: Robert Maskell Anniversary of Death: Jean Dalton , John Makaska & Mary Lawrence And we lift our prayers to you Lord, for all the sick people throughout the world.

9 DAILY MEMORIAL REQUESTS From next week, if you would like a memorial mention at Mass, please fill out a memorial request form found at the helpdesk, or email the Parish office at: with all details. Our Daily Memorial Book will no longer be in use. Rosters for weekend of 5th & 6th February 2022 pm am am Reader 1 Terry O'Donnell Neela Tatnell Loretta Hughes Reader 2 Marcello Martino Dorothy Stack Terry Redden Commentator Seymon Martino Brian Philp Estela Banac Help Desk Jilly Hickey Myrella Desfosses Val D'Souza Mass Recorder 1) Shanti Jayamanne | 2) Chad Cole Flowers: Theresa Poh Altar Society Elaine Gannon Homily Typist: Janet Forster Church Cleaning Marius Francis, Antony Singarasa COME & SEE NIGHT - 2022 ALPHA PROGRAM After the very successful 2021 Alpha Program the team is planning for 2022.

10 Want to know what it is about? Come and see at 6:30pm, Mon 7 Feb, 2022 (St Simon s Parish Centre). YOUTH CHOIR Are you between 13-25 years of age and enjoy singing or playing an instrument? If so, please consider joining our St Simon s Youth Choir!! Rehearsals will be fortnightly on Saturday afternoons from 4:30pm-5:15pm in the church. The choir will sing at the 6pm Mass on the last Saturday of each month. Contact Eliza Giuliano on 0428 065 448. HANDOVER OF LEADERSHIP FOR ST. Simon S This weekend we say farewell to Fr. Kevin Dillon as our Parish Priest of St Simon s. The parishes of St. Simon s Rowville and St. Jude s, Scoresby will come together from this coming week under the leadership of Very Rev Mark Reynolds, (currently Parish Priest of St.)